In addition to the new focus for my LiveJournal (my book reviews instead of sports) I have also set up a new look for my LiveJournal. How does it look?

My first book review should be within a week.


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I'm changing my LiveJournal - sports are out.

You can now read my Sports Column at Newsvine.

My LiveJournal will have whatever I find interesting online and in the real world.

You can also read my LiveJournal on my SuprGlu blog, which pieces together my LiveJournal, del.icio.us links, Diggs, 43Things and Newsvine column.

Check out my new Home Page at GooglePages.

Rabbitohs (15) v Newcastle Knights (4)
Round 8
Sun. Apr. 30, 12:30 am ET.
Spread: off the board
Line: off the board
Updates Online: listen at 2GB.com (uses Real Player¹)

It looks like Andrew Johns won't play for the Knights but does it really matter? The Souths played so uninspired last week that if they play that way again it won't matter if Newcastle have Joey or not.

Note: Joey is such a force in rugby league that his questionable status has led many sports books to take this match off the board (not take bets on it).

1 Trouble listening online? This works for me:
copy
http://go.rbn.com.au/ramgen/ondemand/ads/mrn/2gblive.smil
and paste into
Real Player > Open Location
(add to favorites for future access)

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Harlequins RL (9) v Huddersfield (8)
Round 12
Sat. Apr. 29, 1:00 pm ET.
Spread: Quins -10
Line: Quins 1.30, Giants 3.40, Tie 23.00
Listen online: BBC Radio London (Real Player required)

I'm feeling lazy today, so here's the preview from the BBC:

Harlequins give a debut to Henry Paul after his arrival from Gloucester union side on Thursday.

Winger Ricky Sheriffe and loose forward Danny Williams are also back in their squad as they look to avenge a 64-14 hammering at Huddersfield in March.

The Giants have lost skipper Chris Thorman with a broken thumb.

But they welcome back full-back Paul Reilly from a head injury and also include forward Paul Smith and young half-back Thomas Hemingway.

It's also the first double-header at The Stoop, Harlequins rugby union will play in the afternoon followed by Harlequins rugby league in the evening.

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Wakefield 42-22 Harlequins
Round 11
The Quins found themselves down 24-12 at the break. Second half tries by Luke Dorn and Mark McLinden got them as close as 24-22 but then Wakefield ran in three tries in seven minutes and that was it for the Harlequins. In the first half Thomas Leuluai touched down two tries for the Quins.

The loss puts the Harlequins into ninth place in the league table.

next match, Round 12:
Harlequins RL (9) v Huddersfield Giants (8)
Sat. Apr. 29, 1:00 pm ET.

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Leeds 42-6 Castleford
Round 11
Leeds had an easy time at Headingley. Matt Diskin (#9, hooker) and Keith Senior (#4, centre) led the Rhinos in tries with two each. With Kevin Sinfield (#13, loose forward) still out due to injury, Ashley Gibson (#27, full back) handled the kicking duties and had three goals. Note: Rob Burrow (#7, scrum half) did play (my bad, I missed his name in the announced rosters before the match).

Leeds coach Tony Smith was not happy with the way Castleford played:

"It's not often that I come away from any game of Rugby League and I have not enjoyed it. But I don't think anyone enjoys games like that. I thought we were the only team who came here today to play Rugby League and some of the tactics out there were clearly designed to control the scoreboard."

Coach Smith said that the Tigers tactic of slowing down play and having three players in the sin bin in the first half is not what Rugby League is all about. He also said:

"Having said that I am really proud of our players efforts on the back of a tough schedule. The average age of the team tonight was 23, only 3 of our 17 man squad were overseas and at the start of the second half there was only one overseas player, Scott Donald [#2, wing], in the team. That bodes well for our future but also for Great Britain."

"This club is not about looking for quick fixes, we are not interesting [sic] in throwing money at a situation and not caring about the long term affect that will have. We are about building consistency to compete at the highest level over the years to come."

And this is one of the reasons that I'm following Leeds. The other is that Coach Smith along with the Leeds players showed poise and class last season despite losing in both the Challenge Cup Final and the Grande Final of the Super League.

next match:
Warrington Wolves v Leeds Rhinos
Mon. May 1, 10:00 am ET.
Check back for my preview Sun. Apr. 30.

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N.Z. Warriors 46-14 Rabbitohs
Round 7
Oh, the huge manatee! For a change in losing the Souths really sucked in the first half, rather than the usual keeping-it-close and then stinking up the second half.

The Warriors got four tries down in the first half and the Rabbitohs got just one down (Ben Rogers 29'). The Bunnies did open the second half scoring with two tries (Paul Mellor 47', John Sutton 53') in about seven minutes but it was not enough and the remainder of the match belonged to the Warriors.

Ben Walker did play for South Sydney but it sounds like he was not a major factor in the match.

The Rabittohs are now in last place in the NRL table and the only team still without a win this season.

next match, Round 8:
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights
Telstra Stadium
Sun. Apr. 30, 12:30 am ET.
Will Joey play for the Knights?
Check back Sat. Apr. 29 for my match preview.

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N.Z. Warriors (15) v Rabbitohs (14)
Round 7
Sat. Apr. 22, 5:30 am ET.
Spread: Warriors -7.5
Line: Warriors 1.42, Rabbitohs 2.90
Listen Online: at 2GB.com (uses Real Player¹)

The Souths have yet to win this season and the Warriors have two wins, so how is New Zealand in last place and not the Rabbitohs? The Warriors were penalized four points in the league table for off-season salary cap violations and the Bunnies got their two points from the Bye Week.

Can South Sydney win this week at Auckland?
Yes, but is it likely? No, they have a lot of injuries.
I'm not sure if Ben Walker will play, it looks like he will miss this match.

Both sides are not the best defenders, I look for a high scoring match.

1 Trouble listening online? This works for me:
copy
http://go.rbn.com.au/ramgen/ondemand/ads/mrn/2gblive.smil
and paste into
Real Player > Open Location
(add to favorites for future access)

---

For all on my Tags Click Here.     RSS Feed (includes all tags)

Wakefield (9) v Harlequins (8)
Round 11
Sun. Apr. 23, 10:30 am ET.
Spread: even up
Line: Quins 1.90, Wakefield 1.90, Tie 17.00
Listen online: BBC Radio London (Real Player required)

The Quins have played well on the road so hopefully they can get a win here.

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Leeds (2) v Castleford (11)
Round 11
Fri. Apr. 21, 3:00 pm ET.
Spread: Leeds -38
Line: Leeds 1.00, Castleford 34.00, Tie 67.00
Listen online: BBC Radio Leeds (Real Player required)

You do the math: Leeds have scored the most points in Super League so far this season and Castleford have allowed the most points. Also Castleford have lost four straight games.

Not on Leeds roster for the match are Kevin Sinfield, Chev Walker and Rob Burrow (to name a few big name starters) but they should still win easily.

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