The Northern Territory news Thu 10 Apr 2014
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2014-04-10
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/250526
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/555837
42 SPORT THURSDAY APRIL 10 2014 NTNE01Z01MA - V2 Thorpe infection fight IAN Thorpes manager says the swimming great was unlucky to have contracted a serious infection thats laid him up in hospital. James Erskine also scorned claims Thorpe may lose the use of his left arm as nonsense. Thats just people making that up, I mean thats just nonsense, Erskine said. Thorpe is being treated in a Sydney hospital for the infection, contracted after undergo ing a series of surgeries on his shoulder at a hospital near his home in the Swiss town of Ronco Sopra Ascona. Hes under very good supervision, Mr Erskine said. As they say shit happens how long its going to take to clear up, I dont know. Hes battling it out in hospital ... hes a sick boy. Thorpes father revealed in February the Olympian was battling depression. Angry Arnold ends Japan stint GRAHAM Arnold could be set for a return to the ALeague after the former Central Coast coach parted ways with his Japanese club. Arnold only joined JLeague side Vegalta Sendai five months ago but after a winless start to his tenure, featuring four losses and two draws, he has decided to make his exit citing concerns about the attitude and age of his squad. Arnold turned heads at the Japanese club after guiding the Mariners to their maiden A League championship last season and through to the knockout stages of the Asian Champions League. But after Vegaltas 4-0 loss to Urawa Red Diamonds on Sunday, Arnold said he requested a meeting with the clubs president. Arnold said he was not happy with the fact that 17 players in his squad were over the age of 30 and that he felt his hands were tied when it came to bringing in new players. I told the president directly that I wasnt happy with the age of the squad, with the fact that we hadnt been able to make a lot of change and that many of the older players were resistant to change, Arnold said. I told the president I felt as if I was coaching someone elses team and in the end I have my standards to uphold. With the futures of Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe and Sydney FC coach Frank Farina uncertain, Arnold, with his proven track record in the ALeague, could be a perfect replacement. Scotts focus not flagging By BEN EVERILL GOLF ADAM Scott is adamant the ceremonial duties hes relishing wont detract from his bid to become only the fourth man to successfully defend the US Masters title. He promises itll be all business when he tees off alongside US PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner and US Amateur champion Matthew Fitzpatrick at Augusta National tomorrow morning (NT time) aiming to claim both the green jacket and world No 1 ranking on Monday. Scott was playing well in an all-Australian practice round with John Senden, Steven Bowditch and amateur Oliver Goss yesterday, while offering a few course tips to Masters rookies Bowditch and Goss. From there the world No. 2 turned to hosting the annual Champions dinner, Moreton Bay bugs, mums pavlova and all just one of many extra duties this week for the first Australian to conquer the Augusta National course. Scott says it would be impossible to count the number of handshakes, back pats and photos hes been part of since arriving at Augusta National, where hes sharing a locker with Gary Player in the champions locker room. But he insists his readiness isnt suffering unduly as he attempts to join Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods as the only men to win backto-back in the Masters 78-year history. Ill be ready to get inside the ropes and compete, said Scott. Im trying to balance everything the best I can and enjoy it. I dont know if there are answers to why only a couple guys have managed to repeat their (Masters-winning) performance (the next year). Its just one of those things. I certainly dont think any of the responsibilities are so draining that its going to cost you having a good week out on the golf course. Scott is coming off a nerveshaking finish at the Arnold Palmer Invitational where he led by seven shots after 36 holes and three coming into the final round but shot a 76 to crash to third. He says that prompted him to work even harder on his game in the past two weeks. I feel Im playing really well, Scott said. The game was there at Bay Hill. Hopefully Ive sharpened it up a little more since then, but I'm definitely feeling a lot more comfortable on this course. Scott heads a seven-man Australian contingent including world No. 4 Jason Day, Marc Leishman, recent PGA Tour winners Senden, Bowditch and Matt Jones plus teenage amateur Goss. And Day again looms as one of Scotts main challengers, desperate to claim his maiden major title after a second and third at the Masters. Im feeling great, said Day, troubled by a thumb injury in the lead-up. The course sets up nice for me. Australian star Adam Scott fine-tuning his game at Augusta National as he prepares to defend his US Masters title Picture: TIM CLARY BACKING IT UP Back to back US Masters champions Jack Nicklaus: 1965, 1966 Nick Faldo: 1989, 1990 Tiger Woods: 2001, 2002 Raising the Ba as Chelsea prevail PARIS-BORN Demba Ba was the hero as Chelsea advanced to the Champions League semi-finals at Paris Saint-Germains expense, while Real Madrid also progressed despite a second-leg defeat to Borussia Dortmund. Having lost 3-1 in last weeks first leg in France, Chelsea fought back to win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge and go through on away goals to their seventh semi-final in 11 years as substitute Ba netted. While a first-leg win was not enough for PSG, it was for Madrid, into their fourth consecutive semi-final 3-2 on aggregate despite losing 2-0 to Dortmund in Germany as Marco Reus scored a brace. Jose Mourinho is aiming to become the first manager to win the European Cup with three different clubs, but the odds were stacked against Chelsea coming back from their defeat in the French capital six days ago, even if PSG were without injured talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Indeed, Chelsea lost a key attacking threat of their own inside 18 minutes when the injured Eden Hazard (calf) was replaced by Andre Schurrle. But Germany winger Schurrle opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, converting a long throw-in from the right that had been helped on by David Luiz. Real did enough to win the tie thanks to their 3-0 success in last weeks first leg, although they were given a scare at the Westfalenstadion. Cristiano Ronaldo spent the whole game on the bench as he struggled with a knee problem.