Perrine misses medal in Super-G

Melissa Perrine in the women's Super-G before she missed a gate and a chance of a medal. Source: Ian Walton / Getty Images

AUSTRALIA'S arduous campaign in Sochi just got even tougher with Melissa Perrine relinquishing a one-second lead to allow Great Britain to claim its first ever Paralympic Winter gold medal on Monday.

Visually impaired Perrine was the last skier on the course and was more than one second under the gold medal time in the women's Super-G when she missed gate 29 of 38 and was eliminated.

It paved the way for Kelly Gallagher and her guide Charlotte Evans to win a historic first ever gold for Great Britain and take the upper hand in 'The Ashes' on the snow.

Great Britain — which has 12 athletes compared to Australia's 11 — has now won a silver and a gold in the first three days while the Aussies are yet to open their account.

Perrine was damningly honest in her self-assessment after the race.

Perrine flies down the mountain through a section of shadows cast by trees adjacent to the course. Source: Getty Images

"There's no excuses, I made a mistake. I skied poorly, it's completely on me and I've got to live with that and change it for tomorrow," she said.

"I didn't commit to the turn like I should have, and as a consequence I missed the next gate and there's no one else to blame but myself on this one.

"It's hesitation and you don't have time to hesitate out there. I hesitated and that's my mistake. I shouldn't be doing that, I've trained not to do that, but that's what happened."

Perrine still has the slalom, giant slalom and super combined still to come this week.

"I know I can ski this hill well, so I've got to remember that. I've got to focus on that and try to take some confidence into the next three events," she said.

Eventual winner Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans career down a steep part of the course. Source: Getty Images

Australian coach Steve Graham said the section where Perrine made her error was the toughest part of the course and perhaps they had not spoken about it enough in preparation.

"Obviously not enough in hindsight, it was pretty obvious down there and I think Michael (Milton) spoke to them about it in inspection," Graham said.

"As soon as I saw the speed they had I was concerned and unfortunately they were trying to make amends for the other day and just didn't put the brake on there.

"That's been the toughest part of the course all week and unfortunately a matter of a metre and she was looking really good, but that's the sport."

The victorious pair are congratulated by friends and family in the crowd on the mountain. Source: Getty Images

Graham said Perrine's guide Andy Bor and the coaches might have to take responsibility for any tactical errors made on the course.

"I have to look at the video, I was watching Me's intent today and wasn't paying much attention to Andy and I've got to see whether he accelerated down there and if he accelerated too much down there it's not giving Mel much," Graham said.

"Her goal today was to try and overtake Andy but make sure she doesn't let him by telling him to get out of the way.

"So she did her job like she does nearly every day, I've been really happy with Mel all season and she can only do what's in front of her and I think she did that today."

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Live: Titans sneak ahead at break

Round one: Sharks v Titans. Source: News Limited

ROUND one comes to a close at Remondis Stadium on Monday night with Cronulla hosting the Gold Coast.

Last season the Sharks pulled off a two-point victory over the Titans in the opening round - will history repeat itself?

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Less talk, more action: Wines

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PORT Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines is reliving the spirit of AFL coaching great John Kennedy by calling on his teammates to act rather than talk to end the Power's slow-start syndrome.

"When it happens in the first quarter we need a defining moment," Wines said. "Someone needs to step up or we need to find a trigger.

"When we see things are not going our way we don't need to just encourage - sometimes that can be wrong. Instead of encouraging you probably need to do something ... instead of saying something, put your head over the ball or make a hard-ball get.

"That would steady the team and get things going."

Wines' version of the Kennedy "Do! Don't think" mantra will appeal to coach Ken Hinkley's wish for the Power to develop a stronger emphasis on contested football and tackling.

Port's slow starts from last year have continued in all of the Power's pre-season games against Adelaide, Essendon and St Kilda in the past month. Each game also has reaffirmed the Port players are prepared for strong finishes built on out-running rivals.

But Wines - and Hinkley - attribute the poor starts to a mindset that needs to change at Alberton.

"We addressed it after the slow start against St Kilda (on Saturday at Alberton) and think it is a mindset thing," Wines said. "It is not physical. It was one of our deficiencies last season in first quarters and to have it happen again this year is something we can hopefully rectify.

"We do need to get on top of it."

Wines, 19, yesterday highlighted the transformation at Alberton where he arrived as the No. 7 pick from the 2012 national draft eager to run after serving his standard first-up, two-year contract. Halfway through that deal, Wines has extended his contract to the end of the 2016 season without asking his manager of the options in his home state of Victoria.

"The first few hours after the draft, I was waiting for the two years to be up and - to be honest - thinking of going home to Victoria," Wines said. "But that has changed .... (since last season's on-field revival) there was never a point where I said I was going to leave (Port Adelaide).

"The remarkable turnaround the club has made is a big reason for why I signed on. I could not be at a better place or a better club."

Port opens its AFL premiership-season campaign against Carlton at Etihad Stadium on Sunday night. Hinkley has declared first-choice players Jay Schulz (bruised foot), defenders Alipate Carlile (quad) and Jackson Trengove (knee bone bruising) and midfielder Robbie Gray will be available for selection.

But it is doubtful Hinkley can recall all four at selection on Thursday, particularly Trengove who has worked mainly indoors since late January and not played in any pre-season game.

Forward-midfielder Paul Stewart (calf) is the only injured player from Saturday's trial considered unlikely to pass a fitness test by Thursday. Midfielders Andrew Moore (shoulder) and Matt White (knee) should be fit.

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