Hamilton grabs pole in China

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Pole ... Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen will start on the front row. Source: MARK RALSTON / AFP

Mercedes Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix after a cagey qualifying session on Saturday that set the stage for an intriguing start to Sunday's race.

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Hamilton's best time at the Shanghai International Circuit was 1 minute, 34.484 seconds, qualifying him a quarter of a second ahead of Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso will start third.

It was Hamilton's first pole with his new team after crossing over from McLaren, and he felt it was a statement to those who said he should not have moved.

"It's an incredible feeling - so happy to have our first pole for some time,'' Hamilton said. ``I'm just ecstatic really. The lap was great.

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"I can't answer (critics) with one result but, bit by bit, as we progress and improve, they will have to stand corrected.''

In a cat-and-mouse qualifying session, all runners restricted their time on the track to save sets of tyres for the race, with all of the top 10 having only one flying lap in the final stage of qualifying.

McLaren's Jenson Button and Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel elected to do their flying lap on the harder of the two tyre compounds, sacrificing grid position so they could have a longer stint at the beginning of the race. Button qualified eighth and Vettel ninth.

Of the top three runners, it is likely Hamilton will have to pit first, as the Mercedes has quickly degraded the soft tyre throughout the race weekend, and his times are likely to start dropping after as few as two or three laps.

He was putting faith in his team in the decision to start on the softs.

"I have really good strategists and I just trust them and their decisions and stand by it,'' Hamilton said.

Red Bull's Mark Webber had a fuel pressure failure in the second sector of qualifying, coasting to a stop out on the circuit, leaving him in 14th.

It might yet get worse - the Australian will start from the back of the grid if there is not enough fuel in the car's tank to provide a sample to stewards.

"We'll have to see what the rules are,'' Webber said on his return to the garage.

"Double-whammy, maybe.''

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg, last year's winner, qualified fourth, ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Lotus' Romain Grosjean.

Australian Daniel Ricciardo of Toro Rosso was surprisingly strong in qualifying seventh - one position off his career best - while Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg was tenth.

Raikkonen came up just short of his first pole position in five years, set when he was with Ferrari.

"Second is not too bad. It's the best I've achieved with the team,'' Raikkonen said.

The Finn won the season opener in Australia with one less pitstop than his rivals and, if he can nurse his tyres well again on Sunday, he will be hard to beat.

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Subdued Knights hold off Penrith

Newcastle Knights ... James McManus races away against Penrith Panthers. Source: Liam Driver / News Limited

Newcastle hold off an injured ravaged Penrith 8-6 at Hunter Stadium on Saturday night.

1 Tries 1
James McManus 7'	Sika Manu 69'
1 Conversions 1
Kurt Gidley 9'	Luke Walsh 70'
1 Penalties 0
Kurt Gidley 25'

The Knights opened the scoring through James McManus who ran 90 meters from a scrum play.

Kurt Gidley converted the wingers try and later added another two points following a penalty goal. 

8-0 at the break, Jeremy Smith was placed on report for a head slam on Matt Robinson in the 63rd minute.

Darius Boyd spilled a Luke Walsh bomb and Sika Manu collected the ball and scored a try.

Walsh converted the try to get the visitors to within two points. 

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Saints cruise to victory in capital

Up and about ... Stephen Milne celebrates a goal in St Kilda's commanding win over the Giants. Source: LUKAS COCH / AAP

St Kilda barely broke a sweat dispatching the GWS Giants by 72 points in the first game played under lights in Canberra.

The Saints were in control right from the opening bounce, running out winners 21.14 (140) to 10.8 (68).

0.0 (0)	Q1	5.4 (34)
5.1 (31)	Q2	10.8 (68)
8.3 (51)	Q3	15.12 (102)
10.8 (68)	Q4	21.14 (140)

Dean Brogan 2	David Armitage 4
Jonathan Giles 2	Stephen Milne 3
Devon Smith 2	Nick Riewoldt 3
Adam Treloar 2	Ahmed Saad 3
Jeremy Cameron 1	Beau Maister 2
Jonathon Patton 1	Terry Milera 2
	Sam Gilbert 1
	Thomas Lee 1
	Leigh Montagna 1
	Jack Steven 1

David Armitage was in blistering form with 31 touches and four goals while Stephen Milne, Nick Riewoldt and Ahmed Saad each bagged three goals in what was the largest winning margin ever recorded at Manuka.

Callan Ward led the way for the Giants with 28 disposals in what was largely a forgettable night for the fledgling club.

Jonathon Patton was subbed out of the game in the second term after falling awkwardly in a tackle by Rhys Stanley. The No.1 draft pick was helped from the ground with what appears to be a right ankle and/or knee injury.

To make matters worse for the Giants, Devon Smith was reported for charging Jarryn Geary in the final moments of the match.

Full report to come shortly.

Click here to view all of the stats and scores in the FOX FOOTY Match Centre.

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Souths close to copying Storm: Smith

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Cameron Smith ... says South Sydney close to emulating Storm style. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

Melbourne captain Cameron Smith says South Sydney are close to emulating the ruthless style that has allowed the Storm to dominate the NRL for much of the past decade.

Although the Storm's incredible success will always come with the disclaimer of their systematic salary-cap rorting, they have largely rewritten the book for the way the modern game is played under coach Craig Bellamy.

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The fingerprints of Melbourne's approach to the game can be seen in the way every other NRL team plays. Souths have it down pat better than most thanks to a star-studded line-up and the influence of coach Michael Maguire - a former Bellamy understudy. 

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With that has come South Sydney's emergence as genuine premiership contenders.

When Melbourne take the field against the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night in a match between the NRL's two unbeaten teams, Smith said it will be very much a case of looking in the mirror for his side.

"I'm not too sure there is much to learn about the Rabbitohs because we have very pretty similar styles.

Their coach Michael Maguire served time under Craig Bellamy and, just watching the Rabbitohs play, it reminds me a lot of our style of football," Smith said on Friday.

"If there is one thing we do know about the Rabbitohs, it is that they are consistent and they play a tough game of football.

"We have been looking forward to this game very much. Both teams are undefeated. The Bunnies have had their best start to a season in a very long time and we have put together a club record 13 consecutive wins and I don't think we are going to let anyone down with the style of game this is going to be.''

A quarter of the way into the regular season, the game has been billed by some as a grand-final preview but Smith insisted those calls were wide of the mark.

"It is a little bit premature to be saying that," he said.

"Both teams are very good football sides and both teams had very good years last year but we are just concentrating on getting this game out of the way.

"We are coming up to that time of the year when we are going to be broken up by rep sides and we want to make sure we are playing our best football this time of the year to get some runs on the board."

Smith said how the Storm dealt with Souths' giant forward pack would go a long way to determining the outcome of the round-six contest and nominated halfback Adam Reynolds as a key figure for the Rabbitohs.

Smith said Reynolds' ice-cool composure was similar to that of Storm, Queensland and Australian No.7 Cooper Cronk.

"There is talk about Adam cracking into the NSW side and he will want to try to impress coming up against the Australian halfback," Smith said.

"He is a great kicker of the ball. He controls the end of their sets very well and we will have to try and put some pressure on him." 

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I won't step down - Hird

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Under Fire ... AFL chief Andrew Demetriou has said James Hird should consider his position Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Limited

Essendon coach James Hird has dismissed suggestions from AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou that he consider standing down.

Demetriou said on Friday morning Hird should consider stepping down while investigations into the Bombers' drugs program are completed.

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But Hird responded to the comments in Perth by saying he was planning for the Bombers' clash against Fremantle.

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"I won't be stepping down," he said.

The Herald Sun revealed the Bombers coach will tell anti-doping investigators he received two injections from sports scientest Stephen Dank, but will deny they contained illegal drugs.

Demetriou said Hird must at least weigh up standing aside from his role while the matters are being investigated, then returning to the role if cleared.

"As he goes through his thought process ... that is an option he has to consider," Demetriou told 3AW when asked if Hird should temporarily stand aside from coaching the Bombers.

"He has got an outstanding position in this game. He's been a wonderful servant to the Essendon Football Club, an ornament to AFL football.

"He's entitled to be able to put his position forward, which he will get the opportunity (to do) next week with ASADA.

"In the interim, those are the things that will have to cross his mind when he's contemplating what he's going to say to ASADA."

Demetriou stopped short of saying he'd like Hird to step aside.

"What is fair to say is that Essendon, who came forward ... instituted their own investigation about the governance and the processes. That will be released in the not too distant future," he said.

"Any person, regardless of their role at the club, who puts the duty of the care of their players at risk, will be held accountable."

Asked if he thought Essendon hierarchy had widespread knowledge of the substance injecting program and a clear chain of command in implementing it, Demetriou said there were many details yet to be revealed.

"I'm privy to information that goes beyond what's been reported," Demetriou said on ABC radio.

But Demetriou wouldn't elaborate on what he knew, with ASADA yet to complete its investigation and Essendon's own report still to be released, but he said he was disappointed with the allegations which have engulfed both Hird and Essendon.

"You can't help but be disappointed, particularly as you find out more and understand more about what was going on," Demetriou said on 3AW.

"You'd appreciate I've got briefings that are more advanced than what's in the public domain. I think it's terribly important that we now get the investigations finalised quickly.

"Then we can get to the truth."

Demetriou confirmed it was not against AFL rules for coaches to use performance-enhancing drugs, provided they didn't encourage or direct players to use them.

"Under the current system, a coach who partakes in the use of performance-enhancing drugs is not covered by the WADA code," he said.

"A coach, however, who is instructive in allowing and has knowledge of the use of performance-enhancing drugs, through means of directing individuals, is covered by the WADA code."

Demetriou's latest comments came after email exchanges emerged that show Hird put rules in place for the use of supplements within the Essendon program.

They included strict stipulations that the supplements must not harm the players, must not be illegal under WADA and ASADA guidelines and that the club must get player permission before using them.

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Dodgers and Padres duke it out

Basebrawl ... the benches clear at Petco Park after a Zack Greinke pitch strikes Carlos Quentin. Source: AAP

Los Angeles pitcher Zack Greinke signed a monster $147 million contract in the off-season, but the Dodgers' stud will miss time after being injured in a spiteful clash.

San Diego outfielder Carlos Quentin took exception to being hit on the arm by a pitch in the sixth inning and charged at Greinke when words were exchanged.

After the bench-clearing brawl, it emerged that Greinke had broken his left collarbone in the skirmish that saw he, Quentin, Matt Kemp and Jerry Hairston Jnr. ejected from the game at San Diego's Petco Park.

Quentin is no stranger to taking bruises. The 30-year-old led Major League Baseball in being hit by pitches in 2011 (23) and 2012 (17). He's been plunked 116 times in his career, including three from Greinke - the last being in 2009 before Thursday's clash.

The Dodgers were left fuming and security was forced to step in to separate players who were still boiling over outside the locker room several hours after the game concluded.

Furious Los Angeles manager Don Mattingly blamed the incident on Quentin and said he "shouldn't play a game until Greinke can pitch" - which is likely to be six to eight weeks.

The Dodgers won 3-2 and the teams face each other again in what looms as a potentially spiteful series in just three days time at Dodger Stadium.

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Peacock: Bridges that separate them

Fierce foes ... There's no love lost between the fans of Sunderland and Newcastle. Source: AFP

Why is it so? The closer we live to a rival, the more we despise them.

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Before we bring out the best in our team, let's try to bring out the worst in them.

Let's bottle up all our problems, mask it with support of our team – and send it all their way.

Like Newcastle and Sunderland, Sunderland and Newcastle – separated by 10 miles and 130 years of disdain.

You are either born into black and white stripes by the River Tyne, or red and white by the River Wear.
Michael Bridges is as rare as a teetotaller on Geordie Shore.

Now a resident of the warm Newcastle down here, he was born black and white, played red and white, had half a season of black and white, then switched back again.

Or, as he simply puts it: "Loved by both and hated by both."

In between his stints at Sunderland and Newcastle, he played for Leeds United and they had a fair rivalry going across the Pennines.

"Played in Manchester United-Leeds games but it's nothing compared to Newcastle - Sunderland," Bridges said.

"Especially when you're born and bred in the area and know what it's all about, it's in your blood.

"I remember training and not being bothered about the session, just wanted the game and that was three days before. The foreign lads don't get it until they've played in one or two, and then you get it.

"People just go to work to afford tickets to go and watch these two teams and that's why it's so passionate, and such a good thing to experience.

"You run around like headless chickens. You sit in the sheds after the game and think did I just play a game of football, that was just like constant running and kicking for 90 minutes."

Bridges played in five derbies, all for Sunderland (his spell at Newcastle was when Sunderland were down a division) but recalls the first one has being all-consuming, making it hard to come to grips with common sense when it was over.

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"We played at St James' Park and it was the day of the Grand National, and we had a sweepstake in the dressing room for the horse race.

"Trying to calm down after the game (a 1-1 draw) I asked the boys, what's the result in the Grand National?

And it was the year (1997) it got called off because of the bomb scare and Niall Quinn said "abandoned, bomb scare".

"And I went 'f(*&@# hell, what were his odds!?'"

Bridges grew up a Newcastle fan, and played in their youth set up before then first-team manager Kevin Keegan turned the lights out on the reserves and academy - "if you can buy the best players there's no need for the future", was his thought process.

So Bridges had to find a football home. There was one, south of the River Tyne. The right choice for his football life. The wrong choice for his dad's social life.

"People laugh and joke when you talk about going into the wrong pub in the wrong time," he said.

"When I lived in Newcastle, in a place called Whitley Bay, we had a local pub at the top of our estate, when I signed with Sunderland my dad got banished from that place. It wasn't until several years later when I came back to Newcastle that he was accepted again."

Loved by both, hated by both.

Even his dad found it hard to enjoy seeing his son play for Sunderland.

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"Me dad used to come over and watch his son play without any real passion or commitment you know," Bridges said.

"But I never forget the day I signed there (for Newcastle), think he had a tear down his face y'know?"

Emotion is the big part of this game, so form goes out the window.

Since Newcastle's 5-1 demolition in October 2010, three of the past four meetings have been 1-1 draws.
There have been four red cards in the last three matches. Standard.

"I'm not going to sit on the fence this time, Sunderland are going to win this one," Bridges said while mentioning the new manager formula, Paolo Di Canio, to get a reaction.

Result aside, we know what we are going to witness. Like splashing oil on a flame, the involvement of Di Canio will do little to calm the situation.

So back to the original thought – why the hate?

History explains the rivalry between the two towns goes back to the 17th-century, when the ill-fated King Charles I favoured Newcastle merchants to those of Sunderland.

The English Civil War didn't help matters and officially divided the two – Newcastle stuck with the King, Sunderland with the Parliamentarians.

Ever since, from generation to generation, the lesson has been passed on and while there is peaceful coexistence, lurking is distrust and angst.

A twice-a-season football match bubbles that to the surface.

The war is long gone and the setting entirely different, but the battle goes on.

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Lowry's chance to emulate Cahill

Closing on a dream ... Shane Lowry will play in an FA Cup semi-final this weekend. Source: Nigel French / AAP

Tim Cahill is one of Australian football's most decorated players. Shane Lowry is just desperate to pull on the green and gold in anger for the first time.

But at Wembley on Sunday (EDT), the 23-year-old West Australian will get the chance to emulate his countryman at club level and qualify for an FA Cup final in the blue and white shirt of Millwall.

Cahill's dramatic winner against Sunderland nine years ago which sent the Lions through to a cup final match-up with Manchester United sits proudly alongside any moment in the London club's 128 year history.

This weekend, Lowry and his teammates who currently occupy a mid-table spot in the Championship, could well match that feat by shocking Premier League stylists Wigan Athletic and setting up another final appearance with either Manchester City or Chelsea.

"It's well documented that Timmy is still very well thought of here at Millwall, he gave them great service and put them through to the F.A Cup Final," Lowry told foxsports.com.au.

"If I can play a part in doing the same I'd be absolutely buzzing." 

As a defender, Lowry spends most of his time at the other end of the football pitch to Cahill, however the possibility of the left-back hitting the back of the Wembley net is not beyond the realms.

"I take a lot of the set-pieces now, both corners and free-kicks and I scored a really good goal against Charlton in the league earlier this season so if an opportunity comes up, I'll definitely be having a pop at goal," he said.

And just like Lowry fancies himself to threaten the Wigan goal, so too does his team of causing an upset on Saturday and living up to their giant killer reputation.

"Millwall have always played well as the underdog both as a club and as a team, when we're the favourites we don't seem to perform as well," he said.

"We've always done well against higher opposition and showed that against Aston Villa in the earlier rounds. Wigan could have one eye on staying in the Premier League so we hope to take advantage of that and progress."

While that would easily be the pinnacle of Lowry's career so far, this breakthrough season has already been one for him to savour.

A graduate of the Aston Villa academy that he joined with fellow West Aussie Chris Herd in 2005, Lowry couldn't match his compatriot's first team exploits and failed to see senior action in the Midlands.

A series of loan moves ensued, including one to his current employers last season, which then chose to make the deal permanent.

"Moving to Millwall was the best decision I could have made," Lowry reflected.

"I spent seven years at Villa and learned my trade there but I'm glad I moved on when I did. There's nothing better than playing every week and hopefully on Saturday we can progress to an FA Cup final.

"I've had a good season; I've played regularly and I think my performances overall have been quite good. I've moved to left back from centre half and I'm really settled here and enjoying my football."

Having won over the Millwall manager Kenny Jackett along with the fans and established himself as a regular in British football, Lowry's next ambition is winning a national team call-up.

After rejecting the Republic of Ireland, who he represented at under-17 and under-21 level, Lowry was part of several of Pim Verbeek's Socceroos squads, including the 30 man provisional group for the 2010 World Cup, that he was eventually cut from.

He has yet to debut for Australia though, but holds out hope that may eventuate soon, especially with the left-back and centre-back spots in the national team far from secured.

"I had a little chat with Aurelio Vidmar (Socceroos assistant coach) recently he came to watch the game against Hull.

"I've been one of the guys playing regularly in Europe and thought I might get the chance in the friendly in Spain earlier this year (against Romania).

"Everything happens for a reason though and I'll just keep my head down and keep working hard and if I do that for Millwall, people might take notice.

"I really do want to play for Australia, it's an ambition of mine but I might just have to bide my time yet."

Another impressive individual display on Saturday in a game that will be watched closely back home may enhance his prospects.

The match will be the ultimate contrast in club culture. Wigan may be fighting relegation yet again but Roberto Martinez' men never waver from their fluid passing game that was won them so many admirers.

Millwall, on the other hand, are renowned for a physical on-field approach that mirrors the thuggish reputation of their supporter base.

But while Lowry admits they'll try and disrupt Wigan's flow, he says his team possesses some attacking quality of their own, including Kiwi striker Chris Wood, who has netted 11 times this season.

"They get the ball down and play it around, and produce some really attractive football, so we'll go in with a game plan to stop them but we've got players who can hurt the opposition as well and we can score goals ourselves too."

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Drugs saga could help Carney deal

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Off contract ... will Cronulla re-sign superstar five-eighth Todd Carney? Source: Sam Ruttyn / News Limited

Cronulla believe the drugs crisis engulfing the NRL club could be an inadvertent carrot in contract negotiations with Todd Carney - claiming the star pivot could be the man to lead the Sharks out of their dark days.

The re-signing of Carney - off contract at the end of 2013 and being chased hard by St George Illawarra and Penrith - has proved an untimely distraction amid the ongoing ASADA investigations.

Carney is not one of the 14 Sharks players believed to be in ASADA's sights, but the uncertainty surrounding the club's future is considered to be a major deterrent in the NSW Origin playmaker committing to the club.

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But Sharks general manager of football Steve Noyce said the situation could be the making of Carney should he re-sign long term.

"From adversity, some people take a step forward, others stay in the same spot and maybe others retreat a bit," Noyce said.

"With all this happening, I think there's a good opportunity for Todd.

"He's at that age where he can say 'I can grow as a person, I can grow as a leader through this' and then prepare for the next few years.

"I think that's a good off-field opportunity for him."

Noyce admitted the Sharks' best chance of securing Carney's signature rests in the attempts to sell the long-term viability of the club.

The Dragons in particular are putting out all the stops to lure the 26-year-old to the Sharks' local rivals, possibly as part of a recruitment double-deal alongside good friend Josh Dugan.

Carney has professed his desire to play under coach Shane Flanagan, Noyce hoping the close bond between player and coach is strong enough to keep him at the club.

"Todd's made it clear to Flanno that he'd like to stay and that's always the first thing," Noyce said.

"If you're talking about a long-term deal, you have to look at the longer term.

"The club's putting things in place to say to people 'there is a situation, you can't get away from that, but beyond that - and obviously we're talking to Todd about a longer term deal, there's going to be some really exciting things for the place'."

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Davies earns start for Reds

Rocket ... Rod Davies will make his first start of the 2013 season. Source: Patrick Hamilton / AAP

Winger Rod Davies will earn his first starting opportunity for 2013 in the only change to Queensland Reds' starting line-up for Saturday's round nine Super Rugby clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Davies was impressive in off the bench in the Reds' win over the Highlanders almost a fortnight ago.

Davies says he is battling nerves ahead of his return.

"To be honest i am a little bit nervous," he said.

"I debuted against the Chiefs . . . they're a different team now and the (Reds) are going forward and I'm blessed to be in a team going forward."

Captain James Horwill will make his third consecutive start for the season, joining recently re-signed lock partner Rob Simmons in the second row.

Director of coaching Ewen McKenzie said the Reds' bye week had helped their preparations.

"We used our week off as an opportunity to give players the chance to rest and to take time off from Rugby to ensure they are prepared for what will be a difficult eight-game stretch going into the June Test break," he said.

"Everyone seems to have responded well to the time off and the players returned to training on Tuesday energised and excited about the challenges that are ahead."

Queensland Reds:  1. Greg Holmes, 2. James Hanson, 3. James Slipper, 4. Rob Simmons, 5. James Horwill (c), 6. Eddie Quirk, 7. Liam Gill, 8. Jake Schatz, 9. Will Genia (vc), 10. Quade Cooper, 11. Rod Davies, 12. Ben Tapuai, 13. Anthony Faingaa, 14. Dom Shipperley, 15. Jono Lance. Reserves: 16. Albert Anae, 17. Ben Daley, 18. Ed O'Donoghue, 19. Jarrad Butler, 20. Ben Lucas, 21. Chris Feauai-Sautia, 22. Aidan Toua

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Super Rugby preview: Quade v Cruden showdown.

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