NATIONAL SHORTS

The Age

Saturday September 12, 2009

Young Aussie secondTRIATHLON: Australian favourite James Seear has finished second in a fast-paced men's under-23 world championship at the Gold Coast. The home crowd cheered Gold Coast's Seear to second place behind German Franz Loschke yesterday, with Portugal's Joao Pereira third in the Olympic distance race, consisting of a 1.5-kilometre swim, 40-kilometre ride and 10-kilometre run. "I would have loved to have taken the gold in my home town, but silver is unbelievable," he said. Loschke was an unexpected force at the front of the race having just stepped up from the junior ranks. In the women's event, Britain's Hollie Avil led compatriot Jodie Stimpson home.Springboks toughRUGBY UNION: Wallabies winger Peter Hynes says South Africa is still stinging from its loss to Australia and will be tough for the All Blacks to beat in their Tri-Nations clash tonight in Hamilton. Hynes couldn't decide which team he would rather see win, as both scenarios don't make anything better for the Wallabies. Victory for South Africa would secure the world champion southern hemisphere honours, while a convincing All Blacks bonus-point win would keep the Tri Nations alive for the current holder. If that is the case, NZ will have silverware for the taking when it clashes with the Wallabies in the third Bledisloe Cup clash next Saturday, needing a second bonus-point win to retain the Tri-Nations crown.Taylor defiantRUGBY LEAGUE: South Sydney coach Jason Taylor says he did nothing wrong during an incident which resulted in him being knocked out by forward David Fa'alogo. Taylor was issued with a contract breach notice by the club on Thursday following the altercation last Sunday at an inner Sydney hotel. He has until 5pm on Tuesday to show cause why his contract should not be terminated. Taylor viewed CCTV footage of the incident which reportedly shows him slapping Fa'alogo before the Kiwi international punches him down a flight of stairs.Korner backHOCKEY: Amy Korner will provide the goal-scoring power for the Hockeyroos when they take on Spain and Argentina next month, returning to the team line-up for the first time since 2007. Shelly Liddelow was also named in the squad and will play her first game for the Hockeyroos since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Three Tests will take place in Spain, while five matches will be played in Argentina, with the October dates yet to be confirmed.