Dockers dispose of Bulldogs

Skills ... Lee Spurr gets away from Bulldogs pair Shaun Higgins and Rob Murphy. Source: Michael Klein / News Limited

An impressive Fremantle have brought the Western Bulldogs back to earth with a comfortable 28-point win at Etihad Stadium.

The Dockers won 16.10 (106) to 11.12 (78) in front of just 19,210 fans on Saturday to remain unbeaten after their opening-round victory over West Coast.

1.1 (7)	Q1	6.2 (38)
5.5 (35)	Q2	9.6 (60)
7.7 (49)	Q3	13.9 (87)
11.12 (78)	Q4	16.10 (106)

Luke Dahlhaus 3	Michael Walters 3
Daniel Cross 2	Kepler Bradley 2
Robert Murphy 2	Hayden Crozier 2
Adam Cooney 1	Matthew Pavlich 2
Ayce Cordy 1	Michael Barlow 1
Nick Lower 1	Matthew De Boer 1
Clay Smith 1	Nathan Fyfe 1
	Stephen Hill 1
	Chris Mayne 1
	Tendai Mzungu 1
	Cameron Sutcliffe 1

The Dogs had kicked 19 goals in thrashing Brisbane by 68 points last weekend

But the run and scoring power they displayed against the Lions was expertly stifled by the well-drilled Dockers, who have let an opposition team score more than 12 goals just once in their past 13 games.

The Dockers had the game pretty much in their keeping after restricting the Dogs to just 1.1 in the first quarter, while they booted six goals themselves.

While the Bulldogs briefly fought back with the first three goals of the second term, the Dockers kicked three of the next four to lead by 25 points at the long break.

They sewed up the contest with a burst of four goals to open the second half and build a 49-point lead, with midfield gun David Mundy involved in setting up the first two after he had been well held by former teammate Nick Lower in the first half.

Versatile midfielder Nathan Fyfe was excellent for Fremantle, with 25 touches and a goal, while the run of Stephen Hill and Danyle Pearce through the middle of the ground was important.

Agile forward pocket Michael Walters was a danger man with three goals, tall forwards Matthew Pavlich and Kepler Bradley kicked two each and Luke McPharlin was extremely solid in defence.

The contribution of tagger Ryan Crowley, who blanketed Dogs' midfield star Ryan Griffen, was also a key factor.

For the Bulldogs, Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney showed plenty of dash and picked up 31 touches to continue his fine early-season form, Tom Liberatore worked strongly in close, winning 12 clearances, small forward Luke Dahlhaus kicked three majors and Jordan Roughead worked hard on Pavlich.

The game was interrupted in the third quarter when goal umpire Courtney Lai was involved in a collision and was stretchered off with what appears to be a serious knee injury.

Click here to review all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Coulthard steals win in Tassie

Battle ... Jamie Whincup tries in vain to hold off Fabian Coulthard. Source: Ross Marden / News Limited

New Zealander Fabian Coulthard has upstaged defending V8 Supercar champion Jamie Whincup to steal the opening race of the Tasmanian round.

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Coulthard produced a bold passing move on Whincup two laps into the second 25-lap sprint to claim the lead and go on to clinch his first official race win.

Driver		Team	Pts
3	Will Davison (AUS)	FPR	240
6	Scott McLaughlin (NZL)	Garry Rogers Motorsport	186
9	Shane Van Gisbergen (NZL)	Mother Energy	150
10	Scott Pye (AUS)	Lucas Dumbrell	138
12	James Moffat (AUS)	Kelly Racing	129
13	Alex Premat (FRA)	Garry Rogers Motorsport	120
15	Tim Blanchard (AUS)	Dick Johnson Racing	111
16	Dean Fiore (AUS)	Lucas Dumbrell	111
17	Mark Winterbottom (AUS)	FPR	111
20	Alex Davison (AUS)	Charlie Schwerkolt Racing	84
21	Tim Slade (AUS)	Erebus Motorsport	60
24	Michael Caruso (AUS)	Kelly Racing	36
25	Maro Engel (GER)	Erebus Motorsport	33
27	Jonny Reid (NZL)	Dick Johnson Racing	0

The Holden racer then managed to increase his lead in keeping the four-times champion at bay.

Red Bull had sharply contrasting fortunes with Whincup at least managing to claim second spot ahead of the Ford of Mark Winterbottom.

Whincup started from pole position in the first stint and capitalised at the start keeping Coulthard's Holden and Winterbottom behind him.

While Jason Bright and Garth Tander engaged in some roughhouse tactics in the fight for fifth, Whincup extended his lead over the field by two seconds.

Coulthard and Winterbottom maintained their positions for the second period which began after a 15 minute break.

But it was shortly after the rolling start to the second run when Coulthard pounced.

His performance was an extension of his form at last month's non-championship grand prix meeting when he won three of the four races.

The series leader going into the round, Red Bull star Craig Lowndes was upset after he had a disastrous start to the first of the two 25-lap runs.

Lowndes was muscled off the track by Shane van Gisbergen before the end of lap one and seconds later Russell Ingall's Walkinshaw Commodore appeared to tap him from behind.

Spun around in traffic, Lowndes dropped back to last and limped back to the pits for repairs left with a broken gearbox and a flat tyre.

Lowndes, who led the series on points after the first round in Adelaide, said he was "a little bit angry'' after being subjected to such close attention.

Lowndes was forced to take to the re-start for the second sprint one lap down, his lead in the championship severely shaken.

Todd Kelly was put out of action even before the start of the second run when his Nissan stopped with no power just metres out on the track from pit lane.

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Ken hopes emotion wont overwhelm Port

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Tribute ... Ken Hinkley hopes his players can handle their emotions. Source: Sarah Reed / News Limited

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley hopes his players won't be overwhelmed by emotion in their tribute match for former teammate John McCarthy.

But Hinkley admits uncertainty about just how his players will react against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night.

"It's really hard because the emotional part, you think how long is it going to last?'' Hinkley told reporters on Friday.

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"Once the contest starts, is it influencing the players and their behaviours? We would hope not because we know their behaviours will change their outcomes.

"And that is the most important thing for us, we have got to get the right behaviours.''

McCarthy died, aged 22, after falling from a roof at a Las Vegas casino last September while on an end-of-season trip with some Power teammates.

Some Port players broke down while recording video tributes to McCarthy to be screened at AAMI Stadium before Port's first home game since his accidental death.

Both clubs will run through banners, and wear black arm bands, in McCarthy's honour.

But Hinkley said his task would be to "bring them (his players) back to the focus of playing football as much as we possibly can''.

"Obviously there is some stuff that we won't be able to control,'' he said.

"But we have just got to remind the boys what makes them good players and that is then their job: to go out and produce the sort of form that we want.

"They know it's a significant game for him and the way they want to honour him. Importantly, they know they can do that best by playing football.''

Hinkley called on all Port supporters to come to the match in a show of respect for McCarthy, whose Victorian-based family will attend the game.

Port fullback Alipate Carlile, who was with McCarthy on the ill-fated Las Vegas trip, will return from a hamstring injury to play against the Giants.

Beyond the McCarthy factor, Hinkley said the clash was also important for other reasons as Port seek to back-up their round one demolition of Melbourne.

"We're not fooled by one performance,'' Hinkley said.

"We know that we have to turn up again and play good footy again tomorrow night ... that is what AFL football demands of you.

"There is always opportunities in football to look back. And it's a really dangerous thing to do.''

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Rules won't change Storm playbook

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Melbourne Storm ... coach Craig Bellamy rules out changing his play book. Source:News Limited

Melbourne NRL coach Craig Bellamy won't re-write their playbook again despite the obstruction rule being tweaked.

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Bellamy applauded the "common sense" shown by the NRL this week to hand video referees the power to determine the significance of block runners in try-scoring situations.

Renowned for their innovative set plays, the Storm went back to the drawing board after a disallowed try in round three to come up with ways to work around the stricter interpretation.

"We did change a little bit," Bellamy said.

"A few of our plays we changed and a couple we put on the shelf.

"That's a little bit frustrating for us but we might stick with our new version."

The Wests Tigers will get a first-hand look of that version on Monday night at AAMI Park.

Bellamy, however, was more concerned with his team's defence than its attack despite their 4-0 win-loss start to the season.

"If someone said, especially with the schedule we've had, that we'd be four games up then we would have grabbed that with both hands,'' Bellamy said on Friday.

"There's been a few signs of a couple of things that we probably haven't been that good at in the last couple of games.

"Defensively there's just a couple of things we need to pick up on."

The Storm did leak five tries to almost fall to Brisbane in their last outing, with their right-hand touchline manned by winger Matt Duffie, the most obvious weakness.

Duffie is under pressure with premiership winger big Fijian Sisa Waqa back in contention after recovering from a cut hand.

With veteran Braith Anasta shifting to halfback for the Tigers, Bellamy expects their faltering attack to finally fire.

The former NSW playmaker will replace youngster Jacob Miller who was a casualty after their 22-0 loss to Manly.

"You always know they're going to be a dangerous attacking team, especially with guys like Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall in there,'' Bellamy said.

"They have probably been a little bit up and down but we expect them to be at their best."

Anasta hasn't started at halfback in six years, the last time memorable for all the wrong reasons with his Roosters suffering a 56-0 loss.

Bellamy believed Anasta's footy nous and improved skills would mean a different outcome this time around.

"He's a pretty complete package but Braith's best position is probably in the halves," he said.

"He should be a little bit more comfortable in the halves so that means he'll probably play really well."

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Happy first birthday Wanderers

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Snapped up ... tickets to the Wanderers semi-final were sold in less than a minute. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of the Wanderers' creation, and fans celebrated the occasion by snapping up the first release tickets to the expansion club's home semi-final in less than a minute.

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The only tickets now available will be an allocation released for away supporters next week. 

In the 365 day they've been around, the Wanderers have risen to become Premiers and are gearing up for an unprecedented tilt at the A-League finals.

Fox Sports football commentator Andy Harper says while the growth of the club has been astonishing, the rush for tickets shouldn't come as too much of a shock.

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"Western Sydney Wanderers has happened a lot faster than what everyone could have imagined, obviously," Harper told foxsports.com.au.

"When they beat Adelaide 6-1 at home, it became obvious to me that it was not a matter of if but when Parramatta Stadium would be a season-ticket affair only and that it would be the Wanderers who would be a key driver in discussions about re-development of Parramatta Stadium."

"The final sell-out is just the latest sell-out of that."

In March FFA chief David Gallop said the unprecedented success of the Wanderers had seen them "outgrow Parramatta Stadium" and that an extension or new stadium was needed to meet the demand.

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Gallop paid tribute to the competition new boys on their anniversary.

On day one, the ambitious goal was to establish a new club 'for the people, by the people'. It's easy to say, but hard to do," Gallop said through a statement.

"But everything that happened stayed true to that goal. The fan forums, the online polls and the formal engagement with local associations and clubs all contributed to deciding the name, colours and culture of the club.

"The real heroes of this story are the people of the Western Sydney football community. They are the members, volunteers, supporters and local business sponsors who make the club what it is today.

It's a fantastic example of how sport can unite people in society from diverse backgrounds and build a sense of belonging in a community."

The tickets on offer on Thursday were quickly snapped up on Ticketek's website after going on sale to the general public at 9AM (EDT) on Thursday.

Such is the demand for the April 12 clash at Parramatta Stadium that on Monday Wanderers members abused their priority system by using eachother's membership codes to snap up tickets.

The club's official account posted on Twitter after fans complained about missing out.

Just an hour after the allocation was exhausted 50 tickets were already available on ebay.

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Gibbo's tribute to a Dragons great

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Tribute ... Mike Gibson remembers Ian Walsh as a great gentleman. Source: Bec Bennett / News Limited

Mike Gibson gives us a rare insight into what it was like to cover the game of rugby league in the 1960s.

Gibbo went away on a couple of international tours with the Kangaroos in the 1960s, and here's an excerpt of what he had to say about the late great Ian Walsh, who passed away on Thursday morning at the age of 80.

To hear the full discussion on Walsh, and everything else in rugby league, subscribe free to his weekly rugby league podcast – There's Always Next Week – which you'll find on iTunes: http://bit.ly/11QaDoE 

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Aloisi banished for three matches

Banished ... John Aloisi will serve a three-game touchline ban. Source: Joe Castro / AAP

A three-match ban for Melbourne Heart coach John Aloisi means the pain of the club's dismal A-League season end could carry into their next campaign.

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Finalists last season, the Heart were well in contention for a repeat appearance before fading badly to lose their last five games and finish second-bottom.

Aloisi's first season as coach finished with him banished to the stands for abusing officials at halftime of his club's season-ending 2-1 loss to Central Coast Mariners on Saturday night.

The match review panel have added an extra two games to his mandatory one-match suspension.

The Heart are considering an appeal and have been given until 5pm (AEDT) Wednesday to decide.

If the ban stands, it will include any FFA-sanctioned pre-season matches the club play in the lead-up to next season.

That potentially means Aloisi could serve it in full before the season starts, if the Heart can organise three pre-season friendlies, having played two in the most recent pre-season.

Defender Patrick Gerhardt received only the mandatory one-match ban after he was sent off in the first half against the Mariners.

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Buckley: nothing but respect for Mick

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The apprentice ... Nathan Buckley is trying to stay focused on the task at hand. Source: Mark Stewart / News Limited

Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has played down suggestions of a rift with Carlton coach Mick Malthouse ahead of Sunday's blockbuster encounter.

"There's plenty of people keen to drum that up and to try to make it an adversarial relationship,'' Buckley said today.

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"I've got nothing but respect for Mick.

"I learnt a lot from him, played under him for a number of years as his captain and worked under him as an assistant coach in the plan to eventually become senior coach.

"We've had many frank discussions, not in recent times, (but) we've had many frank discussions about that situation.''

Buckley said he did not think there would be any pre-game acknowledgment between the two coaches before Sunday's clash.

"I very rarely go to any of the opposition coaches on game day,'' he said.

"I caught up with Mick at the coaches' AGM last week, I will see him tomorrow morning at the Peter MacCallum breakfast and I am sure, watching the TV shows, I will see plenty of his head between now and Sunday.''

Buckley inadvertently brought some humour to the build-up when asked if the two coaches had had any recent conversations.

"He's the coach of Collingwood,'' he said of Malthouse before correcting himself.  ``He was ... he's the coach of Carlton.''

Dayne Beams (quad) will miss Sunday's clash and could be on the sidelines for a few more weeks, but Buckley remained confident Ben Reid (concussion) and Ben Johnson (thigh) will play.

Heath Shaw (illness) is a certain starter.

Buckley refused to rule out Dale Thomas, who missed yesterday's training session, but played 75 per cent of last week's VFL match.

Clinton Young, Alex Fasolo, Paul Seedsman and Andrew Krakouer are also in the mix.

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Live: NRL round five teams

Dropped ... Luke Walsh will run out with Windsor in the NSW Cup this week. Source: Grant Trouville / AAP

We bring you all the big team news as the NRL round five squads are announced on Tuesday.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs v Manly Sea Eagles, ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm (EDT) Friday

Bulldogs: Ben Barba, Mitch Brown, Josh Morris, Tim Lafai, Sam Perrett, Josh Reynolds, Kris Keating, Aiden Tolman, Michael Ennis, Martin Taupau, Tony Williams, Josh Jackson, Greg Eastwood. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Dale Finucane, Tim Browne, Frank Pritchard, David Klemmer

Sea Eagles: Brett Stewart, Jorge Taufua, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans, Brenton Lawrence, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo, Tom Symonds. Interchange: Richie Fa'aoso, Joe Galuvao, Jamie Buhrer, Jason King

Gold Coast Titans v Brisbane Broncos, Skilled Stadium, 7.35pm (EDT) Friday

Titans: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Brad Takairangi, Jamal Idris, David Mead, Aidan Sezer, Albert Kelly, Luke Douglas, Matt Srama, Nate Myles, Greg Bird, Ben Ridge, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Dave Taylor, Luke Bailey, Ryan James, Beau Falloon, Luke O' Dwyer, Steve Michaels.

Broncos: Corey Norman, Josh Hoffman, Jack Reed, Justin Hodges, Lachlan Maranta, Scott Prince, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Andrew McCullough, Sam Thaiday, Alex Glenn, Matt Gillett, Corey Parker. Interchange: Ben Hunt, Dunamis Lui, David Hala, Scott Anderson, Nick Slyney, Jordan Kahu, Jarrod Wallace

Parramatta Eels v Cronulla Sharks, Parramatta Stadium, 5.30pm (EDT) Saturday

Eels: Jarryd Hayne, Ken Sio, Ryan Morgan, Jacob Loko, Vai Toutai, Luke Kelly, Chris Sandow, Mitchell Allgood, Matt Keating, Tim Mannah, Reni Maitua, Ben Smith, Joseph Paulo. Interchange: Ben Roberts, Darcy Lussick, Fuifui Moimoi, Kelepi Tanginoa

Sharks: Michael Gordon, Nathan Stapleton, Ben Pomeroy, Jonathan Wright, Beau Ryan, Chad Townsend, Jeff Robson, Andrew Fifita, John Morris, Ben Ross, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Chris Heighington, Jayson Bukuya, Isaac De Gois, Anthony Tupou, Sam Tagatese, Stewart Mills

North Queensland Cowboys v Penrith Panthers, 1300SMILES Stadium, 6.30pm (EDT) Saturday

Cowboys: Matthew Bowen, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Brent Tate, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Johnathan Thurston (c), Michael Morgan, Matthew Scott (c), Scott Moore, James Tamou, Gavin Cooper, Glenn Hall, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Rory Kostjasyn, Tariq Sims, Scott Bolton, Jason Taumalolo.

Panthers: Dean Whare, Josh Mansour, Wes Naiqama, Brad Tighe, David Simmons, Tom Humble, Blake Austin, Sam McKendry, Kevin Kingston, Nigel Plum, Sika Manu, Lewis Brown, Cameron Ciraldo. Interchange: Adam Docker, Tim Grant, James Segeyaro, Clint Newton

St George Illawarra Dragons v Newcastle Knights, WIN Jubilee Stadium, 3pm (EST) Sunday

Dragons: Gerard Beale, Brett Morris, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward, Nathan Fien, Dan Hunt, Mitch Rein, Jack Stockwell, Tyson Frizell, Ben Creagh, Trent Merrin. Interchange: Bronson Harrison, Matt Prior, Leeson Ah Mau, Daniel Vidot, Jack de Belin, Michael Henderson

Knights: Darius Boyd, James McManus, Anthony Quinn, Alex McKinnon, Akuila Uate, Jarrod Mullen, Tyrone Roberts, Kade Snowden, Kurt Gidley, Willie Mason, Robbie Rochow, Chris Houston, Jeremy Smith. Interchange: Danny Buderus, Neville Costigan, Adam Cuthbertson, David Fa'alogo, Timana Tahu

New Zealand Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs, Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm (EST) Sunday

Warriors: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Ngani Laumape, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering, Todd Lowrie. Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Ben Henry, Elijah Taylor, Pita Godinet, Glen Fisiiahi, Manu Vatuvei, Sebastine Ikahihifo

Rabbitohs: Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, Dylan Farrell, Bryson Goodwin, Andrew Everingham, John Sutton, Adam Reynolds, David Tyrrell, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi, Chris McQueen, Ben Te'o, Sam Burgess. Interchange: Nathan Peats, Jeff Lima, Ben Lowe, George Burgess, Michael Crocker, Justin Hunt, Jason Clark

Canberra Raiders v Sydney Roosters, Canberra Stadium, 6.30pm (EST) Sunday

Raiders: Reece Robinson, Sandor Earl, Jarrod Croker, Jack Wighton, Edrick Lee, Josh McCrone , Sam Williams, David Shillington, Glen Buttriss, Brett White, Josh Papalii, Joel Thompson, Shaun Fensom. Interchange: Matt McIlwrick, Joel Edwards, Dane Tilse, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Anthony Milford

Roosters: Anthony Minichiello, Daniel Tupou, Michael Jennings, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, James Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jake Friend, Sam Moa, Mitchell Aubusson, Sonny Bill Williams, Boyd Cordner. Interchange: Daniel Mortimer, Martin Kennedy, Isaac Liu, Aidan Guerra, Luke O'Donnell

Melbourne Storm v Wests Tigers, AAMI Park, 7pm (EST) Monday

Storm: Billy Slater, Matt Duffie, Will Chambers, Junior Sa'u, Mahe Fonua, Gareth Widdop, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith, Bryan Norrie, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hoffman, Ryan Hinchcliffe. Interchange: Jason Ryles, Lagi Setu, Siosaia Vave, Kevin Proctor, Slade Griffin, Junior Moors

Tigers: Tim Moltzen, Joel Reddy, Blake Ayshford, Chris Lawrence, James Tedesco, Benji Marshall, Braith Anasta, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Jack Buchanan, Bodene Thompson, Liam Fulton, Adam Blair. Interchange: Ben Murdoch-Masila, Ava Seumanufagai, Matt Bell, Eddy Pettybourne

14.23 | 0 komentar | Read More

Els to farewell his belly putter

Banned belly ... Ernie Els will farewell the controversial putter next week. Source: Jon Super / AP

British Open champion Ernie Els will use the belly putter for the last time at a major during the U.S. Masters next week as he phases out the controversial club ahead of a proposed ban, the South African said.

The rule-making Royal and Ancient and the United States Golf Association want to outlaw the controversial anchoring of a long-handled putter to the body during the swing - a technique employed by three of the last five major winners including Els - from 2016.

The European Tour has backed the proposal but the US PGA Tour is opposed to such a ban.

Els used the short stick for his first three rounds at the Chiangmai Golf Classic in Thailand before taking 29 putts with his belly putter on Sunday in a closing two-under-par 70 to finish tied 14th in the Asian Tour event.

"I just wanted to play (with the belly putter) since it was my last competitive round before the Masters," said the four-time major winner who will switch to the shorter stick in time for the U.S. Open in June.

"Mentally, I was going to do the long putter at the Masters. I wanted to feel what it is like under a little bit of pressure," said the towering, smooth-swinging 'Big Easy'.

World number 24 Els has been looking for consistency this year, having missed the cut in the Arnold Palmer Invitational with successive rounds of 75s before heading for Thailand.

"So far this year I've played some decent golf in parts, but I'm not quite there on the consistency front," the former number one wrote on his blog on www.pgatour.com.

"All you can do is keep working hard, though. As we saw last year, your fortunes can change quickly in this game."
 
Els worked hard on his short putter in Thailand and was overall pleased with his preparation for the major he came twice agonisingly close to winning before finishing second both in 2000 and 2004.

"I came here to get my swing under control, which I think it did. The short game is not too bad, everything is kind of there. It's just the confidence search now.".

"I'm hitting it nice again. I'm really glad I came here. I've had a great experience in Chiangmai ... I just wished I made more birdies," he said.

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Classy Cats clip Hawk wings

Jubilant ... James Podsiadly celebrates as the Cats slay the Hawks once again. Source: JOE CASTRO / AAP

Geelong has staged a remarkable second half comeback to start their season with a win and extend their streak over Hawthorn to 10.

Captain Joel Selwood starred for the Cats in the latest chapter of their fierce rivalry with the Hawks as they won 13.15 (93) to 12.14 (86).

4.3 (27)	Q1	1.5 (11)
8.9 (57)	Q2	5.7 (37)
10.10 (70)	Q3	10.12 (72)
12.14 (86)	Q4	13.15 (93)

Luke Breust 2	Mitchell Duncan 2
Lance Franklin 2	Tom Hawkins 2
Shane Savage 2	James Podsiadly 2
Brent Guerra 1	Billie Smedts 2
David Hale 1	Paul Chapman 1
Jordan Lewis 1	Allen Christensen 1
Cyril Rioli 1	Andrew Mackie 1
Jarryd Roughead 1	Joel Selwood 1
Isaac Smith 1	Travis Varcoe 1

Hawthorn mounted a late charge with the last two goals of the match, but Luke Breust missed a straightforward set shot with a minute left and that was their last chance.

The Cats were missing veterans James Kelly, Joel Corey and Steve Johnson, but Selwood and Paul Chapman led them superbly.

Utility Sam Mitchell starred for the Hawks off half-back and through the midfield.

Hawthorn have not beaten Geelong since their upset 2008 premiership win.

Then came the start of the "Kennett Curse'", with then-Hawks president Jeff Kennett saying before the start of the 2009 season that the Cats lacked the mental drive of his team.

Eight of the 10 wins have been by nine points or less.

Aided by Geelong's inaccuracy, Hawthorn dominated the opening term and had a 16-point lead at the first break.

The Cats scored five behinds before their first goal late in the term.

That went out to 30 points late in the second term as the Hawks threatened to take the game away from Geelong.

Hawks star Lance Franklin, sporting a severe mohawk haircut, had several clashes with Selwood early in the match.

Franklin was always dangerous and kicked two goals, but Tom Lonergan did well to blunt his influence.

The Hawks were dominating the centre clearances and the Cats had little system in attack, with star forward Tom Hawkins particularly quiet.

But now it was Hawthorn's turn to be wasteful and they kicked 4.6 for the quarter.

Hawkins kicked his first goal of the match and Travis Varcoe also goaled in the last minute.

After looking in all sorts of trouble, the Cats had rallied to be only 20 points down at halftime.

Despite continuing to struggle at the centre bounces, Geelong started the third term much stronger and soon had the lead.

They had a run of six goals either side of halftime.

Hawthorn kicked two of the next three goals to trail by only two points at the last break.

Geelong kicked the first three goals of the final term, giving them a lead of 21 points at 13 minutes before Hawthorn's late challenge.

Hawthorn key defender Brian Lake was a late withdrawal after his injury-interrupted pre-season.

Click here to see all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Clarke hospitalised with gastro

Concern ... Michael Clarke spends a night in hospital with severe gastro. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Australia captain Michael Clarke was hospitalised overnight after suffering a bout of gastroenteritis.

Clarke, who returned home early from Australia's forgettable tour of India last month to treat a lower back injury, has since been discharged from hospital.

Cricket Australia confirmed he was recovering at home. 

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Messi scores in 19th straight match

Unreal ... Lionel Messi keeps a remarkable streak going. Source: Lalo R. Villar / AAP

Barcelona and Real Madrid both dropped points on their travels in La Liga, while Malaga defeated Rayo Vallecano and Levante edged out Sevilla.

Lionel Messi again made history but his goal was not enough to earn Barcelona a win over relegation-threatened Celta Vigo as their showdown ended in a 2-2 draw.

The Argentina international is no stranger to treading new ground and his 73rd-minute goal meant he has scored in 19 successive Primera Division matches.

In doing so he has found the net against every other side in the competition - the first player to ever do that in consecutive matches - and he has 29 goals from his last 19.

It would not be the winner, though, with Borja Oubina's late header earning Celta a point, with Naxto Insa's opener having been earlier scrubbed out by Cristian Tello's goal.

Real Madrid missed the chance to make things slightly less comfortable for Barca at the top of the standings as they were held by relegation-fighting Real Zaragoza at La Romareda

Madrid could have trimmed their arch rivals' lead to 11 points if they could beat Zaragoza and claim a seventh successive league victory

However, like Barca, they had to settle for just a point with Rodri putting Zaragoza ahead early on before Cristiano Ronaldo levelled things up just before the break with his 28th La Liga goal of the campaign.

Neither side could go on to force a winner in the second half, with Marcelo hitting the post for Madrid and both goalkeepers making a number of vital interventions.

Malaga temporarily reclaimed fourth spot with victory at Rayo Vallecano.

Weligton gave Manuel Pellegrini's side the lead but Piti levelled for the hosts from the penalty spot.

Former Real Madrid forward Julio Baptista scored his first goal in 18 months to restore Malaga's lead early in the second half before Pedro Morales secured all three points with a wonderful goal.

Levante edged out Sevilla in the battle of the two mid-table teams with Ruben Garcia scoring the only goal of the game with a low strike from outside the box in the 40th minute. 

Read more: http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/21571/8608893/Primera-Liga-Barcelona-and-Real-Madrid-drop-points-as-Lionel-Messi-sets-new-mark

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Waratahs survive late Force rally

Tight struggle ... Both teams battled to mount continued attacking raids. Source: AAP

Israel Folau taunted Western Force on field and off on Sunday as New South Wales Waratahs posted back-to-back Super Rugby wins for the first time in almost a year.

1 Tries 1
Adam Ashley-Cooper 47'	Alfi Mafi 54'
0 Conversions 1
	Sias Ebersohn 55'
6 Penalties 4
Brendan McKibbin 11'	Sias Ebersohn 5'
Brendan McKibbin 18'	Sias Ebersohn 8'
Brendan McKibbin 22'	Sias Ebersohn 36'
Brendan McKibbin 29'	Sias Ebersohn 60'
Brendan McKibbin 33'
Brendan McKibbin 42'

The Waratahs climbed to within one competition point of the top six with a gritty 23-19 victory in a dour match dominated by the referee's whistle at Allianz Stadium.

Folau's X-factor at least provided fans with the odd flash of excitement as the code-hopping recruit ignited the few attacking raids from either side.

But Folau's half-time revelation on Fox Sports that the Waratahs entered the match believing the Force were ``soft out wide'' could have come back to bite him.

Instead the former rugby league international set up NSW's lone and decisive try - to Adam Ashley-Cooper in the Wallabies star's milestone 100th Super game - with a clean break seven minutes after the interval.

Ashley-Cooper's try from the very next phase shot the Tahs out to 23-9, a lead they refused to relinquish despite the Force narrowing the gap to four points.

With both teams desperate to keep their seasons alive, the derby never reached any great heights.

Two quick penalty goals from five-eighth Sias Ebersohn gave the Force an early 6-0 lead.

But NSW halfback Brendan McKibbin replied with two penalties of his own to have the game locked up at 6-all after 18 minutes.

Force prop Salesi Ma'afu found himself in the sin bin for a 19th-minute high tackle on NSW replacement hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau and the Waratahs almost immediately capitalised on their one-man advantage.

A strong bust from Folau put the Tahs deep on the attack but the last pass went into touch as the home side had to settle for another penalty goal, and 9-6 lead, after the Force were pinged for offside.

Referee Steve Walsh continued to punish the Force at the breakdown and McKibbin happily nailed further penalty goals in the 29th and 33rd minutes to give the Waratahs a 15-6 advantage.

Ebersohn reduced the deficit to six points with the eighth penalty of a ho-hum first half.

As the Force continued to infringe, McKibbin was called on again just a minute into the second half to extend NSW's lead to 18-9 with his sixth penalty.

Ashley-Cooper's five-pointer seemed to have sealed it for the locals, but a converted try to fullback Alfi Mafi and another Ebersohn penalty set up a thrilling final quarter hour.

Victory gave the Waratahs two straight wins for the first time since last April.

Watch video highlights and review all the stats at Match Centre!

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