Tonight's entertainment...

[Gob]

Me and Hen have best seats in the house for this...

The Kangaroos will be drawing on the famous Anzac spirit New Zealand in Friday night's historic Test match against New Zealand at a sold-out Canberra Stadium.



Australia goes into the inaugural rugby league international in the ACT as an overwhelming favourite having won the past 13 mid-year clashes with the Kiwis.

The Kangaroos spent Thursday morning at the Australian War Memorial, a day after both teams were involved in a gala dinner at Parliament House featuring decorated soldiers from both countries.

Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith said the stories of the war heroes put what they did on the football field into perspective.

Advertisement ''Last night was a really special night, I was really quite surprised how in-depth they spoke about what happened overseas and their mateship with their fellow soldiers,'' Smith said.

''It's the first time we've gone in-depth with the Anzac spirit.

''The clear message from those guys is you never let your teammate down.

''A lot of people talk about rugby league players go into battle, but compare to what they do it's very minuscule.

''On Friday, we have a battle of our own.''

The rugby league Test is the jewel in the crown of Canberra's sporting calendar as part of the city's Centenary celebrations.

A capacity crowd of around 26,000 is expected, with less than 2000 tickets available as of Wednesday night.



Having spent a decade living in Canberra during his tenure with the Raiders, Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said he couldn't have asked for anything more out of the build-up to the game.

''In the Anzac setting it's been great and for the centenary for the city it's been another bonus,'' Sheens said.

''Whether we get another game here is not for me to say.

''But being a 10-year Canberran from the old days, I wouldn't mind playing here again.''

New Zealand's chances of causing an upset took a blow when it lost powerful forward Sonny Bill Williams and the mercurial Benji Marshall to injury, and Jeremy Smith to suspension.

But despite their status as massive underdogs, New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney believes his side is edging towards overcoming their mid-season hoodoo.

''We've got closer with our performances over the last three Anzac Day Tests,'' Kearney said.

''Eighty per cent of the group have been there for the last three or four years.

''We've got some really good talent coming through and we believe we give ourselves a really good chance tomorrow night.''

Kearney said halfback Shaun Johnson had proven his fitness and would line-up in the halves alongside Manly star Kieran Foran.



Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-l ... z2QsR2F9B3

[oldr_n_wsr]

I've watched rugby. Even joined an intermural rugby team at the university of buffalo (back in 1977). Unfortunately, 7 feet of snow fell before our first game, 3 feet on a wednesday then 4 feet the following friday/saturday and all was cancelled. Snow fell throughout the winter and was still 2 feet deep on the field in april. School let out in early may.
Never did get to play.

[dgs49]

What is a "test match"? Is it somehow different from what I would call a "game"?

[Gob]

I'll save you googling Dave...

Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to:

Test cricket
Test match (rugby union)
Test match (rugby league)
Test match (association football)

Test match (rugby league)


A Test match in rugby league football is a representative match between teams representing members of the Rugby League International Federation.

The definition of a Test match differs from that of an international match. An international match can be played "between senior/open age or restricted age-level teams from different countries".

As in test cricket, a rugby league Test match is a "test of strength and competency" between the sides involved, both fielding their strongest possible teams. A test cap may be awarded by a team's governing body to the players participating in the match

The Anzac Test is an annual rugby league football test match (known as the Bundaberg Rum Test from 2004–2008 and the VB Test in 2009 for sponsorship reasons). The test match is played annually between Australia and New Zealand on or around Anzac Day for the Bill Kelly Memorial Trophy.

Not the greatest of games, it was fairly even until the half time mark, they went in at 6-6.

Then Aus ran all over them in the second half...

Australia were simply stronger when and where it counted. Their key players stepped up when they needed to, with a Test match on the line.



And by the time New Zealand caught their breath midway through the second half, the match was over.

Yet the 11-minute period in which the Australians shut down the Kiwi challenge might be slightly deceiving. The Kiwis were strong for much of the night but when their opponents put their foot down they could not be caught. But put the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall back in the side, among others – as well as a longer preparation – and the World Cup might be a different story. The scoreline slightly flattered the Australians.



That said, Australia can be much stronger as well. Their playmakers, Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk, were good without being great. Their forwards set up the victory with a strong foundation, and the side showed admirable patience.

New Zealand produced 50 minutes of largely good football but then the Australians burned their opponents. Yet it was willing for the most part and certainly entertaining.

While the Kiwis' record in Anzac Tests has been poor, their performances have invariably not been. The Kiwis have previously been able to stay with the Australians even through their lean patch, and this was another example.

The Australians made the early inroads and scored the first points.

After second-rower Frank Pritchard was penalised for a shoulder charge on winger Darius Boyd and Australian skipper Cameron Smith darted out of dummy half and grubbered to give his team another set in the New Zealand half, Cooper Cronk took full advantage. The halfback's short and flat ball to prop Matthew Scott was superb, and the front-rower's return ball, an offload from his left hand, was equally impressive, if rather more unexpected. Cronk cantered in under the posts untouched.

[Gob]

This guy was one of those chosen to present the match ball last night.

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the George Cross to the undermentioned:-

GEORGE CROSS

Michael Kenneth PRATT, Constable, Victoria Police Force.

On the morning of 4th June 1976 three masked men entered a bank and carried out an armed robbery. One of the men ordered the staff to lie on the floor, another jumped over the counter and removed money from the tills while the third remained in the public area and fired a shot in the direction of the manager and a customer when they ran towards the rear of the bank.

Constable Pratt, who was off-duty and unarmed, was driving past the bank in his private car and saw the men entering the bank ; he noticed that each man was masked and carrying a firearm and realised that they were about to commit an armed robbery. He immediately turned his car, switched up the lights and, sounding his horn, mounted the kerb and blocked the bank entrance. He instructed a passer-by to call for police assistance.

The raiders were taken by surprise, but one of them threatened the Constable with a gun and signalled to him to remove the car, whereupon the officer refused, removed the ignition key, and armed himself with the handle of a car jack. The men then attempted to leave the bank by kicking in the lower section of the glass door and climbing over the bonnet of the car. As the first man straddled the front of the car Constable Pratt grabbed him firmly and during the violent struggle which ensued the robber was knocked unconscious. By this time a second gunman had left the bank and climbed over the car, aimed his weapon and threatened to shoot the officer at close range ; the man had his arms extended at shoulder height and pointed a revolver directly at Constable Pratt. The first man had by now recovered consciousness and was getting to his feet, so the officer grabbed him again and the man called to the gunman to shoot the Constable. A shot was then fired and Constable Pratt who was in the process of trying to protect his back and at the same time retain his hold on his captive, was seriously wounded.

Constable Pratt displayed outstanding bravery, devotion to duty and a complete disregard for his own safety when, unarmed and single handed, he faced and attempted to arrest these dangerous armed criminals.