SPORT Eagles’ pack are soaring Kraft’s huge test RUGBY UNION Warren Thomson EAGLES will be going for ATHLETICS their fifth consecutive win when they tackle Dingo Cubs Steve Menzies tomorrow from 5.30pm at A PERSONAL best (PB) in Anzac Oval. one of the world’s most After losing to Federal prestigious 10,000 metre Devils in the opening round events is the goal for Emma of the season, Eagles have Kraft in tomor- won their last four games, row. including an impressive 38-21 It has been a long road but over the Devils last week, to she will run against the join Devils at the top of the world’s best 10,000 metre table. runners in the Zatopek: 10. Cubs may have got the win The elite field of 10 invited over Warriors in the dying runners includes Kenyan stages of last week’s encoun- Joyce Chepkirui, who ran a ter but they will be out for an world record of 30 minutes improved performance this 38 seconds in Tilburg in the week and will need to be Netherlands during Sept- switched on from the kick- ember this year, and Emily off. Chebet, who was second in the same race. Cubs coach Paul Blewitt New South Wales’s said: ‘‘It has been one of our Belinda Martin, who has issues so far this season and run the best 10,000 metre we’ve got to start playing for time of 35:29.85 in the whole 80 minutes.’’ this year, is another starter. After not doing well in the Kraft said: ‘‘This is defi- set plays last week, Cubs will nitely a career highlight. I’m be out to improve their line- very excited and scared at outs and scrums tomorrow. the same time to be Blewitt said: ‘‘We worked at this major event. on our set plays at training so ‘‘It has always been a they should be better this long-term goal of mine, but weekend. didn’t think it would happen ‘‘We had a shocker last so soon. week, we are usually domi- ‘‘I have seen the start list nant and we should be all and I’m well aware that I’m right. not at the same standard as the other Australian girls, ‘‘We also have some players but it’s a stepping stone and returning, as well as a few an awesome opportunity to new players playing this run. week, which is definitely a ‘‘I am aiming to run a PB good thing for the club.’’ for the 10,000 metres. Eagles had seven key ‘‘You also never know players missing last week and when these opportunities coach Patrick Torres is quite will come your way again.’’ excited about his group. The Zatopek:10 has been They showed they have run for more than 50 years playing depth by defeating in honour of Czech distance Devils by 17 points and an- runner Emil Zatopek who other positive is many won the , 10,000 players are putting their metres and the marathon at hand up for selection. the 1952 Helsinki — all in Olympic Torres even had to make a record times. decision to leave a player out He made his Olympic because too many players debut in 1948, in , turned up to the game. winning gold in the 10,000 Torres said: ‘‘We had seven metres and silver in the 5000 of our top players out due to metres. work commitments and we That gold was one of 38 had two players play out of consecutive 10,000 metre position. So to walk away wins between 1948 and 1954. with the win shows the depth The men’s field includes of the team. top Australian runners ‘‘We had 23 players come to Craig Mottram, a two-time Emma Kraft will be hoping for a personal best time when she runs in the Zatopek: 10 in Melbourne tomorrow the game which meant I had winner, and the national to drop one, but it is great to champion . While this race is a step up trating on 5000 metre Adam Didyk (who is also the only NT athlete to have see the players step up. events. running Zatopek). Olympic bronze medallist, in quality for Kraft, who has been invited to run at ‘‘I was pleased with how we and the sixth fastest 10,000 a time of 38:25.71 this year, Kraft said: ‘‘I believe my ‘‘I’m excited to see what Zatopek. However, Pete played our first 60 minutes the next 12 months will metre runner of all time, she is happy with the pro- training has improved sig- Eason competed in 2003 but we lost focus after that as bring.’’ Micah Kogo of Kenya, is gress she is making in the nificantly since being when he was a Victorian we had to play uncontested also a confirmed starter. distance even while concen- coached by Adelaide’s Kraft is aware that she is athlete. scrums and hopefully that doesn’t happen too often this season.’’ Some of the players miss- ing will make a return this week and Eagles hope to Devils to fight back continue using their backs to their full potential. RUGBY UNION their skin. too far down the track. Torres said: ‘‘Hopefully we ‘‘They did their homework Warriors coach James can continue giving the ball Warren Thomson and marked us well and Nolan said: ‘‘There is a bit quickly to our backs because played a really good game. FEDERAL Devils and Kiwi more belief around the team we have a lot of strike power Warriors will be looking for- ‘‘It was beyond reach from after last week that a win there through Bradley ward to bouncing back from the start but one thing we isn’t too far away, especially Turner, Jawoyn Cole- last week’s losses when they took out of the game is that after we probably should Manolis, Wayne Davis and we showed plenty of heart by lock horns tomorrow from have won last week’s game.’’ Wade Nibbs. not giving up and we ended 7pm at Anzac Oval. But there will be several ‘‘Wade is quite young and up winning the second half Devils lost their first game changes, with Tristian Clem- he has a lot of talent as well two tries to one.’’ ents out with a shoulder as speed, can defend against of the season, conceding five There will be a few tries in the first half to lose injury, Reave Nepe out with speed and can step off either changes this weekend with concussion and several other foot. 38-21 in their worst defensive Michael Goddard and John effort so far this season, players out due to work com- ‘‘He did really well and Low out due to injury but mitments. while Warriors almost won their focus on defence still showed he can dominate the their first game of the cam- remains like every week so Keeping things simple, game, and it was great to paign against Cubs but con- far this season. there is a change of focus have Wayne Davis back last ceded a late try which re- Blacker said: ‘‘Our defence this week. week. sulted in a heart-breaking is once again our focus. We Nolan said: ‘‘During the ‘‘If we continue to give one-point loss. want to become the best first five weeks we have only early delivery to our backs Devils coach Tim Blacker defensive team in town. focused on the way we play out wide, it will make it very praised the Eagles perform- ‘‘We need to work on our but now we are starting to difficult for other sides to ance last week and also was set plays as they didn’t work look out for what we need to compete against us. happy with his side’s effort. as planned last week.’’ do to limit our opposition ‘‘Our forwards are also He said: ‘‘There were a few But they will be facing up and hopefully work towards starting to work well and are reasons why we lost but the to a fired up Warriors, who more positives. making good decisions on the main reason we lost was had a sniff of victory last ‘‘We are just trying to keep run.’’ because Eagles played out of week and believe a win isn’t things simple this season.’’ Devils’ Tui Ford Jnr tries to break through a defender CLASSIFIEDS 1300 508 509 Centralian Advocate, Friday, December 9, 2011 — 63