Clan-Members » nature. I look forward -- and were a

NRL champions North Queensland Cowboys beat Leeds Rhinos, the Super League champions, 38-4 in the World Club Challenge match on Sunday.Victory at Leeds Headingley ground gave the Cowboys the right to call themselves the best club side in world rugby league and completed a 3-0 sweep for Australian sides in this weeks World Club Series. Michael Morgan scores a try for North Queensland Cowboys A hard-fought first half ended all square at 4-4 but the Cowboys pulled clear in the second period, scoring 34 unanswered points as an NRL side enjoyed a third convincing win over a Super League team in as many days. Leeds defeat was compounded when they were forced to play the last few minutes a man down after Mitch Garbutt was sent off for punching James Tamou. Man of the match Johnathan Thurston nails another conversion In his first World Club Challenge, Johnathan Thurston orchestrated an ultimately crushing victory and even got a second-half try. There was nothing to separate the teams at half-time but after the break, the Cowboys ran in six more tries to romp home. North Queensland Cowboys celebrate with the trophy at Headingley It was incredibly tight early on and Leeds had a golden opportunity to open the scoring with three sets of six deep in the Cowboys territory. The visitors defence was outstanding, however, as they kept the Rhinos at bay and eventually got the ball back on the sixth tackle.That appeared to inspire the Cowboys, and at the first defensive error from the hosts, North Queensland pounced.Unsurprisingly, it was Thurston at the heart of the move, delaying his pass to send Michael Morgan over for a simple finish. Thurston could not convert in the strong wind, but the Cowboys led 4-0 after 22 minutes. Johnathan Thurston says his team-mates should be proud of their special achievement Nevertheless, Leeds were putting the Cowboys under pressure, and it was a mistake by Thurston that led to the home sides first score. His wide pass was picked off by Liam Sutcliffe, who raced away and although the Cowboys got back, an offload from Adam Cuthbertson allowed Rob Burrow to dive over.The teams went in level at 4-4, but North Queensland flew out of the blocks in the second half. A first high kick from the visitors was fumbled by Ash Handley and that offered Kane Linnett the simplest of finishes. Leeds Rhinos Mitch Garbutt was dismissed for this hefty punch on James Tamou Thurston converted this time to make it 10-4 with barely two minutes gone in the second half.North Queensland soon had another try as a penalty for a late hit on Thurston gave them an extra set of six, and they spread the ball wide for Kyle Feldt, who handed off Ryan Hall in emphatic fashion to finish. Mike Stephenson has called for English rugby league to go back to basics and focus on youth development The result was beyond doubt just after the hour when Lachlan Coote pounced to touch down Thurstons deflected grubber-kick. Two minutes later, Thurston scored a try of his own, slipping a tackle and diving over before converting. Johnathan Thurston joins Jon Wells at the Sky Pad to analyse North Queenslands World Club Challenge win Leedss resistance was crumbling and Justin ONeill was next over, slipping plenty of tackles, before the Rhinos lost Garbutt to a red card for a punch on Tamou, who was himself sin-binned, leaving both sides with 12 men.The Cowboys had the final word as ONeill completed a try double with a fine finish. Rob Burrow says Leeds Rhinos will be looking for an immediate response Watch Leeds Rhinos in Super League action away to Catalans Dragons on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD from 4.55pm. Cal Clutterbuck Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Mike Bossy Islanders Jersey . The Dane followed up his first European Tour title last weekend with eight birdies and just a single dropped shot on Thursday for a one-stroke advantage over South Africas Allan Versfeld and Portugals Ricardo Santos. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-nick-leddy-islanders-jersey/ . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Billy Smith Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Leo Komarov Islanders Jersey . Pirlo limped out of Sundays 1-0 win over Udinese after just 13 minutes. Juventus says Pirlo underwent tests on Monday which revealed he has "a second-degree lesion to the collateral medial ligament in his right knee.NEW YORK -- Jessica Mendoza dissected Kyle Schwarbers swing in the World Series and took a brief break from Twitter during her historic first full season covering baseball for ESPN.Mendoza recently shuttled between Cleveland and Chicago for the Fall Classic, giving updates eight times a day for Baseball Tonight and Sports Center.She shared the booth this season on Sunday Night Baseball with Dan Shulman and Aaron Boone, a former player who moved up from Monday night games.Shes as good as anyone Ive ever met at getting in the clubhouse or around the cage and getting information out of players, coaches and managers, Shulman said.Mendoza replaced Curt Schilling last fall, becoming the first woman to call a nationally televised postseason game. The Saturday night dinners the trio shared during the 2016 season helped develop chemistry in the booth.I dont think it took long for us to feel comfortable, whether it was jabbing at each other or talking baseball, Mendoza said.Here are a few things to know about the 35-year-old Stanford graduate who batted .416 during her career, earned Olympic gold and silver medals and spent nine years covering college sports and softball for ESPN:BOOTHMATESHearing former MLB player John Kruk alongside her announcing the Womens College World Series made Mendoza realize how knowledge of one sport could translate to the other.Shulman called Mendozas work ethic and preparation for baseball games off the charts and said she has a great ability to break down a hitters swing.The Cubs Schwarber not only rocketed hits to the outfield after missing most of the season with a knee injury, but his walk in Game 1 against Andrew Miller with a runner on base and no outs in the seventh inning impressed Mendoza as the best at-bat of the game. It was the second walk Miller gave up to a left-handed hitter all season.Schwarber has an eye and a feel, hell have a feel for what a pitcher is going to throw and recognize when he doesnt, Mendoza said. You dont really see him sell out on a pitch and completely miss it. He misses, but its not like hes completely fooled.ARRIETA SPLITSMendoza worked out with Chicago pitcher Jake Arrieta on a Pilates machine for an ESPN segment ahead of Game 6. In her debut on Sunday Night Baseball last fall, Arrieta threw a no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers. She noticed how fresh he seemed coming out for the eighth inning and wondered about his workout regimen. Arrieta showed off his flexibility during the interview, doing the splits and handstands while crediting Pilates for strengthening his hips, shoulders and back.WORK BALANCEMendoza has two sons under 10 and an ex-Marine husband who handles the parenting duties when shes away from their California home on tthe weekends.ddddddddddddShe leaves Friday, has dinner with her boothmates on Saturday, announces the game on Sunday night and returns Monday. In between, shes a Sabermetrics wonk, gathering stats, watching video and interviewing players.Part of what makes this job really cool is that its not just 9-to-5, Mendoza said. Theres something challenging about it that I really enjoy. Hone in on some really cool stuff. Talk to players, get to know managers and just have that ability to go 30 games.Mendoza said its about finding a balance that works and being OK when its not balanced.UNSOCIAL MEDIA:She took a two-month break from Twitter during the season because of negative tweets. Some critics focused on her gender rather than the specifics of her commentary.Mendoza understands with change comes resistance.Theres always just a big reaction. People either feel really great about it, `Sweet, theres a woman on, this is so cool. I love your different analysis, Mendoza said, or this completely, I mean, extreme negativity. Its never just the middle, `Yeah, shes OK.Last month, a Houston Astros minor league player tweeted that No lady needs to be on espn talking during a baseball game specially Mendoza sorry. Brooks Marlow, a 23-year-old for the Lancaster JetHawks with a .233 career batting average, quickly apologized, along with the Astros.I have a hard time that someone who doesnt know me could dislike me so much based on my gender or my position, Mendoza said of the criticism in general. It was more of a disappointment in human nature. I look forward -- and were a ways from that -- to where it becomes genderless.MENTORSMendoza focuses on the opinions of her boss and colleagues and watches tape of her performances. She recently had a conversation with ESPN president John Skipper, who said he was glad she leaned in and expressed an interest in covering baseball.Mendoza appreciates the talents of tennis and Olympics broadcaster Mary Carillo, NBA analyst Doris Burke and enjoys lunches with barrier-breaker Billie Jean King. She learns just by watching King, who Mendoza recalled made them late for a White House event because the tennis great stopped to talk to a security guard and thank him for his service.King calls Mendoza a true professional who is striving to improve her craft while carrying the burden of the first.When women are doing things in the traditional mens arena, we get more attention, King said. Your skin has to be a little thicker, your work just a little stronger.King said gender equality is a work-in-progress, and Mendoza joins others working hard to help us get there. ' ' '