Afghanistan pips ACT Comets in World Cup warm-up

He's only been in the job for three weeks, but Afghanistan coach Andy Moles has declared guiding the country to the Test arena is his long-term focus.

Afghanistan secured its second tight win in as many games over ACT Comets on Sunday at Manuka Oval, passing the hosts' 9-232 with four balls to spare to secure a five-wicket win.

The war-torn country will play in its first World Cup in February, its opening clash being against Bangladesh in Canberra.

Bangladesh is the closest team above them in the Test rankings, and Moles says the match is an opportunity to press its claims to play on the big stage.

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"If we want to play Test cricket, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe are the two sides who are just above us in the rankings," Moles said.

"Bangladesh will want to show everyone they're still above us in ability but, if we can beat them regularly, we'd be pushing to the ICC [International Cricket Council] to play at a higher level.

"Twelve years ago there was no cricket in Afghanistan at all, so to go from nothing to the World Cup is a remarkable story.

"Now it's about making sure we've got the depth in the country to push on."

Afghanistan looked set to cruise to victory on Sunday, but lost momentum mid-innings when opening batsman Usman Ghani (61 not out) retired hurt with cramps.

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Afghanistan pips ACT Comets in World Cup warm-up

Fatima sweeps Hancock Invitational titles

ST. LOUIS The Fatima Comets and Lady Comets swept team honors Saturday in the Class 1-2 competition at the Hancock Cross Country Invitational.

The Comets, who had three runners finish in the top 10, totaled 69 team points. Whitfield was second with 86, with Herculaneum third with 101.

Hunter Hennier paced Fatima, finishing fourth in 17:21.34. Alex Krieg of the Comets was ninth in 17:54.27, while teammate Cody Huhn finished 10th in 17:57.61.

Nate Gerber of Whitfield was first in 16:38.14.

On the girls side, Fatima won the 10-team event with 52 points. Herculaneum was second with 77.

The Lady Comets had three runners finish in the top 10. Brianna Haller was second in 20:09.80, while Riley Caminiti was fifth in 20:52.45 and Madison Day finished 10th in 21:46.89.

Keri Burmester of Red Bud was first in 19:38.63.

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Hancock Cross Country Invitational results

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Fatima sweeps Hancock Invitational titles

Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2014 Sept. 20: North)

The brightness evolution has slowed down just before the perihelion passage. But now it is so bright as 6.2 mag (Sept. 18, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it is observable in the morning sky until mid September. Then it is observable in the evening sky from late September to mid October. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is not observable until late December when the comet will fade down to 13 mag.

Appearing in the morning sky again. Now it is so bright as 7.1 mag (Sept. 17, Marco Goiato). It will be observable in good condition in the Southern Hemisphere after this. But it keeps low in the Northern Hemisphere.

The brightness evolution has slowed down just before the perihelion passage. But now it is bright as 9.4 mag (Sept. 18, Chris Wyatt). It keeps observable in good condition until early November in the Southern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is observable only in the evening low sky from late September to mid November. But it will be observable in excellent condition after 2015 January while the comet will be fading. It will pass extremely close to Mars on Oct. 19.

It brightened up to 6.0 mag from July to August (July 24, Maik Meyer). Now it is fading. But it is bright as 8.7 mag still now (Sept. 19, Maik Meyer). It keeps observable in good condition until November in the Southern Hemisphere, or December in the Northern Hemisphere.

It brightened rapidly in outburst in mid October in 2013. It will be fading gradually after this. But it is bright as 11.0 mag still now (Sept. 18, Chris Wyatt). In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in good condition for a long time until the comet fades out. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low after this.

Now it is 14.7 mag (Aug. 29, iTelescope Observatory, Mayhill). In the Northern Hemisphere, it will be observable at 12-13 mag in excellent condition from 2014 summer to 2015 spring. In the Southern Hemisphere, it will locate low around the highlight.

New bright comet. Now it is 12.9 mag and visible visually (Sept. 18, Chris Wyatt). It will approach to the earth in December and January, and it is expected to brighten up to 8 mag. In the Southern Hemisphere, it keeps observable in excellent condition until late January. In the Northern Hemisphere, it keeps extremely low until mid December. But after that, it will be observable in excellent condition.

Now it is 13.9 mag (Aug. 29, iTelescope Observatory, Mayhill). It keeps observable for a long time after this while the comet will be fading gradually.

No bright outburst was reported in July and August. It will be unobservable in mid September in the Northern Hemisphere, or in late October in the Southern Hemisphere.

Now it is 12.8 mag (Aug. 19, Marco Goiato). It keeps bright as 13-14 mag for a long time from 2013 to 2014.

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Weekly Information about Bright Comets (2014 Sept. 20: North)

Big defeat turns up heat on Comets for tonight's clash

Last updated at 11:55, Saturday, 27 September 2014

Edinburgh Monarchs 60 Workington Comets 34: Workington Comets hopes of winning the Premier League took a massive hit last night as Edinburgh Monarchs took a giant step towards the grand final with a resounding victory.

Rene Bach, on the outside, leads Max Fricke

Comets were comprehensively beaten 60-34 at the Scotwaste Arena in their first meeting in this season's play-offs.

The result now means that Workington must take a maximum of three points from tonights (27th) return fixture at Derwent Park and then beat Berwick Bandits home and away in two weeks time to stand any chance of progressing to the play-off final.

Monarchs dominance on their home track this season continued against Workington, with the Scottish side yet to taste defeat at the Scotwaste Arena.

Monarchs Sam Masters (13 points), Justin Sedgmen (12 points) and Max Fricke (11 points) were all on top form for the league leaders.

Workingtons Ricky Wells (12 points) was the only standout performer for the visitors.

Captain Rene Bach was forced to withdraw from the meeting in heat 12 after hitting the air fence following a collision with Derek Sneddon.

Bach suffered a possible broken nose and is a doubt for tonights return fixture.

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Big defeat turns up heat on Comets for tonight's clash

Big defeat turns up heat on Workington Comets for tonight's clash

Last updated at 11:55, Saturday, 27 September 2014

Edinburgh Monarchs 60 Workington Comets 34: Workington Comets hopes of winning the Premier League took a massive hit last night as Edinburgh Monarchs took a giant step towards the grand final with a resounding victory.

Rene Bach, on the outside, leads Max Fricke

Comets were comprehensively beaten 60-34 at the Scotwaste Arena in their first meeting in this season's play-offs.

The result now means that Workington must take a maximum of three points from tonights (27th) return fixture at Derwent Park and then beat Berwick Bandits home and away in two weeks time to stand any chance of progressing to the play-off final.

Monarchs dominance on their home track this season continued against Workington, with the Scottish side yet to taste defeat at the Scotwaste Arena.

Monarchs Sam Masters (13 points), Justin Sedgmen (12 points) and Max Fricke (11 points) were all on top form for the league leaders.

Workingtons Ricky Wells (12 points) was the only standout performer for the visitors.

Captain Rene Bach was forced to withdraw from the meeting in heat 12 after hitting the air fence following a collision with Derek Sneddon.

Bach suffered a possible broken nose and is a doubt for tonights return fixture.

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Big defeat turns up heat on Workington Comets for tonight's clash

Blue Comets take care of business

ASHEBORO A dream beginning for the Asheboro High School Blue Comets Friday night meant a nightmare start for the Providence Grove Patriots.

AHS scored touchdowns on its first three possessions of the first quarter and used that momentumn to roll to a 47-21 victory over PG at Lee J. Stone Stadium.

The victory is the second in a row for the Blue Comets, who improved to 3-2 heading into the Mid-Piedmont Conference opener next week against Southwestern Randolph. The loss was the fourth in a row for the Patriots, who now stand 2-4 on the season. PG has next week off before beginning Piedmont Athletic Conference play at High Point Andrews.

Asheboro scored on a three-play 64-yard drive on its first possession, a five-play 64-yard drive on its second possession and a four-play 87-yard drive on its third possession to jump into a 20-0 lead.

We felt we needed to go out there and set the tone at the line of scrimmage, AHS coach Owen George said. The thing is we were able to go out there and execute. We were able to iron out some of the wrinkles we had.

Jake Hall hauled in a 37-yard TD strike from Shyheim Lineberry, Wayne Robertson scored on a 14-yard run and Terry Richmond scored on a 40-yard run for the Blue Comets in the first quarter. Miguel Santos hit two of the three PATs for the 20-0 lead.

Im thinking we just need to get something positive going because they were dominating the line of scrimmage, PG coach Danny Martin said. Owen and his staff did a great job. They had his pegged. We did not execute at all in the first half.

The Blue Comets also used Lineberry in the slot in certain formations, bringing in Nathan Sloan at quarterback.

We had been practicing that for awhile and thought it was something we wanted to do as we prepared for conference play, George said.

Both teams added touchdowns before the end of the first half as Providence Grove forced an Asheboro fumble at the PG 33 and the Patriots took it in, scoring on a 1-yard run by Tanner Breedlove.

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Matt Condon warms up for first-grade debut but Afghanistan still wins thriller against Comets

ACT Comets young gun Matt Condon had the perfect tune-up for his Sydney first-grade debut for Michael Bevan's Easts, testing himself against international side Afghanistan at Manuka Oval on Friday.

But it was a small band of vocal Afghanistan supporters who were cheering in the end, with the visitors producing a thrilling final-over victory after chasing down the Comets' total of 266 with three wickets in hand.

Condon will spend the summer in Sydney under the guidance of Australia's greatest-ever one-day batsman, Bevan.

Comets batsman Andrew Harriott survives an LBW appeal by keeper Shafiqullah Shafiq off the bowling of Samiullah Shenwari. Photo: Graham Tidy

He didn't get off to the best start though, getting a golden duck in last weekend's trial game, but he takes some form into Saturday's first-grade debut after scoring 45 for the Comets.

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"I went down there for a trial game. Unfortunately, I got snicked off the first ball, which didn't really help, but I had a little bit of a chat to [Bevan] about pathways coming through the ACT and my future there. It was good to catch up with him," Condon said.

"My first chance to impress up there in first grade. A couple of big names Nic Maddinson and Pete Nevill are playing, so [I have] an opportunity to play with some of the top boys [from NSW]."

Tamworth batsman Andrew Harriott (66 runs) was the backbone of the Comets' innings, but they continued to lose wickets throughout. If it wasn't for some lusty hitting by Daniel Magin (32 not out), they wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the total they did.

Originally from Newcastle, Magin was playing cricket in England during winter when he got a call from Comets coach Mark Higgs.

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Matt Condon warms up for first-grade debut but Afghanistan still wins thriller against Comets

Massive test for Workington Comets in speedway play-offs

Last updated at 11:14, Friday, 26 September 2014

Workington Comets quest for Premier League glory begins tonight with a daunting trip to league leaders Edinburgh Monarchs.

Laura Morgan

Comets travel to the Scotswaste Arena (7.30pm start) on a mission to be the first team to defeat the Monarchs on their home track this season as the west Cumbrian club get their play-off campaign under way.

Edinburgh will then make the trip to Derwent Park for the return fixture tomorrow (7pm start).

Comets owner Laura Morgan is under no illusions that Workington have a tough weekend ahead of them.

She said: Tonight is massive. We know what we have got to do. The boys have got to get their heads down, regroup and get on with it.

They have got to raise the bar and do the best they can.

Then on Saturday, if we go back to the abandoned home meeting against Edinburgh in June, it was very close. We were two points up when it was abandoned.

It gives me encouragement. I thoroughly believe we were on for the win in that match. Its fair to say its going to be a very difficult couple of matches for us.

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Massive test for Workington Comets in speedway play-offs

San Diego Sockers vs. Kansas City Comets MISL Soccer Regular Season 3/3/85 – Video


San Diego Sockers vs. Kansas City Comets MISL Soccer Regular Season 3/3/85
San Diego Sockers visit the Kansas City Comets in a 3/3/85 regular season Major Indoor Soccer League match in front of 12091 at Kemper Arena. Randy Hahn calls the action live on the simulcast...

By: Tim Hanlon

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San Diego Sockers vs. Kansas City Comets MISL Soccer Regular Season 3/3/85 - Video

Comets stay perfect with victory over Clavet

The MUCC Comets posted a 35-12 victory over the Clavet Cougars on Friday, September 19, but the game was a lot closer than the score indicated. It was a great football contest today against two first class teams, Comets head coach Dave Rogers said. The Clavet Cougars came here to play and they came here to win and they showed that throughout the entire game. He compared the game to a boxing match between Two heavyweight prize fighters. Everybody was swinging and the blows were landing and it was just waiting to see what or who was going to break first. Ethan Kish, the Comets defensive back who had an interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, said with a big game comes more focus and intensity. We just had to keep it together and stay focused. Every play is a new play. We just played our hardest and it showed. Coming off a bye week Rogers said a close game that is full of intensity is a good way to develop as a team. Also, having it this early in the season helped the Comets a lot. It is great. You need to play quality opponents and Clavet was a quality opponent. The only way you get better is by playing really good football teams, he said. That is the measure it helps you get better it helps you prepare, it tells your players where they have to go in terms of execution and in terms of intensity and in terms of just being in the game. You have to have these intense games. The intensity started early as the Comets Kalen Senecal intercepted a pass which led to a15-yard touchdown run by Jomar Malaggay. The convert was good giving the Comets a 7-0 lead, which stood until the end of the fourth quarter. Early in the second quarter the comets capped of an 80-yard drive when quarterback Lee Taylor ran into the end zone from one yard out. The convert gave the Comets a 14-0 lead. The Cougars followed that up with a long drive of their own. Starting from their own 35-yard line they scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Graham Beresh to Ian Shimla just after the three-minute warning. The Cougars missed in their two-point conversion attempt leaving them behind 14-6. Another long drive to start the second half led to the Cougars Aaron Goselin catching a 13-yard touchdown pass. They again attempted a two-point conversion and missed, they now trailed 14-12. Kishs interception and 40-yard return for a touchdown came near the end of the third quarter. That was crazy. My eyes started watering up the last 10 yards. Everyone cheering and to get a pic 6 is great, he said. The conversion gave the Comets a 21-2 lead. The Comets added a pair of touchdowns and conversions in the fourth quarter. Taylor again ran from one yard out to score and with less than a minute remaining Tyler Jones caught a pass from 20 yards out for a touchdown. After the win the Comets are now preparing for a road game against the Humboldt Mohawks on Friday, September 26. Rogers said they are expecting good things from the Mohawks. We expect Humboldt to be a good football team, they defeated Nipawin 60-0 in Nipawin, Rogers said. Kish echoed that saying they need to take the game one play at a time. It will be a good match-up for sure, he said. We just had to keep it together and stay focused. Every play is a new play, he said. greg.wiseman@sunmedia.ca @melfortjournal

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Comets stay perfect with victory over Clavet

Top ten finishes for Comets volleyball

The senior boys and senior girls MUCC Comets volleyball teams both placed in the top ten at their tournaments on September 20 and 21. The senior girls Comets were at Prince Albert St. Marys and played well despite a tenth place finish The Girls played some really good games. But consistency on serve receive needs to be improved on, Comets coach Rob Moore said. They opened round robin play by defeating the host St. Marys 25 16, 24 26 on Friday afternoons. The Comets then split with North Battleford Comprehensive 16-25, 25 15. They lost their next round robin game 23- 25, 11-25 to Saskatoon Holy Cross. Later on Saturday they lost to Meath Park 23 -25, 28 -26, 14-16. In their next round robin game they fell to Prince Albert Rivier (21- 25, 20 25. The Comets lost their final round robin game to Rosetown 25 23, 17 -25, 15 11. The senior boys Comets placed sixth at the University of Saskatchewan tournament. Every year, the U of S puts on a volleyball tournament for high schools as a way of seeing what kind of talent there is to potentially come their way, Comets coach Graham Calow said. Placing sixth out of 24 teams is considered a successful weekend for us, he added. The 24 team tournament is broken into pools of six where teams compete to see who ends up in either A, B, or C playoffs. The Comets placed second in their pool with a record of 4-1, only falling to Prince Albert Carlton and headed to the A side playoffs. The Comets played well but lost to Prince Albert St. Marys to fall to the consolation side. The Comets defeated Saskatoon Marion Graham to advance to the consolation final where they lost to Valley Christian Academy (Osler). This was our seventh match of the weekend, and the players seemed a little out of gas. It was a very well played tournament, but we just didnt have enough to pull off one more win, Calow explained. On September 26 and 27 the senior girls are at Luther in Regina, while the boys have a bye week and return to action on October 3 and 4 at Regina Winston Knoll.

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Top ten finishes for Comets volleyball

Junior volleyball Comets advance to final

The junior boys A MUCC Comets volleyball teams advanced to the finals in a tournament at Prince Albert Carlton Comprehensive High School on the weekend but came up just short of a title. In Saturdays final the Comets lost to Prince Albert St. Mary1by scores of 26-24, 18-25, 12-15. To advance to the final the Comets defeated North Battleford Comprehensive 25-20, 25-21 on Saturday afternoon. The Comets finished second in round robin play with an 8 -4 record. The Comets opened round robin play splitting with North Battleford Comprehensive 18-25,25-23. In their second round robin game they lost to Prince Albert St. Mary 1 by scores of 14-25,14-25 on Friday afternoon, On Saturday they split with Meadow Lake25-7,23-25. They defeated Prince Albert St. Mary 2by scores of 25-18,25-16 on Saturday. They defeated Prince Albert Carlton 1by scores of 25-17 25-20. In their final round robin game they defeated Prince Albert Carlton 2 by scores of 25-1625-10 The Comets next action is this weekend when they host the annual Boys and Girls Melfort Junior Invitational Tournament. Matches start Friday at 4:00 with the finals slated for 3:15 on Saturday.

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Junior volleyball Comets advance to final

Preseason Game in Rome Sold out for Second Straight Year

September 24, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets The Utica Comets and John F. Kennedy Civic Arena have announced that the Comets preseason game on Oct. 3 in Rome, NY is sold out. The Comets will face the Adirondack Flames at 7 p.m. and all proceeds from the game will be donated to Kennedy Arena.

Last season, the Comets hosted the Adirondack Phantoms at Kennedy Arena on Sept. 29, 2013 in front of a sold-out crowd. Utica defeated Adirondack, 4-2, in the Mohawk Valley's first opportunity to catch a glimpse of the Comets in Central New York. The Phantoms (Philadelphia Flyers) relocated to Allentown, PA over the summer while the Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames) have moved to the Glens Falls Civic Center.

The Comets will play a total of three preseason games with the other two being played on the road. They will open their exhibition schedule on Oct. 1 against the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and they will face Flames again on Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Glens Falls Civic Center. Utica will open the regular season on Oct. 11 on the road against the Toronto Marlies.

The Comets home schedule will kick off on Wednesday, Oct. 23 against Adirondack. Individual tickets will go on sale at the Utica Memorial Auditorium box office on Oct. 4 at 10 a.m. For more information, or to secure your season tickets, please call 315-790-9070 or visit http://www.uticacomets.com.

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Preseason Game in Rome Sold out for Second Straight Year

Afghanistan awaits Dean

Sept. 25, 2014, 4:30 a.m.

The rising stocks of Bathurst cricketer Jono Dean will take another twist tomorrow and Sunday as the ACT Comets play their part in a remarkable cricketing story.

READY TO GO: Jono Dean will captain the ACT Comets tomorrow when they take on World Cup-bound Afghanistan in the first of two one-dayers in Canberra. 092414jono

THE rising stocks of Bathurst cricketer Jono Dean will take another twist tomorrow and Sunday as the ACT Comets play their part in a remarkable cricketing story.

Dean has been selected to captain the Comets as they play two matches against the Afghanistan one-day side at Manuka Oval.

It will be the first major hit-out of the 2014-15 season for big-hitting right-hander Dean, while his brother Blake has also been selected in the side.

The two Rugby Union juniors will meet a side whose journey just to get to this point is amazing in itself.

Considered a fringe cricket nation for a long time due to the fact that it shares a border with Pakistan, it would seem that the chances of the Afghani side achieving any sort of success would be remote.

With the volume of violence and internal issues that have dogged the region for years, it is surprising that they even have a cricket side.

Yet they have climbed from the bottom of the cricketing ladder when they formed in 2001 in 2008 they were still in division five of the World Cricket League all the way to next years World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand.

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Afghanistan awaits Dean

Injured Workington speedway rider in heated row moments before crash

Published at 15:09, Tuesday, 23 September 2014

Workington Comets star Josh Grajczonek broke his collarbone after a heated argument with another speedway rider, it has emerged.

Josh Grajczonek, right, broke his collarbone

The 24-year-old Australian was forced to withdraw from the Premier League Riders Championship at Sheffields Owlerton Stadium on Sunday after colliding with eventual winner Simon Stead following the conclusion of heat 16.

Grajczonek sustained a broken left collarbone and is almost certain to be out of Workingtons two play-off fixtures against Edinburgh Monarchs this weekend.

It has emerged that Grajczonek and Stead exchanged heated words following a manoeuvre by the latter in heat 16 that the Comets No1 wasnt happy with.

However, while arguing, they inadvertently collided and both fell from their bikes.

Comets team manager Tony Jackson said: I just could not believe what was happening.

I fully understand the fact that Josh was unhappy with Steadys move on the opening lap as he left Josh with no room whatsoever.

I have always been a fan, and a friend, of Simon Stead since his time at Workington but on this occasion I feel that he perhaps just overstepped the mark in his treatment of Josh on that opening lap.

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Injured Workington speedway rider in heated row moments before crash