The Northern Territory news Fri 22 May 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-05-22
This publication contains may contain links to external sites. These external sites may no longer be active.
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
application/pdf
Copyright. Made available by the publisher under licence.
News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/256932
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/516427
32 JUST FOOTY FRIDAY MAY 22 2015 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Pirates train the house down to face Cougars SKIPPER Frank Jennings is optimistic the University Pirates can gain revenge on Casuarina Cougars when the two clubs meet in the NTRU firstgrade competition tomorrow. Pirates lost their opening round match 23-10 to Cougars but lock forward Jennings, 28, believes they can turn the tables on Casuarina and continue their climb up the ladder. Forwards Gareth Norman and Bobby Nurse both crossed for five pointers in the opening encounter on April 11 with Nate Lamb landing both conversions and three penalties. Jennings and Michael Mason both scored tries for the Pirates, who are third on the ladder on 12 points behind the Cougars (15) and leaders South Darwin Rabbitohs (16). We were not really well prepared for the opening match, Jennings said. But we have been training the house down for the past four weeks. Jennings said they were still experimenting with players in a few positions and he is confident of a better showing from the Jolly Rogers than they put on last Saturday when they defeated the South Darwin Rabbitohs by three points. It was a scrappy game with both sides spilling too much ball, Jennings said. He believes the key to todays clash is that the Pirates must match the aggression of the Cougars pack. We need to be on song to give our backs a platform to work off, he said. Jennings is wary of the influence that Cougars Bobby Nurse, Joe Albert and Eric Erickson can have on a match but he is confident the Pirates can counter them with players such as centre Shaun Wauchope and fly-half Robbie Butcher. No.8 Wayne Robinson is likely to miss out again with an ongoing hamstring problem but flanker Ryan Oakley, who impressed off the bench last week, may be in the run-on side. NTRU Premiership (Round 6) Tomorrow: University Pirates v Casuarina Cougars at University Oval (4pm), Darwin Dragons v South Darwin Rabbitohs at Rugby Park No 2 (6pm). DOUG BOOTH Off to great start with a little help from my Friends DOUG BOOTH LITTLE Ava Hall and her elder brother Carson love rugby. So when the NT Friends of Rugby decided to donate equipment to NTRU club Uni versity Pirates, it was no surprise that they were keen to put the goalpost pads and contact shields through their paces. Its important to have the right training gear and if they can learn the correct methods they can perform better on the field and also in a more safe manner, Friends of Rugby vice-president Bruce Kennon said. The presentation to the Pirates came on the eve of the Friends of Rugbys major fund raiser for the year, the Heineken Long Lunch. The guest speaker at todays event is All Black legend Eric Rush. The University Pirates club has been a particularly good supporter of this event, Kennon said. Marty OBryan, president of NTRU premiers University Pirates, said the donations from the NT Friends of Rugby were most welcome. We run junior teams from under-7s through to under-13s, OBryan said. Ava, 7, and Carson Hall, 9, from University Pirates, test the new contact shields and goalpost covers donated to the club by the NT Friends of Rugby Picture: IVAN RACHMAN More wins please BOUNCING back with a win after your character has been publicly questioned is easy. Maintaining that same level of performance the week after, when theres no pride to scrap for? Thats a whole different ball game, as the Queensland Reds are discovering. The Super Rugby battlers are aware that one swallow doesnt make a summer and it certainly doesnt make up for the consistent horrors in 2015. Captain James Slipper needs no reminder that last weeks breakthrough win over the Melbourne Rebels will mean next to nothing if the Reds falter against the Sharks in Brisbane tonight. Is this farewell IT MAY be the last time Adam Ashley-Cooper ever plays the Crusaders, and the departing Waratahs centre hopes Saturdays grand final rematch will be one of their best clashes. Ashley-Cooper is preparing to make the leap to Europe to play for French side BordeauxBegles after the Rugby World Cup in England. And the 31year-old has started checking off the personal milestones that come after three years with the Tahs and a decade in the comp. When he lines up at ANZ Stadium tomorrow, it will be the first time the Tahs meet the Crusaders since last Augusts memorable title decider at the same venue where the Waratahs won 33-32. Cummins needs pill WESTERN Force winger Nick Cummins admits he needs to get more of the ball if he is to boost his chances of earning a World Cup call-up. Cummins has been starved of opportunities this Super Rugby season, with the last-placed Force snaring just two wins from 12 games. The 15-Test winger remains a strong chance to earn a World Cup call-up, but he knows hell have to show plenty of grunt over the final four games of the season in order to impress Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. After the bye, the Force host the Highlanders this weekend. Rebels sold out THE Melbourne Rebels will have new owners by July with the ARU signing a deal with Imperium Group to privatise the Super Rugby club. Imperium Group is led by managing director and owner New Zealand-born multimillionaire Andrew Cox and his wife Sarah. The group own the Australasian franchise for restaurant chain TGI Fridays, several luxury boutique hotels in New Zealand and a number of other businesses. Prominent Victorian businessman Peter Sidwell, the former chairman and majority owner of ALeague club Melbourne Heart, now known as Melbourne City, is also involved. Join the winning team For up to the minute news, views + scores The NT News Sport @NTNewsSport SUPER RUGBY Round 15 (NT times) Today: Chiefs v Bulls at Rotorua Stadium (5.05pm), Reds v Sharks at Suncorp Stadium (7.10pm) Tomorrow: Blues v Hurricanes at Eden Park (5.05pm), Waratahs v Crusaders at ANZ Stadium (7.10pm), Force v Highlanders at nib Stadium (9.15pm) Sunday: Cheetahs v Lions at Free State Stadium (12.35am), Stormers v Rebels at Newlands Stadium (2.40am) Bye: Brumbies