nutes into the third period before Clarkes | Forum

All of Wales Aviva Premiership-based players will be made available for the autumn Test opener against Australia in Cardiff on November 5.Premiership Rugby has confirmed the one-off move, describing it as a gesture of flexibility. It means that Wales interim head coach Rob Howley can call on the services of Northampton wing George North, Harlequins centre Jamie Roberts, Gloucester flanker Ross Moriarty, Exeter prop Tomas Francis, plus Bath forwards Luke Charteris and Taulupe Faletau, although number eight Faletau is currently injured.Premiership Rugby - the umbrella organisation for Englands 12 Aviva Premiership clubs - do not normally release non-England players who ply their trade in the Premiership for Tests that fall outside World Rugbys autumn international window.The Australia game is outside of that official three-weekend slot, with Wales also facing Argentina, Japan and South Africa in November.The Premiership Rugby decision applies to all nations in Test action on the weekend of November 4-6.The only other Tests that weekend are Ireland against New Zealand in Chicago and Japan versus Argentina.As a gesture of flexibility, the Premiership Rugby clubs will release their players outside the approved Test window for matches on the weekend of 4-6 November, a Premiership Rugby spokesperson told Press Association Sport. This comes as we continue deliberations on a new post-2019 global season structure to find an appropriate balance between club and international rugby.We are showing flexibility to help a number of unions who have decided to play on this particular weekend, but we must stress this is a one-off variation to the allowed window while discussions continue.Premiership Rugbys stance is a huge boost for Howley as Wales look to address a run of 11 successive defeats against Australia.Howley is at the helm this season while head coach Warren Gatland concentrates on British and Irish Lions business building towards next summers three-Test New Zealand tour.And the certainty of game-breakers like North and Roberts being available will be of huge benefit as preparations begin for the Wallabies fixture in 12 days time. Sydney Kings bounced back to their best with Monday nights 99-93 victory over state rivals Illawarra at WIN Entertainment Centre.Sydney stretched an eight-point halftime buffer to 15 early in the third quarter and answered every challenge by the home side in an often spiteful second half.The Kings led by as many as 19 in the fourth period of the top of the table showdown, notching their ninth win of the season and third from as many meetings with the Hawks.Spearheading Sydneys charge were Kevin Lisch (23 points), Jason Cadee (22), and Greg Whittington (20), while Rotnei Clarke (27) top-scored for the Hawks.Illawarra built a 23-15 lead in the first period, but Cadee and Whittington combined for 18 points to help the visitors lock the scores at 25-all at quarter-time.Whittington and Cadee stayed hot in the second period, whiile Lisch and Brad Newley hit key baskets to put the Kings up by seven.ddddddddddddSydney maintained the upper hand, making 48 percent of their shots to take a deserved 52-44 lead into halftime.The margin swelled to 15 two minutes into the third period before Clarkes red-hot shooting helped the Hawks cut the deficit to three.The Kings held their nerve, closing with a 13-4 run to take a 78-66 lead into the final quarter.Despite letting a 19-point lead shrink to five with three minutes remaining, they did enough to squeak home.Illawarra are on the road against Brisbane on Saturday, while the Kings meet Cairns in North Queensland on Friday night before hosting Melbourne United on Sunday afternoon. ' ' '