Sky Blues crush weary Mariners

Goalscorer ... Sydney FC's Joel Chianese celebrates hitting the net. Source: Dean Lewins / AAP

Sydney FC kept themselves in A-League finals contention with a sensational 2-0 upset win over the Central Coast Mariners on Saturday.

Sebastian Ryall put the hosts in front in the opening half and Joel Chianese doubled the advantage after the break to lift the Sky Blues into fifth spot with their sixth win in a row at Allianz Stadium.

The Mariners, suffering back-to-back losses for the first time this season, remain in second spot but Sydney FC did cross-city rivals and ladder leaders Western Sydney Wanderers a big favour.

They can widen the gap at the top to five points with a win over bottom-placed Wellington on Sunday.

The win gives Sydney a crucial boost ahead of a difficult run home as they face third-placed Melbourne Victory next week and the Wanderers the week after before travelling to Brisbane for their final-round clash.

The Sky Blues came out swinging, creating a flurry of chances in the first 12 minutes with Joel Griffiths, Brett Emerton and defenders Terry McFlynn and Tiago Calvano all attempting strikes.

It was defender Ryall who put the hosts in front in the 26th minute, getting on the end of a superb McFlynn cross to score his third of the season.

The Mariners looked likely to respond soon after the restart as the season's top scorer Daniel McBreen missed an opportunity to level.

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Re-live all the action from Sydney FC's vital win over Central Coast Mariners in our A-League Match Centre, featuring video highlights.

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Michael McGlinchey forced Sydney gloveman Vedran Janjetovic into action moments later with a shot of his own.
McBreen threatened again 10 minutes into the second half, curling a dangerous strike just past the post.

Compelled to change things up, Mariners coach Graham Arnold used his full quota of substitutions in the second half, bringing on Mitchell Duke, Oliver Bozanic and Zachary Anderson for Mile Sterjovski, Nick Montgomery and Pedj Bojic in an effort to add some more pace up front.

Italian superstar Alessandro Del Piero had the 16,155 crowd at Allianz Stadium on their feet when he let rip with a strike which forced a diving save from Mariners 'keeper Mathew Ryan.

Sydney coach Frank Farina made a change of his own, bringing on Chianese for Griffiths in the 69th minute and it proved a masterstroke as the young gun widened the gap less than five minutes later with a 73rd minute goal.

McBreen had a perfect chance to get one back with two minutes to go but sent it over the crossbar.

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England grind toward NZ draw

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Openers ... Nick Compton and Alastair Cook blunt New Zealand's attack. Source: Ross Setford / AP

England openers Alastair Cook and Nick Compton scored effortless centuries to steer the first Test against New Zealand towards a likely draw with one day to play in Dunedin.

1st Test - University Oval (Dunedin)

6 March 2013 - Day 4, Session 3

England 2nd Innings

N. Compton	102	265	10	0	38.49
S. Finn	0	6	0	0	0
T. Boult	19	5	33	1	1.74

A lifeless pitch and a vastly-improved English approach to batting in the second innings made for a long fourth day for New Zealand at University Oval as the tourists reached 1-234 off 87 overs.

They have nearly overhauled the first-innings deficit of 293 after New Zealand declared their first innings at 9-460 early on Saturday.

Not a sniff of a chance was offered by Cook until he was dismissed late in the day for 116, snicking Trent Boult to wicketkeeper BJ Watling, ending a record-breaking opening stand of 231.

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Compton survived a late runout scare while marooned in the 90s for 48 minutes before reaching three figures for the first time in his fifth Test.

Unbeaten on 102, he has relieved pressure on his place in the team following a first-innings duck and a debut series against India last year in which he made several good starts but failed to register a big score.

"It's the biggest relief of my life to be honest,'' Compton said.

"To get to this moment was something special, I never thought perhaps a year ago, or a couple of months ago, that I'd be sitting here with a hundred. I kept believing, but it's been a long time.''

Compton and Cook surpassed Chris Tavare and Graeme Fowler's previous record for an England opening stand against New Zealand of 223, achieved at The Oval in London in 1983.

It is also a ground record for all partnerships in the five Tests at University Oval, bettering the 200 shared by South Africa's Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis for the third wicket in last year's drawn affair.

Left-hander Cook feasted on runs off his pads, hitting 14 fours during a 252-ball knock which improved a comparatively bleak record against New Zealand.

It was his first century against the Black Caps and improved an average against them that stood at 35, compared to his career average which climbed above 50 on Saturday.

Compton was even more watchful, facing 265 balls and hitting 10 boundaries. Nightwatchman Steven Finn had yet to score.

Gone were the inexplicably-rash shots that pockmarked England's first innings of 167 on Thursday in batting conditions which were just as friendly.

England were 0-58 at lunch and 0-139 at tea as the New Zealand bowlers struggled for any sideways movement on the brown pitch despite overcast conditions.

Boult was the most consistent performer, taking 1-33 off 19 taxing overs.

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Cheetahs stun Highlanders

Instrumental ... Sarel Pretorius opened the scoring for the Cheetahs. Source: AAP

The Cheetahs recorded their first ever Super Rugby win over the Highlanders with a comprehensive 36-19 victory at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Saturday night.

3 Tries 3
Kade Poki 26'	Sarel Pretorius 21'
Kade Poki 44'	Robert Ebersohn 30'
Kade Poki 72'	Sarel Pretorius 34'
2 Conversions 3
Lima Sopoaga 27'	Johan Goosen 21'
Colin Slade 73'	Johan Goosen 30'
	Johan Goosen 35'
0 Penalties 5
	Johan Goosen 11'
	Johan Goosen 24'
	Johan Goosen 32'
	Johan Goosen 66'
	Johan Goosen 76'

The Highlanders, coming off the bye, looked disjointed and not even the return of hooker Andrew Hore from suspension and veteran Brad Thorn's first game for the franchise could spark them.

They struggled for momentum against a superb Cheetahs forward pack, and possibly also missed the influence of All Blacks midfielder Ma'a Nonu, out with a late knee injury.

Australia Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Brumbies	2	0	0	35	1	13
2	Reds	3	1	0	6	0	12
3	Waratahs	1	1	0	-3	0	8
4	Melbourne Rebels	1	3	0	-25	1	5
5	Western Force	0	3	0	-29	1	5
New Zealand Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Chiefs	2	0	0	56	2	10
2	Blues	2	0	0	33	2	10
3	Crusaders	0	2	0	-20	2	6
4	Hurricanes	1	2	0	-19	1	5
5	Highlanders	0	2	0	-31	0	4
South Africa Conference		W	L	D	PD	BP	Pts
1	Bulls	2	0	0	18	1	9
2	Sharks	2	0	0	13	0	8
3	Southern Kings	1	0	0	12	0	8
4	Cheetahs	1	2	0	-32	1	5
5	Stormers	0	2	0	-14	1	1

The Cheetahs ran in three first-half tries, a stark contrast to last week's 45-3 defeat by the Chiefs when they couldn't buy a five-pointer, and led 30-7 at the break.

Halfback Sarel Pretorius opened the scoring at 20 minutes, latching onto a well-timed inside flick from flanker Lappies Labuschagne as he burst down the left wing.

Stung into action, the Highlanders replied five minutes later when five-eighth Lima Sopoaga's kick through found winger Kade Poki in perfect position to score.

From then on, however, Sopoaga's night careered downhill as he gifted the Cheetahs 14 points with two horrible mistakes.

The first came on the half-hour mark as he tried to chip over the flat Cheetahs defensive line, only to see inside centre Robert Ebersohn charge the kick down and canter over unopposed for the try.

Pretorius then picked up his second five minutes from halftime, snaffling Sopoaga's attempted flip to Hosea Gear with the Highlanders hot on attack and running 70m unopposed to touch down.

Flyhalf Johan Goosen's boot was clinical in adding the extras, banging over five penalties and three conversions to keep the home team's hopes of a fightback well under wraps.

Coach Jamie Joseph benched Sopoaga for All Blacks No.10 Colin Slade three minutes before halftime, and the Highlanders began the second spell promisingly as Poki crossed for his second try after four minutes.

But the Cheetahs defence regrouped and held strong, and not even Poki's third try of the night, coming after he sliced through four tackles in the 73rd minute, could put the final result in doubt.

The Cheetahs now head to Sydney and Perth to take on the Waratahs and Force while the winless Highlanders face a horror month ahead with clashes against the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Reds and Blues.

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Burns steals show from Hilfenhaus

Joe Burns ... saw the Kookaburra like a watermelon at the Gabba. Source: David Kapernick / News Limited

Three wickets in four balls by ex-Test seamer Ben Hilfenhaus was always going to be a hard act to follow at the Gabba on Friday.

SHEF - Gabba

7 March 2013 - Day 2, Session 3

Queensland 1st Innings

J. Burns	104	273	8	1	38.1
A. McDermott	2	9	0	0	22.22

But Joe Burns stole the show by surviving a hat-trick delivery then capping a remarkable Queensland fightback with an unbeaten 104 in the Sheffield Shield clash with Tasmania.

At stumps on day two, Burns had helped guide defending champion Bulls to 9-262, an unlikely 17-run first-innings lead, after able support from captain James Hopes (72).

Burns lit up the gloomy Gabba conditions in a 138-run seventh-wicket stand with Hopes that turned the match.

Ex-Test seamer Hilfenhaus (3-72) earlier had Burns in his sights after his remarkable four-ball burst reduced the Bulls to 3-18.

Burns held his nerve to survive the hat-trick ball delivery but was again feeling the pressure as Queensland slumped to 4-30 then 5-90 and finally 6-112.

But by stumps it was Tasmania hoping to reverse their fortunes after a Burns-inspired counter-attack landed the third-placed Bulls precious first-innings points as they looked to stay in the final mix with one more match to play.

In his first game for Queensland since returning from Australia A duty, Burns struck his fifth Shield ton in an epic 273-ball knock that featured eight fours and a six.

"That was the best innings I have played for Queensland considering the context of the game and the difficult conditions,'' Burns said.

"When you come out in that situation you can't panic.''

But that must have been a tempting option after Burns was caught off guard by Hilfenhaus's memorable over.

"I had switched off after fielding and it seemed like three minutes later I was facing Hilfy for the hat-trick ball - I was a bit shocked,'' he said.

Burns tried to steady the ship in a 60-run fifth wicket stand with Nathan Reardon (39) before allrounder Evan Gulbis (2-50) struck, ensuring Hopes joined Burns at the crease with Queensland still trailing by 133 runs.

After James Faulkner bowled Hopes to finally end their three-hour stand, Luke Butterworth (2-50) was on a hat-trick as he tried to mop up the tail late on Friday but Burns remained defiant.

Earlier, Cameron Gannon (2-38) needed just nine balls to end the Tigers' first innings after they resumed at 8-236.

Tasmania had recovered from 5-90 after a Ryan Harris-inspired collapse of 3-2 on Thursday to post a competitive first innings total of 245.

Jon Wells (82) - dropped on seven - and ex-Test keeper Tim Paine (42) dug the Tigers out of trouble on Thursday with a 97-run sixth wicket stand.

Injury plagued ex-Test paceman Harris finished with 3-85 off 26 overs in his first first-class match since Australia's tour of the West Indies last April.

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Vics fight back against Blues

Fightback ... Cameron White and David Hussey bat Victoria into a lead. Source: Andrew Brownbill / News Limited

Cameron White and David Hussey conjured an unbroken century stand to pull Sheffield Shield leader Victoria back to the brink of a competitive position against a feisty NSW at the MCG on Friday.

Born-again skipper White (66 not out) and Hussey (59 not out) combined for a 127-run stand that occupied the full final session of the second day, leaving the match poised only marginally in the Blues' favour with two days remaining.

SHEF - Melbourne Cricket Ground

7 March 2013 - Day 2, Session 3

Victoria 2nd Innings

C. White	68	137	4	4	49.64
D. Hussey	59	104	8	1	56.73

Victoria will resume at 4-224 in their second innings, a lead of 80 runs with six wickets in hand, but an early wicket Saturday would tilt the contest heavily in NSW's favour.

"The heartbeat's still ticking, I think,'' said White.

"It's a long way to go to be in a stronger position. NSW are probably still in front in the game so there's work to be done, but we're in the contest, for sure.''

The Bushrangers have been dominated in the match, bowled out for 128 after batting first on Thursday, and they were on the cusp of outright defeat this afternoon when they slumped to 4-97 at tea, still 43 runs behind, against a Blues team placed on the bottom of the Shield table.

A controversial leg-side stumping of Rob Quiney (45) by Brad Haddin from Trent Copeland's medium-pacers appeared to be crucial, with Quiney angry at umpire Tony Ward's decision.

"His foot was in and it didn't move, but I can't say anything about umpire's decisions,'' said White later.

"I'm sure you (media) saw the replays as well. I can tell you what I saw but I can't comment on the decision.''

But with NSW a bowler down, paceman Doug Bollinger having left the field after complaining of a hamstring strain, White and Hussey capitalised late in the day.

White had hit a big hundred in Victoria's most recent Shield game against Queensland, and he was imperious at times today, striking three big sixes.

Hussey had not offered a half-century at Shield level all season, such has been his run-drought.

But he, too, brought up the milestone late in the day when he slogged Steve O'Keefe over long-off for six.

White was having a good day; he had wiped out the Blues' tail with 3-4 in the morning session with his leg-spinners and googlies, the visitors losing their last four wickets for 14 runs to be all out for 268 in their first innings.

Copeland, whose two wickets complemented an earlier half-century with the bat, was unequivocal the Blues were still in front.

"I would say we are a long way ahead, due to the fact we dominated day one and held our own on day two,'' he said.

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Botha bowls Redbacks into lead

Captain ... Johan Botha helps deliever first inning points. Source: Calum Robertson / New York Post

Captain Johan Botha's best bowling stint for South Australia delivered the Redbacks precious points against Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield match.

Botha captured five wickets as WA were bowled out for 235 on Friday's second day, just 13 runs behind SA's first-innings score.

SHEF - Adelaide Oval

7 March 2013 - Day 2, Session 3

Western Australia 1st Innings

M. Hussey	99	154	7	4	64.29
M. Hogan	31	41	1	1	75.61

SA moved to 26 points on the Shield table, just two behind leaders Victoria.

But a Mike Hussey special almost denied the Redbacks the points, the ex-Test stalwart cracking an unbeaten 99.

WA appeared doomed at 9-166, prompting Hussey to launch an audacious assault with support from No.11 Michael Hogan.

Hussey cracked four sixes and Hogan contributed 31, taking the visitors to the brink of SA's total.

But their partnership of 69 runs, the highest of the Warriors' innings, ended when Hogan was bowled by Chadd Sayers (2-72) in what became the last ball of the day.

Botha had earlier destroyed WA's innings, returning figures of 5-59 from 26 overs, his best return since joining and being appointed captain of the Redbacks for this season.

The South African-born offspinner had taken only six Shield wickets before Friday.

The Warriors were coasting at 0-61 when Botha struck twice in two balls, triggering a collapse in which the visitors lost five wickets for 15 runs in a nine-over span.

Two WA batsmen made golden ducks in the batting crash - John Rogers, a Botha victim, and Mitchell Marsh, who was dismissed first ball by rookie quick Carl Tietjens (2-50).

WA's spectacular slide seemingly cruelled their hopes of collecting first-innings points, until Hussey's late barrage.

But Hussey received little support from specialist batsmen after openers Liam Davis (34) and Marcus Harris (22) put on a steady stand.

Wicketkeeper Sam Whiteman (16) was the only other Warrior to reach double figures until Hogan almost repeated his heroics with the ball.

Hogan earlier on Friday completed a five-wicket haul as the Redbacks were bowled out for 248.

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WA take early honours against SA

Ashton Agar ... took 2-63 as the Warriors took day one honours. Source: Stewart Allen / News Limited

Fast bowler Michael Hogan claimed three wickets to give Western Australia the upper hand against South Australia on Thursday's opening day of the Sheffield Shield match in Adelaide.

The Redbacks, after winning the toss, were 7-237 at stumps.

Hogan took 3-38 from 20 overs, including the prized wicket of Callum Ferguson who top-scored with 63.

Ferguson helped steady SA after the home side struggled to 3-56.

The in-form strokeplayer put on 57 with Travis Head (28) before Hogan ended the partnership.

Ferguson then combined with Jake Brown for an 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket before Hogan again broke through.

Hogan bowled Ferguson with an off-cutter to spark a South Australian slide of 3-19 as the Warriors regained momentum.

Rookie spinner Ashton Agar finished the day with 2-63 from 23 overs while pacemen Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell Marsh each claimed a wicket. 

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Blues hold slim lead against Vics

Nic Maddinson ... continues his impressive form against Victoria. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

A brilliant debut by 19-year-old seamer Gurinder Sandhu gave New South Wales the upper hand on Thursday in their important Sheffield Shield clash with Victoria at the MCG.

The former Australian U19 fast bowler took 5-31 from 11 overs as the Victorians, top of the Shield table and looking to secure a spot in the final, were steamrolled for just 128 in their first innings.

New South Wales were 6-201 in reply by stumps on a remarkable opening day, leading by 73 runs with Trent Copeland (20no) and Steve O'Keefe (11no).

Sixteen wickets fell despite the appearance of a relatively-friendly MCG strip.

Sandhu, born in Blacktown as the son of an Indian immigrant father, became the first Blue since Copeland three years ago to take a five-wicket haul on his Shield debut. At one point, he had 4-7.

He had previously played four limited-overs games for New South Wales and shapes as a future international.

Fast bowler Clint McKay top-scored for the Victorians with a belligerent 41 that included two huge sixes -- one over long-on from Sandhu's bowling and another of more than 100 metres to the deep mid-wicket boundary off Josh Hazlewood.

But McKay's innings and a final-wicket partnership of 49 with No.11 batsman Fawad Ahmed only served to show the folly of Victoria's top order, who failed on a pitch that was not conspicuously difficult, slumping to 8-55.

Nic Maddinson's feisty 76 from just 67 balls was the highlight of the New South Wales reply.

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Harris disgusted with Shield return

Tough marker ... Harris was livid with his display despite on day one at the Gabba. Source: News Limited

National selectors will be impressed by Ryan Harris's first-class return at the Gabba on Thursday - until they hear the ex-Test quick's brutally honest self-assessment.

SHEF - Gabba

7 March 2013 - Day 1, Session 3

Tasmania 1st Innings

L. Butterwort...	14	42	2	0	33.33
E. Gulbis	2	11	0	0	18.18

Harris (3-77) was on a hat-trick as Tasmania lost 3-2 to be reeling at 5-90 before Jon Wells (82) helped steer the visitors to 8-236 at stumps on day one of their Sheffield Shield clash.

Queensland rued dropping Wells on seven - but Harris saved his biggest complaints for his display.

On paper, there didn't seem to be much to be upset about.

A gutsy Harris toiled away for 25 overs in his first taste of first-class action since Australia's tour of West Indies last April.

It capped a big week for the 33-year-old who took a match-winning 4-26 to help the Bulls seal a dramatic two-run win over Victoria in the final of the Ryobi Cup at the MCG.

But asked how he went on Thursday, Harris said: "Sh*thouse, to be honest.

"I got through 25 overs which is good but I am a long way away from where I want to be.

"Maybe five overs in my second spell I was happy with.

"I am just disappointed I didn't get enough balls in the right areas."

Harris is still keeping his fingers crossed to be in the frame for an Ashes call-up this year after recovering from shoulder surgery he underwent last August.

Wells also capped a comeback of sorts on Thursday.

Delisted by Tasmania almost 12 months ago, he forced his way back through sheer weight of runs.

Still, he arrived at the Gabba on Thursday with a less-than-impressive 16.74 first-class average.

However, Wells finally began to deliver on his undoubted potential with his third half-century, chiming in for an invaluable 97-run, sixth-wicket stand with Tim Paine (42) that stopped the Harris-inspired mini-collapse.

He was caught behind off James Hopes (2-57 off 22 overs) with just nine balls left for the day.

Harris celebrated his first Shield game of the season as Tasmania stumbled after emerging from lunch at 1-48.

He trapped Alex Doolan (21) in front and, next ball, had Australia Twenty20 captain George Bailey fending a ball to third slip.

And the Bulls were roaring when former national skipper Ricky Ponting - averaging more than 111 in Shield this season - inexplicably pulled Hopes straight to Joe Burns on 14.

After cruising at 0-47 before lunch, Tasmania were suddenly 5-90.

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Uate re-signs with Knights

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Akuila Uate ... re-signs with Newcastle Knights until the end of 2017. Source: Phil Hillyard / News Limited

Akuila Uate has re-signed with Newcastle for four more years, the NRL club announced on Wednesday.

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The former representative winger, who was linked to a move to Japanese rugby, has committed to the club until the end of the 2017 season.

"I love playing for the Knights and am really happy to stay here for the next four years,'' Uate said in a statement.

"I can't imagine playing anywhere else and the decision to re-sign was an easy one.

"Now my future is secured I am even more excited about running on to Hunter Stadium on Monday night.''

Chief executive Matt Gidley said the Knights were pleased to have fought off interest from rival codes and rival clubs to retain the Dally M winger of the year.

"There was obviously some interest in Aku from other clubs, so it is pleasing we have been able to secure him at the Knights for the next four years,'' Gidley said.

"As a fan favourite, we know our members and supporters will be happy to hear this news today.

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"Aku is one of the most exciting players in the competition and we look forward to his further development at the Knights."

Uate, who has scored 70 tries in 90 games for Newcastle, will this season be keen to atone for an indifferent 2012 in which he lost his NSW jersey.

Newcastle begin their 2013 campaign on Monday night at Hunter Stadium against Wests Tigers.

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