Willie Mason: A rugby league enigma

The word enigma can be defined as: a person of puzzling or contradictory character. Never has this been more true of Australia's Willie Mason.

Hull Kingston Rovers announced on Saturday that they had released Mason just six games into a possible three-year contract. Since then the Australian has moved to sign for French Top 14 giants Toulon.

Mason signed for Hull KR in the winter but hopes of their marquee signing arriving in the country in time for the start of the new Engage Super League were stunted by his inability to obtain a Tongan passport.

This Tongan passport would allow for Rovers officials to register Mason as a non-overseas player. Thus allowing head coach Justin Morgan to select the likes of Blake Green, Michael Dobson, Ben Galea and Clint Newton all in the same squad.

Unfortunately for both Rovers and Mason he was unable to obtain the passport, only an injury to lynch-pin stand-off Michael Dobson giving the club the ability to play their big-money signing.

The former North Queensland Cowboy made an immediate impact in the 40-22 home defeat of the Crusaders, a performance that saw Mason pick up the man of the match award.

Since then for both Mason and the club his performances and relationship with officials at Craven Park have been on a downward spiral.

Last month rumours surfaced that Mason had travelled to the continent to discuss a move to France. Since then it has been discovered that Mason may even have met with Toulon officials before he signed for Rovers.

Toulon reportedly have offered Mason a deal that will see him earn up to £400,000 a year, four times what he was set to pocket at Hull KR. The Challenge Cup quarter finalists hope to reclaim any wages paid via compensation from Toulon.

This farcical turn of events that are set to see Mason move to to France are not too dissimilar to those of former Canterbury Bulldogs teammate Sonny Bill Williams. His desire for a move to rugby union and Toulon saw him banned from the NRL for breach of contract and the French Top 14 forced to compensate his previous employers.

The proverbial plot thickens with the announcement that the 24-cap Australian forward will make his rugby union debut for the Barbarian against England on Sunday.

Mason admitted his excitement at the challenge to the Sydney Morning Herald, going onto say:

"If you ask all the boys, I've always told them I've wanted to have a crack at rugby and I've always been the type to jump in at the deep end, and I'm ready to try the best I can to make an instant switch."

This saga brings the game of rugby league into disrepute as it continues in its attempts to put itself on a level footing with its more credible and wealthier bigger brother in union.

If episodes like this are to be prevented then the overseas quota system needs to be tightened in such a way that your nationality is the country that you represent, or you are believed to represent.

A quote was once used to describe world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis, who represented Canada at the Olympics but competed in the professional ranks as British, although of Jamaican decent.

"If you are not a resident of somewhere, you're a resident of no where."

Never has this quote been so true then when related to Willie Mason, a man of New-Zealand birth, Tongan decent, but Australian representation. Where Mason's career will take him next is for us to see as this circus continues the other side of the English Channel.

That Was It!

Last night at the O2 Arena & viewers on Sky Box Office bore witness to a British title fight for the ages.

The bout dubbed 'The Grudge' had all the build-up of a world title fight and it did not disappoint, James DeGale on the other hand did.

The fight went all 12 of the championship rounds for the Super-Middleweight Lonsdale belt. At the final bell the judges returned a majority decision, Richie Davies scored the fight evens, a draw, with Dave Parris & John Keane scoring the fight one round in favour of the 'The Saint' George Groves.

In what was a cagey affair in the main George Groves implemented the 'Hayemaker' camp's strategy, devised by Adam Booth, to a tee. Boxing with his lead hand high, a contrast to previous fights where it has hung dangerously low, the Hammersmith resident counter-punched superbly.

James DeGale in stark contrast appeared to revert to the style that characterised his amateur days, boxing defensively in an attempt to pot-shot his way to victory. The sort of style the computerised scoring of Olympic competition favours.

Unfortunately for the Olympic champion or 'Chunky' as he is known no longer found himself boxing in the amateurs, like the first meeting between the two. One must add that this revert to type that DeGale showed in the contest was promised by Groves in the build-up.

Once the fight entered its second stanza the Harlesden champion appeared to wake from his slumber as he begun to put combination togethers and disorientating the Commonwealth champion.

This pressure however came in fits and starts, finding himself unable to excerpt a sustained level of pressure at any time during fight. It appeared that the defending champion had, as Adam Booth claimed during rounds "ran out of ideas".

A clash of heads opened two cuts on the face of the fair skinned Groves, one on the eyebrow the other on the forehead, as his face became a mask of blood as the fight entered the final round.

Before the final round it was obvious that the DeGale camp, lead by ex-world title challenge Jim McDonnell, believed that they needed the final round to secure victory. The final round was won by DeGale, but it was unknown if it was enough to take the spoils.

As the final bell rung it was clear that both fighters were in the belief they they had done enough to take the contest, both fighters marked and bloody. With the judges in the process of returning their verdicts Jim McDonnell took his phone from his pocket. Looking up to his man he claimed that they had won, obviously a text tipped him off, putting his finger to his lips insisting that 'Chunky' did not celebrate.

With the fighters at centre ring Lennon Jnr. returned the verdict. . . . (skip forward to 3.56)

The look on James DeGale's face, priceless. . . . .

The issue with judging a boxing match is that it can be scored in so many ways, do you score just the scoring shots, or intent to attack or good counter-punching?

It is clear that the judges scored the fight on not only counter-punching but also shots landed, the computer statistics claimed that Groves landed a greater percentage of his punches thrown.

The person at home can score a fight in so many different ways themselves, their own bias helps. I've seen people claiming they had DeGale by as many as three rounds, personally I had Groves by the one round. Boxing, unlike most other sports it is subjectice, that is the beauty of the sport known as the sweet science.

The sweet science, unlike other sports has a certain level of emotion that cannot be found in others. This can be illustrated in the picture of Adam Booth letting Jim McDonnell and his team know exactly what he thinks of them. I for one couldn't agree anymore.

The fact of the matter is, and I don't think it can be denied, James DeGale was well and truly worked out and exposed as one dimensional. Yes, if it had been a fight DeGale would have snatched it instead but it wasn't. Unfortunately for the now ex-British Super-Middleweight Champion it was a boxing bout, and George Groves won this bout.

Frank Warren in his post fight interview claimed that a rematch should be ordered immediately, whether and how soon this will come to fruition is unknown. One thing he did say however stood out to me.

The 'This Is It' bill is a wake up call for James DeGale and perhaps the back slapping of a fighter who hasn't achieved quite as much as people would like to believe he has does need to stop.

Will we see James DeGale defeat George Groves in a rematch should it happen or has 'The Saint' got 'Chunky's' number? That is the question.

Lancashire 46-12 Warwickshire

Lancashire began their defence of the Bill Beaumont Cup with a 46-12 victory against Warwickshire at Sedgley Park.

Although a 34 point winning margin might suggest a comfortable win for the defending champions this was not the case.

With a large National League Two North winning contingent the home side went into the contest high in confidence.

It was Oliver Brennand, one of nine men from the championship winning Fylde outfit, who opened the scoring within a minute.

Head Coach Mark Nelson handed eight new caps for this the opening game of the 2011 campaign.

It was newly capped Tom Hughes who doubled the hosts tally within five minutes; this prompted many to believe that the contest would soon become a rout.

This was not the case as the Red roses were made to work hard throughout by a stubborn Warwickshire defence.

After weathering an early storm the visitors missed the opportunity to open their scoring account, Lee Audis’ penalty kick hitting the post.

This however did not deter the Warwickshire outfit, soon gaining a foot hold in the game via a Matt Goode try as he snuck in the corner.

Had it not been for the inaccuracy of Audis’ boot the men from down the M6 could have found themselves in front as he pushed another penalty wide.

This profligacy in front of the posts was soon confounded as Gareth Rawling had the easiest of tasks to touch down at the back of a strong Lancashire scrum.

Another Brennand try was added on the half hour mark. A huge Peter Aitham dummy enough to breach the defence, Brennand left with the easiest of finishes.

Warwickshire responded once more with a second try two minutes from the interval, Heath Stevens latching onto a Mike Walls grubber kick.

A penalty on the stroke of half time from Alex Davies took the sides in at half time with the score 27-12.

Lancashire came out after the interval lacking a certain amount of precision.

This however was soon found by full-back Chris Briers his supporting run carving a whole in the defence as he stretched well to finish.

Briers was again at the heart of another Lancashire attack as Brennand’s solo effort saw him complete a hat-trick of tries.

After the roses sixth try it wasn’t for another 24 minutes until the scoreboard ticked over once more, this a representation of the hard-fought nature of the contest.

An exclamation point was added two minutes from time to what can be described as an efficient Lancashire performance, referee Andrew Jackson awarding a penalty try.

Last gasp Stef' denies Sale a point

London Irish kept their faint hopes of a play-off place alive with a last minute Steffon Armitage try at the Reebok Stadium.

For Sale Sharks it was a tale of what could have been, not only missing out on a losing bonus point but squandering opportunities to win the contest.

With all the talk pre-match surrounding a prospective move to Toulon for the 25-year old Armitage it was his last minute effort from a catch and drive that moves Irish to within four points of the Northampton Saints.

The game saw the home ground of Bolton Wanderers become the 30^th ground to host a Premiership Rugby game and a crowd in excess of 16,000 were not left disappointed.

The London Irish outfit, not unfamiliar to the surroundings of a modern day football stadium, found themselves in desperate need of a win given Saints victory on Friday evening along with Gloucester’s draw at Welford Road earlier in the day.

With this, they wasted no time in making their intentions felt and led at half time by three tries to none.

Toby Booth’s Irish had the luxury of welcoming lock Bob Casey back from injury, along with prop Alex Corbisiero making his first start since the Six Nations.

It was in the forwards and the lineout in particular that the Reading based side dominated, David Paice’s try after half an hour exemplifying this.

Free-running Topsy Ojo however opened the scoring after 13 minutes, his anticipation allowing him to intercept and coast in untouched from 40 metres.

The opening ten minutes had seen kickers Charlie Hodgson and Tom Homer both miss efforts at goal, Hodgson atoning for his misjudgement on 24 minutes.

England U-20 international Homer soon reinstated his sides seven point lead however from in front of the posts.

David Paice’s third try in as many games was added to two minutes from half time, a mesmerising Dan Bowden run unlocking the Sharks defence.

The Sharks, playing at the Reebok as they look to extend the Sale brand within the region, came out for the second half with the score 24-3 and the bit firmly between their teeth.

London Irish looked to prevent any build in momentum for the hosts through a long range Tom Homer effort as he extended the lead to three converted tries.

This however did not deter a side who had clearly been given a few choice words by Director of Sport Steve Diamond during the break.

Sisa Koyamaibole came within inches of scoring 13 minutes into the second stanza only to drop the ball over the whitewash.

Sale’s sustained pressure inside the visitors territory continued, Sean Cox showing Koyamaibole how to finish around the fringes an hour in.

A second try was added within two minutes, Wale Lewaravu galloping down the right wing after Neil Briggs’ perfectly timed pass released the lock to finish in the corner.

Another Tom Homer shot at goal looked to stretch the deficit to beyond a converted try ten minutes from time, the effort wide of the mark.

As the game drew to its climax the Edgeley Park residents had appeared to have successfully secured themselves a bonus point as they continue in their attempts to assure their Premiership status.

Their hopes of leaving Bolton with this point were dashed however, Dan Bowden’s drilled kick into the corner from half way setting up the attacking platform from which Irish and Armitage snatched the fourth try.

Sale 36 - 31 Gloucester

Sale’s Charlie Hodgson surpassed 1000 points at Edgeley Park as the Sharks’ 36-31 win eased their relegation fears.

A three try blitz in the second half saw off a Gloucester outfit looking to put pressure on their title rivals.

Within ten minutes the Sharks found themselves crossing the whitewash, only to be called back for what was adjudged by referee Sean Davey to be a forward pass.

Hodgson and Gloucester’s Freddie Burns traded penalties in an opening ten minutes that saw both sides display intent to run the ball.

It was Burns, in contrast to Hodgson just starting his Premiership career, who set up the opportunity for the visitors to take the lead.

The 20-year-old’s kick into the corner allowed the cherry and whites to set up an attacking platform five metres out. From quick second phase ball Burns ran a dummy scissor move, Molenaar picking an incisive line to breach the Sharks defence.

Straight from the restart the visitors opened the door for Hodgson to close the gap to four points, adding a further penalty on the half hour mark.

Sale soon had another opportunity to cross, almost a carbon-copy of the disallowed effort. The last pass however not going to hand, an opportunity squandered.

The hosts struck before half-time in response to another Burns penalty to take a three point lead at the break.

The strong running of Andy Tuilagi attracting defenders, his slip ball finding Paul Williams to finish well in the right hand corner.

Much like in the first half the opening period of the second saw Burns and Hodgson trade penalties again before three tries saw Sale secure the bonus point win.

It was aggressive Sale defence that saw them profit, with two tries.

Poor ball retention from Gloucester resulted in a hack through, Addison collecting the ball and squeezing over in the left hand corner for his first Premiership try.

From turn over ball Williams added to his earlier try. With the Sharks backs moving the ball from left to right and back again, the winger finding the perfect line to go over.

The scoring sequence was broken by substitute Tim Taylor; this did not however inhibit Sale’s attacking ambitions.

An opportunity was missed once more, hooker Neil Briggs dropping the ball with the line at his mercy.

The record breaking Hodgson, architect for much of the night collating a haul of 21 points, turned scorer soon after. A lapse in the Gloucester defence allowing the Saracens bound fly-half to sneak in the corner, when it appeared he would strike for goal.

Jonny May and a penalty try, repetitive infringement at the scrum prompting referee Daley to go under the posts came in the final 12 minutes.

These however were not enough and in some respects flattered the west-countrymen.

The win moves Sale 11 points clear of Newcastle Falcons, almost guaranteeing their Premiership status.

At the opposite end of the table, Gloucester’s bonus point sees them move two points ahead of Northampton Saints in the top four.

Reds hit Rovers for six

Salford City Reds bounced back from two successive defeats to run in six tries against Hull KR at The Willows on Friday night.

The 34-18 victory, only The Reds second win of this Super League campaign, came in a thoroughly dominant performance in front of a boisterous shed stand.

Having taken an early two try lead within the opening quarter through Ryan Boyle and Jodie Broughton the visitors hit back with an 18 point riposte after an abject opening.

It was Hull FC exile Craig Hall who’s 14 point haul awoke Hull Kingston Rovers from their relative slumber.

This comeback however was brought to an abrupt conclusion via two tries in a minute from Stefan Ratchford and Matty Smith.

With all eyes on big money signing Willie Mason it was Salford newcomer Sean Gleeson who made the greater impact.

The visitors who hadn’t lost to the Reds in Super League since 2007 found themselves without influential back rower’s Clint Newton and captain Mick Vella along with Great Britain winger Peter Fox.

Salford were required to call in under 20 academy players Callum Marriot and Alex Davidson as they went into the match without props Ray Cashmere and Iafeta Paleaaesina.

In this relatively inexperienced front row the Reds dominated, suppressing any attacking threat from Mason.

Front row forward Boyle went over for the first try at the end of a handling move that saw all but one of the Salford players touch the ball.

Influential full-back Luke Patten was at the heart of the next score, stretching the visitors defence to allow Jodie Broughton to score in the corner.

The sides went in at the interval with the score 10-6, an unfair reflection of the hosts dominance.

After the break Rovers struck twice more, Hall completing his brace and Scott Murrell evading the Reds otherwise stubborn defence.

This was to be the only glimmer of hope for an otherwise lack-lustre Hull KR as Salford proceeded to run in four unanswered tries, each of them converted by man of the match Daniel Holdsworth.

Ratchford and Smith scores were added to by ex-Wakefield centre Gleeson on debut with Marc Sneyd’s interception effort the exclamation point on a dominant Reds performance.

Harlequins 20 - Newcastle Falcons 21

A last play Tane Tu’ipulotu try secured Newcastle Falcons place in the LV= Cup final next Sunday.

The try made it two wins in seven days over Harlequins, this time by just a solitary point in a game bossed by the home side.

Having lost just once this season at the Stoop, and with revenge in mind after their 33-18 defeat at Kingston Park the week previous, Quins wasted no time in scoring.

Scrum-half Karl Dickson marked his return from injury with a first minute try before Rory Clegg, enjoying a rare run in the number ten shirt converted.

The former Falcon Clegg soon extended the lead to ten after eight minutes as the Londoners made the most of a high tempo opening period.

Harlequins however, masters of their own downfall throughout, gifted Newcastle with an immediate chance to pull back to within a converted try. The prolific Jimmy Gopperth made no mistake with this opportunity, slotting the ball between the uprights.

The first half was one of both domination and frustration for the hosts. Joe Marler, sporting the most garish of new haircuts, and Maurie Fa’asavalu dominated in the loose with heavy carries consistently allowing Quins to cross the gainline. This domination however was not reflective of the scoreline.

The significance of this competition and the match, which had been brought into question by many commentators, was in no doubt with a skirmish between the players at the end of the first quarter.

Minutes later Newcastle found themselves a man down, a professional foul by Andrew Van der Heijden warranting him a place in the bin. Clegg obliged from the penalty kick to re-establish the home side’s ten point lead.

As the first half drew to a close frustration could be sensed from a Harlequins outfit unable to profit from both territory and possession. Their lack of efficiency was nearly punished, a James Fitzpatrick line break requiring a Tom Williams tap-tackle to prevent the score

As half time beckoned the visitors went into the changing rooms much the happier. Euan Murray, playing in the fixture due to religious reasons preventing his appearance for Scotland against England on Sunday, was awarded a penalty at the scrum to allow Kiwi Gopperth an opportunity at goal which he dually took.

After the break the game followed much the pattern of the first with the Falcons living off scraps. This time however doing so much more profitably, stand-off Gopperth pounced on a loose ball to sprint 60 metres, touching down and converting his own score.

With the scores level at 13 all, Newcastle were offered the chance to take the lead for the first time, man of the match Gopperth once again adding to his haul of points.

In the final ten minutes Harlequins appeared to have secured their cup final berth via a Michael Brown try in the corner, coming in the 25^th phase of a compelling period of possession.

It appeared for the North-East side and their small pocket of away support that the game was now beyond their grasp. They were however given the opportunity of one last attack, Gopperth kicking a penalty into the corner to set up an attacking platform deep inside the opposition 22.

It was from here that the Falcons mounted their attack, retaining the ball through a handful of phases before attacking the stretched home defence. Tu’ipuluto scored in the corner with time expired to break Harlequins hearts and send Newcastle through to the final at Franklin’s Gardens. Their LV= Cup final appearance will mark their first in a major competition since 2004.