Bulldogs too strong for struggling Raiders

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LAST week Des Hasler called for changes to the State of Origin schedule after the Bulldogs crashed to their third straight defeat without their superstar halves combination who were away on NSW duties.

But last night Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson both admitted the experience of playing for the Blues is going to make them even better players as the focus returns to club football and the run home to the finals.

Backing up two nights after NSW's historic victory, Reynolds and Hodkinson were instrumental in Canterbury's hard-fought 22-14 victory over Canberra that gave the former competition leaders their first win in a month.

The Raiders try their best to stop Tony Williams. Source: News Corp Australia

Reynolds set up two crucial tries leading up to half-time and landed a fantastic 40/20 kick, while Hodkinson inspired another vital try early in the second half that basically killed off the Raiders for the night.

"To get two wins in three days is a pretty great feeling," a jubilant Reynolds said after walking off the same field he made his debut on in the corresponding game three years ago.

Hasler said Hodkinson was actually ruled out of the game on Thursday with a cork.

But after passing a late medical Hodkinson said he wanted to pay back his Canterbury teammates after missing their last three losses.

"It still doesn't feel real at the moment," Hodkinson said.

"Obviously (Origin) has given me a bit more confidence, no doubt, having a couple of Origins under my belt.

Drury Low scores his second try of the night for Canterbury. Source: Getty Images

"Hopefully I can bring that experience and confidence back to the Bulldogs.

"We'd had a few losses lately so we were desperate for a win leading into the bye and Manly the week after."

After the game Reynolds looked like he could have fallen asleep on his feet as he stood outside the Bulldogs dressing rooms talking to the media.

But asked what benefit he would get out of playing in a winning Origin series, he said:

"The best way to describe it is it helps me get a bit mentally tougher.

"Me and Trent wanted to come back here tonight and bring energy to the boys and just show them we were here to play."

They certainly did that.

Jarrod Croker got the home side off to a good start but they could keep it up. Source: Getty Images

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With the Raiders keen for a big game on a nightclub legends gathered for the 20 year reunion of their 1994 premiership winning team, the home team started strongly to claim an 8-4 lead.

But Reynolds blindsided them in the countdown to the break when he laid on rapid fire back-to-back tries.

Quick hands from Reynolds created space for Corey Thompson to score in the 33rd minute and a brilliant sideline conversation from Hodkinson put the Dogs ahead for the first time in the match.

Josh Reynolds gets some close attention form the Raiders. Source: News Corp Australia

Two minutes later Reynolds was at it again when he produced a magnificent 40/20 kick — and from the next set Drury Low crossed for his second try to give the Bulldogs a 14-8 lead at the break.

Not to be outdone by his Blues halves partner, Hodkinson then sparked the Bulldogs' fourth try in the 50th minute with a terrific kick chase forcing a crucial mistake from Reece Robinson who dropped the ball while attempting to get himself back into the field of play.

Hodkinson's desperate defence forced the error as Tim Lafai swooped on the loose ball to score as the Dogs went to a 20-8 lead.

NSW Origin hero Trent Hodkinson has no problem backing up for the Bulldogs. Source: News Corp Australia

The match ended up four tries to two in Canterbury's favour after a late try to Anthony Milford at least gave the small crowd of 10,873 a late cheer on what turned out to be another disappointing night as the temperature dipped below zero degrees.

The loss leaves Canberra's finals' hopes on life support with Ricky Stuart's team stuck on 10 competition points after slumping to their eighth defeat in their last 10 matches.

But after the game Stuart was positive about the team's effort, if not their execution.

"I can't knock their effort, gee, they just never, ever give in," Stuart said.

"A lot of other teams would like to have what we have got in that regard but I'd like to be able to complete sets like other teams."

CANTERBURY 22 (D Low 2 T Lafai C Thompson tries T Hodkinson 3 goals) bt CANBERRA 14 (J Croker A Milford tries J Croker 3 goals) at GIO Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, Ashley Klein.

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League coach set Skelton towards Wallabies

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CRAIG Macleod remembers coaching Will Skelton in junior footy.

Even as a teenager Skelton was, you guessed it, a massive human.

"He would carry the footy and there'd always be about four or five guys hanging off him to put him down," Macleod recalls.

"The crowd came to their feet every time he got the ball and a lot of those guys, the defenders, are now playing first grade at different clubs so he wasn't playing against mugs."

It's worth noting at this point that Macleod could, in time, turn out to be a pivotal figure in Australian rugby.

Macleod was Skelton's coach in junior rugby league, not rugby, and those future first-graders are current NRL players.

But sensing the destiny of the 2.03m, 140kg lay in a rival code, Macleod not only encouraged his giant player to pursue rugby union, he literally drove Skelton to the game's doorstep.

Two years later Skelton became a Waratah, and today, four years on, the 140kg lock will make his Wallabies debut against France.

"Will was always a tremendous talent," Macleod said. "It's a great story. We're all very proud."

Now a cult hero at Allianz Stadium, Skelton's rampaging style is hoped to help the Wallabies clean sweep the French in today's third Test.

But were it not for Macleod's intervention — and a photo shoot with the Daily Telegraph — in 2010, Skelton may well have been hauling defenders for a rugby league team instead, perhaps even in the NRL.

Skelton grew up playing league and at the age of 17 was in the S.G Ball team for Wests, with the likes of now-Tigers stars James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma and Sauaso Sue.

"He was bloody massive," Tedesco said yesterday. "Hard to put down, for sure."

Skelton juggled league with union, however, and was also playing rugby for Hills Sports High.

The school rugby team was picked to represent Australia in a world schools tournament in Japan in 2010, and with Skelton one of several massive players, the 923kg forward pack posed for a photo with the Waratahs forwards. The 893kg NSW pack was dwarfed.

"I remember walking away from that thinking "holy heck, that's the future of rugby"," NSW prop Benn Robinson said yesterday.

Skelton posed in an individual picture alongside Wycliff Palu, and after reading the Tele's story, Macleod called his 2.03m S.G Ball second rower in for a meeting.

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"We sat down and talked about things," Macleod said.

"He was umming and aahing. I said you have lots of ability but you are juggling both, and I think you'd have a big future in rugby union. With your size and ability, union is going to suit your talents and you could seriously go places.

"We talked about Wycliff Palu, who played lower grades at St George. I used the analogy with Will, saying you have the same potential as him to kick on. But it's not going to happen in two minutes, so you need to go somewhere to learn. Go and learn off the best."

Macleod got a number for Sydney Uni colts coach Jack Farrer, rang and talked about this huge kid called Skelton.

"He knew about him," he continues. "So we drove up there and looked around the facilities.

"I told Will to sit down with your mum and Dad and have a good think about it. He chose that path, and the rest is history."

Skelton says Macleod's influence at the time "definitely" crystallise his muddled thoughts.

"It definitely gave me that push to pursue rugby," the Wallaby newcomer said this week.

"I wasn't 100 percent on either. I was on the fence. I thought I could go on and play with the Magpies, or maybe go to West Harbour, actually. My best mate was playing for them.

"But I wanted to learn the fundamentals and excel, and so we went up to Sydney Uni. They embraced me."

With hard-to-miss dimensions, Skelton's rise in the rugby ranks was rapid. He played colts for Sydney Uni, but after missing Australian under 20 selection, played for Samoa in the Junior World Championships.

Skelton as a junior alongside Wycliff Palu. Source: News Limited

(Skelton's little brother Cameron – who is actually bigger and also under contract with NSW – recently did the same).

A foot injury for most of 2012 delayed progress, but after trimming down puppy fat with a part-time job on a removallists truck, Skelton returned to action at the ARU National Academy.

In late 2012, the youngsters trained against the Waratahs.

"We had an opposed session and it was one of the Tahs' first proper contact sessions," Skelton recalls.

"But we'd be doing a lot of hard work prior to that, and our boys sort of finished on top. A few of us got picked to go train with NSW, and I was one of them."

Skelton never went back to the academy. NSW coach Michael Cheika spotted a live on and backed the 20-year-old, playing him in trials and though still very raw, then threw his x-factor potential into action for the Waratahs five months later.

The world stood up and noticed a few games later when Skelton, undaunted, played the house down against the British and Irish Lions.

"You have to give Michael Cheika and the Waratahs credit," Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie said this week.

"They spotted him and put him in there; he probably wasn't set up to play at that level straight away but they persisted, and he made all the physical development and he obviously had the right attitude."

And at the Waratahs together. Source: News Limited

Bright and eager to learn, the commerce student has impressed Wallaby coaching staff in camp in recent weeks.

McKenzie said it was the skills, and not just size, of the big lock that secured Test selection.

Macleod clocked all of that years ago.

"I remember all the catch-pass drills we used to do … he was a bit of a natural in that stuff, which was amazing given his size," he said. "Will had a great work ethic, and was always like a sponge.

"He was certainly well respected by those sort of guys who were in the team. They loved playing with him, and are all really happy to see him doing well.

"People involved with that SG Ball team all talk about it. A few years ago he was running around with us, and now here is about to play for Australia in rugby."

Tedesco said he was "very proud" to hear of Skelton's Wallabies call-up this week.

"That's the highest honour, playing for your country," he said. "Rugby obviously suits him and his size perfectly, so he's made a good call there. He's a nice guy so I'm happy for him."

Macleod will be in the Allianz stands today, with zero-point-zero regret about steering Skelton away from league and towards his destiny.

After supplying the Daily Telegraph with a Wests S.G Ball team photo this week, another text from Macleod quickly pinged through.

"Hope it keeps the big fella smiling. He is a better bloke than a footy player, and he is one great footy player."

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Hawk Clarkson on the mend

Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson congratulates Brendon Bolton in the rooms. Picture: Getty Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

ALASTAIR Clarkson is set to return as Hawthorn coach by Round 16 subject to a medical clearance.

Clarkson continues to increase his presence at Hawthorn during the week and last Friday night attended the clash against Carlton for the first time since being hospitalised last month.

Fill-in coach Brendon Bolton will coach the side today against Collingwood and again versus Gold Coast next week before Clarkson undergoes more tests after Round 15.

The Herald Sun understands should that medical assessment unfold as expected, Clarkson would be back in the hot seat in a Friday night clash against North Melbourne.

If not, his return would only be delayed by another fortnight but well ahead of a finals campaign in which the Hawks hope to defend their 2013 flag.

Clarkson is now believed to be battling only minor symptoms as a result of the Guillian Barre illness that has kept him out of the coaching box for three weeks.

At one stage Hawthorn officials feared he might miss the finals series with uncertainty over a return in 2015.

Should Clarkson return he can continue to delegate some training and player meetings to assistants like Bolton to protect his health.

The worry is the stress of coaching might harm his recovery, but Clarkson believes his prospects are extremely positive.

Hawthorn defender Matthew Spangher said yesterday the players had no idea about a return date, but were happy to continue winning despite the interrupted coaching arrangements.

"It is one of those things, we would love to have him back, he is a great coach and a great asset to our club,'' he said.

"But his health takes priority and it's up to him and his family to make a call. He will make that decision, he's a responsible man.

"He hasn't been in meetings all that much, but he's a presence around the club.

"Brendon has got a great relationship with the players so it has all been seamless. Clarko has given real tutelage to the coaching staff and it's been great for Brendon to have that match-day experience."

Clarkson said recently he would make a full recovery from a medical condition that paralysed triple Brownlow medallist Ian Stewart for months.

"(I asked) 'what are we talking about here, doc?", in terms of recuperation and length of time and when it was anywhere from four days to four months, it wasn't enough for me to think that being able to make a full recovery was going to be difficult,'' Clarkson said.

"That question about my coaching mortality never came to fruition."

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Cook hits out at criticism from Warne

England captain Alastair Cook holds his head after Sri Lanka held on for a draw in the first Test. Source: IAN KINGTON / AFP

SHANE Warne always was good at tormenting his victims until they snapped in frustration and played a shot they would regret — and he still is.

England captain Alastair Cook has finally bitten back at the Australian legend after three years of heavy criticism of his leadership skills, which Warne sees as manifestly inadequate.

Cook has asked for "something to be done" about the sledging, which is usually aired in Warne's column in the English newspaper, The Telegraph, and his commentary on Sky Sports.

It was a constant feature of last year's Ashes series in Australia, in which Cook and his team were humiliated 5-0.

Cook admits he has taken it personally which might be seen by some as a sign of weakness. Others might applaud his willingness to hit back at unfair sniping.

He cracked it emotionally in an interview with the BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew following last weekend's first Test against Sri Lanka, which England failed to win by one wicket with tardy over-rates an issue that threatened to see Cook punished.

"Something needs to be done because for the three years that I've been England captain I have, in my eyes, been criticised for a hell of a lot of that time," he said.

"Yes, when we lose games of cricket as captain you will be criticised. But I've also won a lot of games of cricket for England and more one-day games than anybody else as England captain.

"I've won an Ashes, I've won in India away, which I'm very proud of.

"So to be criticised for three years, totally, with those results, I find quite hard to take, to be honest."

Asked whether he thought the criticism was personal, he said: "Yeah, I think it is. It probably won't change anything, which is sad."

Warne, who is believed to be on a sea cruise and will not be part of the Sky commentary team for the second Test in Leeds, did not respond immediately.

Before the first match, England's first Test since the team and backroom staff was rejigged after the whitewash in Australia, Warne wrote that he hoped Cook would not revert back to his "boring" ways.

His post-match column was only mildly critical of the timing of Cook's declarations.

He will probably be delighted to have got through his man's defences so comprehensively.

In March, he denied he was simply acting as an agent provocateur to assist Australian and his close mate Michael Clarke.

Writing in The Telegraph he said then: "I am not an Australian cheerleader, I call it as I see it.

"I wanted Alastair Cook to captain well, but I saw how defensive he was when England were winning and thought that if Australia just improved a little then results could be reversed.

"I was proved correct as England made so many poor decisions in the field. Some of it was basic stuff. For example when Australia needs four runs to win at the MCG you do not have six people on the fence."

ron.reed@news.com.au

Twitter: @Reedrw

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McMeniman relishing playing again

Comeback queen Clare McMeniman will not let a sore nose stop her from another grand final. Source: Jerad Williams / News Corp Australia

IT takes more than a bloodied and throbbing nose to stop Queensland Firebird Clare McMeniman, or test her friendship with Laura Geitz.

The tough defender, who spilled blood for her team in the preliminary final, was back at training on Wednesday before Sunday's ANZ Championship grand final against the Melbourne Vixens.

She is fit to mark Vixens goal attack Tegan Caldwell in the decider, but Queensland fans held their breath on Monday night when McMeniman reeled away clutching her face after a heavy rebounding contest.

The culprit was not one of the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic attackers, but friendly fire from her own captain and good friend Geitz.

Both can laugh about the incident but McMeniman did have to soldier on for 50 minutes with a sore beak.

"I think she was hoping I wouldn't realise it was her," McMeniman said.

"It was all fair, and a big accident. It just shows how dedicated we are to getting those rebounds.

"It was just a bit of blood. It was uncomfortable but nothing I couldn't manage."

Firebirds pair Laura Geitz and Romelda Aiken celebrate beating the Magic on Monday night. Source: Getty Images

McMeniman is one of four Firebirds – the others are Geitz, Romelda Aikan and Ameliaranne Wells – remaining from the 2011 premiership-winning side.

She retired after that grand final, travelled across Europe and intensified the focus on her career as a speech pathologist.

Some gentle encouragement from Geitz, who has known the Warwick product since she was a teenager in neighbouring Allora on the Darling Downs, prompted McMeniman to make a comeback this year.

The 28-year-old wrestled back her goal defence bib from Demelza McCloud and Jacinta Messer, and went within a whisker of selection for the Australian Commonwealth Games team.

Geitz, who was glad she did not leave her mate with a black eye, described McMeniman as the workhorse of the team.

"To play in another grand final with Clare is going to be amazing," Geitz said.

"I love playing with Clare, her passion and determination is just second to none"

"On the court is such an intense personality and does not smile too much but you know when she is out there she gives it her all.

"So I am looking forward to stepping out with her on court again on Sunday, putting out a strong performance and grabbing that premiership, which she obviously came back in search of,'' Geitz said.

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Firebirds miss out on all-star team

Laura Geitz and her Firebirds teammates failed to make the ANZ Championship All-Star team. Source: Jonathon Searle / News Corp Australia

LAURA Geitz has charmed royalty but could not impress netball fans who snubbed the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship All-Star team.

In the ultimate motivation before Sunday's grand final against the Melbourne Vixens, not one Queenslander made the cut for the team of the year voted on by visitors to the Championship website.

The snubbing mirrors 2011 when the Firebirds were undefeated but only Romelda Aiken made the All-Star selection.

Queensland's mixed start to the season cost the side many of the selected positions.

The consistent Vixens deservedly had Madi Robinson and Geva Mentor in the side.

Queensland and Australia captain Geitz, who in April hosted a function for Prince William and his wife Kate, topped the Trans-Tasman Netball League for intercepts and deflections.

She has won personal duels with netball great Irene van Dyk, Mystics shooter Cathrie Latu and West Coast Fever's Caitlin Bassett, but in her modest style she was more surprised by teammate Kim Ravaillion's omission.

"Everyone has an opinion on these things, but we're not all that interested in stats and awards," Geitz said.

"We're not going to waste any energy on it, and we're happy to keep flying under the radar."

Mentor and Robinson were recognised for their outstanding seasons and it is the third consecutive year the pair has been named at goal keeper and at wing attack in the league's leading seven.

Minor premiers Melbourne Vixens had the equal-most representatives in the team. NSW Swifts also had two named, with Susan Pratley selected at goal attack and Kim Green at centre.

Southern Steel's 198cm Jamaican giant Jhaniele Fowler-Reid got the nod at goal shooter, despite finishing second in the goal scoring at the end of the regular season behind Tactix goaler Mwai Kumwenda, who was yesterday named the competion's best new talent.

Adelaide's Renae Hallinan (wing defence) and Magic's Casey Kopua (goal defence) also retained their positions in the team from last season.

Magic coach Julie Fitzgerald was named All-Star coach after guiding her team to a preliminary final in her first year at the club.

Pratley and Green were the only new inclusions in the team from last season's All-Star seven.

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Ange vows to attack wounded Spain

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A "HEARTBROKEN" Ange Postecoglou insists the Socceroos will go out to attack the deposed world champions Spain in their final World cup match, despite knowing that Australia's heroic defeat to Holland means they will be leaving Brazil next week.

The Australian players were left devastated after giving up a lead against the Dutch and missing chances to have sealed a historic win, despite seeing Tim Cahill score a candidate for the goal of the World Cup.

Mile Jedinak's penalty had given Australia a second-half lead but Holland stole the win when goal-keeper Mat Ryan let a speculative shot go past him late in the second half.

With Spain then losing 2-0 to Chile, it means Holland and Chile go through to the knockout stages, with Spain and Australia playing a dead rubber on Tuesday (AEST) before both depart Brazil early.

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Postecoglou will have to make do against Spain without Cahill, the hero yesterday but whose yellow card means he has played in his last World Cup for his country.

But despite admitting his pain at the result, Postecoglou was adamant that his team would continue to play in the way he has rapidly reshaped them since being appointed last October.

"We will try and win it," Postecoglou said of facing Spain. "Timmy is out but all along I have made mention of players who have missed out.

"We didn't come here today talking about the players who are missing, we talked about the players we put out there.

"We're not going to make any excuses. Timmy is out, somebody else will come in and we'll go at it again and we're going to measure ourselves against the very best in the world.

"Spain are an outstanding team and we want to come off the pitch knowing how far we have come and where we're at.

"So our approach won't change, we want to again go into that game and prove to people that we can play good football against the best in the world."

Ange Postecoglou consoles Tim Cahill after the Socceroos' loss to the Netherlands. Picture: Cameron Spencer. Source: Getty Images

While Cahill's goal — a superlative volley from Ryan McGowan's deep cross — was hailed around the world, Postecoglou was as keen to give credit for his team's overall performance, facing a side that had just thrashed Spain but was itself made to look pedestrian.

"I just wanted the players to get a reward for the way they went about things today," he said. "I put a lot of pressure on the players and the staff that we're going to be a certain type of team.

"They did it today but didn't get a reward which is heartbreaking for them. I'm massively disappointed.

"We came to this World Cup and we are playing against three of the best nations in the world. People were saying we weren't going to score a goal and we would just try and survive and I think in both games we have taken it to the opposition."

In just two games the Socceroos have witnessed key individuals lift their game to unparalleled levels, including Mathew Leckie and Matthew Spiranovic.

Though Cahill wants to play on to January's Asian Cup, most of the side will form the core for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

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"We have only just started, I firmly believe that," Postecoglou said. "We have only just started on this journey.

"The goal is to come back in four years' time, that they fear us before we get on the pitch as much as they fear us on the pitch now. Because there is no doubt now both Chile and the Dutch know they have been in a game and I think respect the way we have gone about our football."

Describing Cahill as "outstanding", the Australian coach reflected on the cruel moments for two of the younger players: Leckie in missing a golden chance at 2-2, and Ryan for conceding the winner.

"Most of these games are decided on moments and we had our moment where we could have gone 3-2 up," he said. "And we really had momentum at that time of the game.

"So where do you draw the line of whose fault? It's nobody's fault. We win as a team, we lose as a team.

"Maty is very, very disappointed at the moment and he's distraught. But again, he's only a young man, he's starting his journey as a goal-keeper and give me one goal-keeper in the world that doesn't have a moment he's disappointed in."

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Live: Colombia v Ivory Coast

JOIN us for live coverage of the crunch World Cup clash between Colombia and Ivory Coast in Brasilia.

It is a Group C match in which there is everything to gain for two sides who began their World Cup campaigns with victories.

Live: Colombia v Ivory Coast

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Two Vixens who show an eye for goal

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TEGAN Caldwell and Karyn Bailey admit they've come a long way in three years as an attacking combination and they are focused on sealing their partnership with a title win for Melbourne Vixens in Sunday's grand final.

Goal attack Caldwell and goal shooter Bailey have both enjoyed career-best seasons for the Vixens, but it's their union in the goal circle that has continued to flourish to help guide the team to a second grand final in three years.

``It's certainly a partnership that has gone from strength to strength each year,'' Bailey, 27, said.

``I think previously we both got on court and thought how we could play well and we probably didn't necessarily think how we could play well together as a team, but that's something that has come together extremely well in the last couple of years.

``I know with (Tegan) being a bit of a shorter goaler that I need to protect my little one in the circle and she knows that I'm not the fastest goaler either so she does a lot of running around out there while I get to play a little bit further back in the circle.

``We look after each other and we play to each other's strengths and weaknesses. That's one of those things you do as a team.''

Caldwell and Bailey were both a part of the Vixens' line-up that lost the 2012 trans-Tasman title decider to the Magic in their first year together.

It was Bailey's rookie year with the Vixens, while Caldwell was thrust into the starting goal attack's position midway through the 2011 season after champion goaler Sharelle McMahon badly injured her Achilles.

Then Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg conceded after the 2012 title loss to the Magic that the inexperience of the team's attack end, with the pair both playing in their first final series, had showed on the grand final stage.

Caldwell, whose brilliant season this year was rewarded with Australian selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, said that experience had helped shape her as a player and she wasn't going to let history repeat in Sunday's grand final against Queensland Firebirds.

``It's obviously an experience that I had and that I don't want to have again so I will be doing everything I can to make sure that doesn't happen again,'' Caldwell, 25, said.

``It's not something that I'll dwell on, but it's there, it happened and I want to learn from that.''

Certainly, Caldwell and Bailey showed no signs of finals nerves in the Vixens' major semi-final win against the Firebirds last week with the pair standing up under pressure against a defence led by Australian captain Laura Geitz.

``We are prepared for it this year, we have definitely matured all over the court now and we have got that experience,'' the 193cm Bailey said.

``It's completely different to what it was two years ago. Two years ago, I was a nervous wreck before the game whereas the semi-final we played I was in the change room going, `Let's go, let's finish this off'.''

Caldwell said the pair now shared a really ''strong connection'' on court and believed their strength as a combination lay in their ability to mix up their play.

``We can have a moving circle or she could be holding and I could be moving around her, we are very dynamic like that,'' Caldwell said.

``I think that can throw the defenders.''

Bailey, however, saw their strength as their ability to both turn and shoot, saying opposition defences could not afford to leave Caldwell roaming the circle.

``I think our strength is that either of us will turn and put the ball up,'' Bailey said.

``Sometimes in a team you will have a really tall shooter and the defenders will double defend them and let that goal attack run around.

``The beauty with Tegan is that you can't afford to do that. She is a deadeye shooter and she will put that ball up anywhere in the circle and if you leave her out there to do that.''

Caldwell's long-range shooting ability is one part of her game that has developed this season and she said there would be no hesitation if she was in the position to shoot the match-winning goal on Sunday.

``If I get the ball I will shoot that goal,'' Caldwell said.

``Wherever I get the ball I know that I want to be able to turn and put it in and know that the team have confidence in my shot.''

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