The St George Illawarra Dragons moved to the top of the premiership ladder after shrugging off the loss of six players to beat the Panthers writes Andy Morris. The Dragons were missing the players through Origin commitments and injury, but dominated the match, especially in the second half, and out-scoring the Panthers by five tries to one in the second stanza. The Dragons went ahead when Beau Scott touched down in the corner, and Ben Hornby took a high bomb to score the second try, which fellow half Jamie Soward converted to give them a 10-0 lead. Wade Graham replied with a converted try for the Panthers, but soward landed a goal to put the Dragons ahead 12-6 at the break. Wendell Sailor went over for a converted score but Frank Pritchard replied for the Panthers. Sailor scored again in the 62nd minute, and further tries from Michael Lett, Soward and Nick Emmett sealed the deal. Jarrod Mullen set up the first three tries in the Newcastle Knights’ 22-14 win over the Bulldogs . Mullen, ignored for the NSW team in the Origin opener, sent a message to selectors with his superb performance as he helped Newcastle open up a 20-0 half-time lead. But the Bulldogs replied with three tries of their own in the second half to come within six points at one stage. Mullen send Richard Fa’aoso crashing over to start the scoring, and two Wes Naiqama goals made it 8-0 for the Knights. Scott Dureau scored another converted try and then Mullen set up debutant Con Mika for a converted score. Jamal Idris got the Bulldogs on the scoresheet early in the second half with a converted try, and Josh Morris went over in the corner. Bryson Goodwin chased a kick to score, and suddenly the Bulldogs were just 20-14 down. But Naiqama kicked a second penalty goal to make it an eight-point gap, and the locals held on to win. The Cronulla Sharks got a much-needed win as they edged the Parramatta Eels 13-10 . The Sharks had not won since the opening round, but came from 10-6 down at the break to taste victory and snap a nine-game losing streak. Trent Barrett kicked a field goal five minutes from time to break a 10-10 deadlock, before Luke Covell kicked a penalty goal with a minute to go. The Eels scored first, when Joel Reddy touched down, but Covell replied with a try which he goaled from the sideline to put the Sharks ahead 6-4. Luke Burt raced through to score for the Eels, but in the second half Mitch Brown replied to make it 10-10. The Warriors returned to winning ways when debutant Kevin Locke scored two tries to help them to a 14-0 success over the Wests Tigers . The Warriors had only won one of their last eight matches before this home game at Mt Smart Stadium, but kept the visitors scoreless. Locke opened the scoring near the left corner, but failed to goal his own try to leave the Warriors ahead 4-0 at the break. Wade McKinnon, who produced an outstanding performance, scored the second try and Locke completed his marvellous day by scoring just before the final whistle.

Rafael Nadal’s four-year Roland Garros reign came to a sensational end at the hands of feuding rival Robin Soderling overnight as the race for the 2009 title was thrown wide open.

Richmond’s Ben Cousins says people have overreacted to his obscene one-fingered gesture at a television camera in the change rooms prior to Saturday night’s game against Fremantle in Perth.

Terry Wallace will coach the Richmond Tigers for the last time on Friday night.

Experience matters. That’s a fact - one South African Tim Clark knows all too well, writes Brian Heard. Of the four players in serious contention coming down the stretch of this week’s Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial (we’ll be referring to it heretofore as the Colonial, it’s historical name), one had the experience of winning on the PGA Tour, 42-year-old American Steve Stricker. Your winner: Steve Stricker, for the fifth time in his career. All props to Stricker - he made a miraculous chip-in from the rough for birdie on the par-4 17th in regulation to move within a stroke of Clark, the leader at the time, and then birdied 17 again (for the fourth time in five tries) on the second hole of a three-way playoff to win the event and $1.116 million - but the story of the tournament was Clark. I hesitate to call Clark a choker, because he’s a real nice bloke. But the facts are these: The 33-year-old is arguably the best player to have never won on Tour, which he joined as a regular in 2002. Inarguably, he has won more money (about $13.33 million) on Tour than anyone else who has never won on Tour. And, he’s been close, seven times now he’s been the runner-up, including at last year’s Colonial and the 2006 Masters. On Sunday, with the lead all day, he shot even par - four birdies, four bogeys. Not bad, right? Look a little closer. He went 63-64-66 in the first three rounds with only two bogeys combined. And, after finding 85 percent of the greens in regulation during the first three rounds, he hit just 50 percent on Sunday. “It’s tough to win out here; everyone knows it,” Clark said after Saturday’s third round as he held a two-stroke lead. “Hopefully, I do get that win sometime and it makes things easier. That’s all I can hope for.” It didn’t happen this week, despite the fact Clark had all the chances he could have asked for. After rolling home a clutch 9-foot par save on 17 in regulation to maintain a one-stroke lead over Stricker and 29-year-old American Steve Marino, who also has never won on Tour, Clark played a sloppy 18 and pulled the string on a 12-footer for par and the win, forcing a three-way playoff with Stricker and Marino. Clark then had a gimme 5-footer, after a terrific drive and a brilliant 8-iron from 159 yards out on his second shot, for the trophy on the first playoff hole, but missed the putt wide right. In a spectacular series of shots, Stricker went within four feet of the hole on his approach on the second playoff hole on 17. Clark then hit an even better shot on his approach, but unluckily hit the pin flush and saw his ball rebound some 23 feet from the cup. His birdie putt failed and Stricker tapped in for the win. Marino also parred the first hole in the playoff, but was not a factor on the second hole. The other player in the chase down the stretch was young, talented Australian Jason Day. The 21-year-old, second-year Tour member fired career-best 65s in each of the first three rounds before settling for a 1-under 69 on Sunday to finish at 16-under and just a stroke out of the playoff. He had a medium-range birdie putt on 18, which would have put him in the playoff grouping had he made it. Baker-Finch’s return: Good and bad Forty-eight-year-old Ian Baker-Finch first won on the PGA Tour in 1989 at the Colonial. The Australian went on to win the British Open in 1991 and seemed to have the world of golf by the tail. It was not to be, however. His game abandoned him; slowly at first, then rather rapidly in the end. By 1995 he could not make a cut in 18 events on Tour. He missed 11 of 11 cuts in 1996 before basically retiring. He’s been a golf broadcaster in the U.S. since 1998 and has only played two PGA Tour events since 1996 - the ‘97 British Open and the ‘01 Colonial; he missed the cut at both. But this week, he ventured back on Tour. And playing the Colonial Thursday he was the feel good story of the tournament firing a 2-under 68. But Friday he shot 82 and missed the cut by a wide margin. Woods to play in Memorial next week Tiger’s played just six tournaments this year (winning once) and hasn’t played in three weeks, but he has signed on to play at Jack Nicklaus’s Memorial event in Dublin, Ohio, next weekend, where he is a three-time winner.

It was late in the day at Doomben Racecourse and we were sitting around a table near the horse stalls. Ten or twelve of Douro Valley’s owners were tossing about theories as to why Douro had run so far below expectations in the Doomben Cup, writes Vin Lowe. “Track was too hard” claimed someone. “Went too hard early” observed another. Whatever the reason it was a fairly solemn group gathered to drown their sorrows with bacardi and cokes and XXXX beer. “What are you fellas upset about, I’ve had 10 losers today” boomed someone passing by. We looked up to see it was Peter Moody, the boy from Charleville doing his best to commiserate with us. There are no flies on Pete. He once trained Douro Valley and had plenty of success with him too, including a second placing in the Eclipse Stakes (G3). The horse may not be with him now but Peter doesn’t see that as a reason not to be as amiable to the owners as time permits. He’s big in more ways than one. A week is a short time in racing and 7 days later Peter Moody was celebrating. He had just pulled off one of the great feats in racing by training Reggie to win the Premier’s Cup at Doomben; La Goulue the mares flying at Caulfield; Sheedy the 3YO 1400m at Randwick and for good measure Bay Trixie a maiden at Mildura. Not a bad afternoon’s work and a good pointer as to why Peter was rueing his lack of winners on Doomben Cup day. Peter Moody’s statistics so far this season are outstanding. He has had 675 starters for 125 firsts (18.5%), 88 seconds and 85 thirds (44.1% placings to runners). His racing business appears to operate with military precision. “I take my horses to places where they have the best possible chance of winning” Peter explained after his successful three state plunder. On Saturday he decided to send his Fastnet Rock filly Sleek Anitra to Flemington for the Geoffrey Levett Handicap over 1400 metres. With a recent win at Kyneton to her credit Sleek Anitra looked a picture, mature beyond her years and ready to race. She didn’t let the stable down with a slashing win and the promise of more to come. And this has been so typical of the Moody stable this year. Back in April another filly simply stood out at Flemington and there was no surprise when Black Caviar burst onto the racing scene with an emphatic win. She confirmed that soon after with a dashing display at Caulfield and thoughts of potential Thousand Guineas champion were easily entertained. But, hold on, these are just the second stringers for Moody as far as the babies are concerned. Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward for Effort and Golden Slipper runner-up Headway have mixed it with and beaten the best - and it will take a brilliant tactician to sort out the spring programs for all these rising stars in their classic year. And then there is regally bred Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom-Tracy’s Element), last start winner of the Coolmore Classic (G1). Unbeaten in 5 starts and already winner of $675,700 she could be the pin-up girl of the Australian Turf by the time the 2009 Spring Racing Carnival is over. Twelve months ago Peter Moody was the toast of his home state of Queensland. His filly Riva San had just completed the Queensland Oaks - Derby double. On Saturday he’ll send out Pentire gelding Markus Maximus in the Derby. He’ll meet some stiff opposition - Mark Kavanagh is rushing his Street Cry colt Shocking up for the race in the hope of some easy pickings. Markus Maximus has a solid foundation to launch from for Saturday’s Derby. Success in the West Australian Derby and prep races which included the Doomben Cup against older and more seasoned gallopers should hold him in good stead. Like any good soldier Moody will want to hold onto to his ground when he goes into battle on Saturday - and I think he’s got the firepower to defend the Derby. Hoofnote: A half sister to Sleek Anitra (by Choisir) was advertised by Supreme Syndications in last week’s Winning Post Newspaper.

Geelong continued its unbeaten season as dynamic forward Steve Johnson produced a wonderful performance against Essendon, writes Andy Morris. Johnson, the only Cats player to have played in 55 consecutive games - of which they have won 52 - booted six goals, including four in the third term. The Cats shrugged off the late withdrawal of Joel Corey and an early injury to skipper Tom Harley to seal a 20.14 (134) to 11.4 (70) victory at Etihad Stadium. The margin could have been wider, as Geelong had out-kicked its rival 17 goals to five going into the final quarter. St Kilda is the only other team looking a potential premier, having secured a 10th successive win this term by seeing off Melbourne . The Saints won by 11.17 (83) to 6.10 (46) at Carrara, with Nick Riewoldt booting four goals. On-baller Lenny Hayes collected 35 disposals and seven inside 50s. The Western Bulldogs scored a convincing 40-point win over Sydney , leading by 69 points at half-time and eventually closing out the match 18.9 (117) to 12.5 (77). The Bulldogs scored 13 consecutive first-half goals, and there was no way back for the Swans in the second-half. Richmond held on for a narrow win over Fremantle at Subiaco, with Mitch Morton snapping the winning goal in time-on. The Tigers had led by 33 points in the second-half, on the back of eight unanswered goals. But the Dockers replied with nine of their own to go ahead by five points. Former Eagle Ben Cousins celebrated his return to Subiaco with a 25-possession performance as the Tigers secured a 17.13 (115) to 17.10 (112) victory. Collingwood returned to the top eight with a 17.12 (114) to 11.10 (76) win over Port Adelaide at the MCG. The Pies were 19 points behind in the second term, but booted nine goals to two in the third quarter to set themselves up for the victory. The Brisbane Lions won their sixth game of the season by beating North Melbourne 15.9 (99) to 12.9 (81) at Etihad Stadium. Rhan Hooper kicked four goals for the Lions, while Kangaroos youngster Ben Warren matched that feat in a losing cause. Adelaide beat Hawthorn by 27 points at AAMI Stadium, compounding the woes of the defending premiers. Taylor Walker booted five goals in the first half while Chris Knights finished with four goals as the Crows won by 16.10 (106) to 12.7 (79). Carlton moved up to third place on the AFL ladder with a fine 41-point win over West Coast Eagles. The Blues booted three goals in the first seven minutes, then kicked four to zero in the second term to run out 16.15 (111) to 10.10 (70) winners.

Mark Philippoussis is facing financial collapse, with creditors saying he has stopped paying the mortgage on his Williamstown home in bayside Melbourne.

Geelong’s 10th AFL win in succession was soured by injuries to their captain, reigning best and fairest and star onballer.

Australia’s women’s basketball team has narrowly defeated Hungary 84-80 in their second game at the Four Nations tournament in Paris.