SPORT lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll l l ntnews.com.au Don’t discard Cooper: Dwyer Wallabies aim for consistency Wallabies ranked third in world MANY rugby fans would like to wash their hands of WALLABIES enforcer Wycliff Palu says the tourists THE Wallabies cemented third place in the latest IRB controversial playmaker Quade Cooper, according to are determined to show they can shed their world rankings with their gritty win over England at Bob Dwyer. But the World Cup-winning ex-Wallabies maddening inconsistency when they play Italy this Twickenham. Robbie Deans’ men are in the box seat coach hoped the Australian Rugby Union did not weekend. The Wallabies were given a valuable lesson for a spot in the top four for the 2015 Rugby World throw Cooper ‘‘out with the dishwater’’ as the about the dangers of being one-dimensional in attack Cup draw in London on December 3. The top four in Queensland Reds scrambled to retain their prized when trounced 33-6 by France in Paris. It proved to the world will be the seeded teams in the draw in five-eighth. Cooper is expected to announce on be a big wake-up call for the Australians, who each group for the tournament to be hosted by Monday he is leaving Australian rugby after being bounced back from the defeat with a 20-14 win over England. Australia (85.94 points) remains in third offered a downgraded contract by the ARU. England at Twickenham. place with France (84.99) fourth. Return of Accusation of bullying Sheehan BASKETBALL appears By IAN BUTTERWORTH Teenager set to miss finals THE Darwin Basketball As- imminent sociation has been accused points) said that ‘‘This is about justice for charges against Ms Friel — This is about justice of bullying after a top Territ- the four week Mishy (Friel) — it is bully- unsportsmanlike behaviour RUGBY UNION ory player was denied the suspension of ing by the tribunal and DBA and breach of the code of for Mishy — how By IAIN PAYTEN chance to play in the finals. the 17-year-old — how dare they bully a conduct — but found her dare they bully a in Florence Although found not guilty Friel amounts minor.’’ guilty of not co-operate, and of a complaint made against to bullying by The DBA said in a state- suspended her for a month. minor THE power of persistence her a month ago, Eagles Michelle Friel the DBA. ment yesterday that the ‘‘The tribunal reiterated will be crucial to claim vic- PUB: women’s Premier Grade ‘‘They said Michelle failed complaint was forwarded to that its penalty was based tory over unconventional op- guard Michelle Friel was hit to co-operate with the DBA the tribunal because of upon the need for all play- ponent Italy this weekend, with a four-week ban by the in its investigation — she Ms Friel’s ‘‘refusal to co- ers, officials and coaches to co-operated, this matter says hooker Stephen Moore. DBA tribunal on Tuesday has no home access to in- operate and participate in participate in any investi- would probably not have Should Australian players NT NEWS night after being found ternet or phone and received the investigation despite her gation undertaken by the proceeded to tribunal and a need any expert advice on guilty of not co-operating no advice, but is at the being given numerous op- board for the benefit of the different outcome reached. the subject, they’d need only with an investigation. stadium training or playing portunities to do so.’’ sport,’’ the statement added. ‘‘The board did everything look as far as veteran half- DBA legend Natalie three or four times a week,’’ The tribunal found insuf- ‘‘The disappointing thing possible to encourage back Brett Sheehan, who is Hunter (308 games, 3241 Hunter said. ficient evidence for the for Ms Friel is that if she had Ms Friel to participate.’’ set to step into the starting No. 9 in the place of rested halfback Nick Phipps. DATE: Fittingly in the home of the renaissance movement, 33-year-old Sheehan is likely Lightning has to win his first cap as a start- 22-NOV-2012 ing Wallaby in Florence — six years after the first of his six Tests on the bench, and 11 every right to seasons since starting his ca- reer in rugby league. A run-on role will cap a re- markable year for the feisty enjoy triumph Sheehan, who was set to leave Australian rugby at the PAGE: BASKETBALL season on a high with a 66-62 end of Super Rugby and join By IAN BUTTERWORTH triumph over competition London Irish, only to be told new chums Palmerston. he was not wanted by new LIGHTNING men created a In women’s matches, Eag- coach Brian Smith. 40 piece of Darwin Basketball les warmed up for their finals After signing a new deal Association history by win- assault with an enthralling with the Western Force for COLOR: ning their first minor prem- 42-40 win over Palmerston. 2013, however, iership in bouncing Uni Re- Smooth-moving guard injuries to Will bels 98-81 on Tuesday night. Michelle Friel was the star of Genia and Nic The men in black finished the show for the Birds, White un- ahead of the pack in one of knocking in 10 first-half and earthed another the closest championship 13 second-half points, in a man who did C seasons in memory, with the consistent performance. want him — Stephen Moore result consigning the Rebels Minor premier Tracy Vill- Robbie Deans. M to fifth place, and no chance age Jets were forced to work Unwanted at Test level of defending their title. overtime in their 70-59 win since 2008, Sheehan was re- Y ‘‘We’ve been building over second-placed Light- called into the Wallabies side K toward this for a few years ning, with the teams to meet in September, and has since and the minor premiership is again next week in the major provided valuable guidance our first goal,’’ Lightning semi-final. Chief among the for Phipps and experience at coach Jason Ivinson said. scorers for Tracy was Sa- the end of games. ‘‘We recruited Zac White mantha Rioli (17) while Having watched the from the US (Baltimore) and Jacinda Lambert (18) topped Italians hold New Zealand to he has been terrific for us — the list for Lightning. a 13-7 halftime lead, and re- he adds to the team’s defens- Ansett cruised to a 83-45 cent experiences of tight ive effort, gives us a bit of win over Uni Rebels, which scores at halftime with the height and is so enthusiastic. sent them into mothballs for Azzuri themselves, the Wal- ‘‘Minor premier is a start, the season. labies say they’re conscious and while we’ve got our Samantha Drescher, who of the need for patience. eye on the title, it is such an will be crucial to the Blues in ‘‘You saw when they play- even competition.’’ the finals, landed a game- ed the All Blacks it was close In other men’s action, An- high 24 points and she was at halftime. They’re a good sett finished a close second supported by Nichole Sil- side, you know. It takes a full on the ladder after securing a mond (23). 80-minute effort to get a re- close 71-69 victory over third- Eagles women got over sult against any of these placed Tracy Village Jets. lowly Palmerston 42-40. It is teams,’’ Moore said. Matthew Hunt (20) led the the end of the line for the ‘‘Barnesy (Berrick Barnes) scoring for the Blues, while newly-elevated Palmy wom- made a very good point, that Liam Maclachlan popped in en, but the experience at there might seem to be a few 19 points for the Villagers. Premier Grade level is sure gaps out there but we just And Razzle finished the to prove a winner. can’t push things early, we need to do our basics really well and then hopefully op- portunities will come, after Kobe fires for coach’s debut we do that hard work first.’’ KOBE Bryant scored eight of Dwight Howard had 23 his 25 points in the final two points with 15 rebounds, TEST MENU minutes and the Los Angeles while Spaniard Pau Gasol Saturday: Italy v Australia (Florence), Lakers made Mike D’Ant- finished with 17 and 11 Ireland v Argentina (Dublin). oni’s coaching debut a suc- boards for the Lakers (6-5), Sunday: England v South Africa (Lon- cessful one yesterday with a who have won five of six af- don), Scotland v Tonga (Edinburgh), France v Samoa (Paris), Wales v New 95-90 home win over the ter starting 1-4 under fired Daniel Miller (Tracy Village Jets) attempts to block the path of Ansett opponent John King Zealand (Cardiff). Brooklyn Nets. coach Mike Brown. during Darwin men’s basketball action at Marrara on Tuesday night Picture: ELISE DERWIN 40 NT NEWS. Thursday, November 22, 2012. www.ntnews.com.au.