2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions
Amano noted that "it is expected that between 10 and 25 new countries will bring their first nuclear power plants online by 2030" since it is for each sovereign State to decide whether or not to use nuclear power, and said that "more efforts are needed to achieve sufficient, assured and predictable funding of technical cooperation". Amano also said that "IAEA safeguards are a fundamental pillar of the nuclear non-proliferation regime" and that the Agency was working to "resolve important safeguards implementation issues in three states". Amano said the IAEA General Conference had adopted resolutions in recent years on the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in the Middle East and Israeli nuclear capabilities, and that he would take these issues up as well.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions, Statements by countries
Indonesia Indonesia's Foreign Minister, R. M. Marty N. Natalegawa spoke on behalf of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). "While there are some positive signs in the field of nuclear disarmament, much more needs to be done to achieve complete nuclear disarmament," he said. NAM recognized the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, but said it remained "below the international community's expectations which anticipate more concrete uniform and systematic nuclear disarmament". NAM further noted that modernization of nuclear weapons arsenals constituted "non-compliance by the Nuclear Weapons States with their obligations under Article VI of the Treaty". NAM also called for the freezing of cooperation with states which were working outside of the treaty, and for the establishment of a nuclear-weapon free zone in the Middle East.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions, Statements by countries
Iran President Ahmadinejad of Iran, criticized and charged Washington with leading a skewed international system that seeks to deny peaceful nuclear power to developing nations while allowing allies such as Israel to stockpile atomic arms and put forward a proposal for nuclear disarmament. Ahmadinejad called for guarantees against the use of nuclear weapons, a halt to research of nuclear weapons, a halt to cooperation with states operating outside of the treaty, the establishment of a nuclear free zone in the Middle East, the dismantling of nuclear weapons in Europe, and a legally binding framework for nuclear disarmament.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions, Statements by countries
United States U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton delivered a statement that called for NPT Parties to "focus on promoting practical solutions, not pursuing unrealistic agendas, adding that "Now is the time to build consensus, not to block it." She accused Iran of "whatever it can to divert attention away from its own record and to attempt to evade accountability," and said Iran "has defied the UN Security Council and the IAEA, and placed the future of the nonproliferation regime in jeopardy."


2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions, Statements by countries
Clinton also touted the U.S. record on nuclear disarmament, citing the Nuclear Posture Review, the New START Treaty and reductions in the U.S. nuclear weapon stockpile. She announced that the Obama Administration would seek Senate approval of the Protocols to the nuclear-weapon-free zones in Africa and the South Pacific, and announced a U.S. pledge of $50 million to launch an IAEA Peaceful Uses Initiative.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Discussions, Statements by countries
Japan State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Japan Tetsure Fukuyama said "the citizens of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki are watching with very keen eyes what will come out of this Conference. It was as few as two atomic bombs that claimed the lives of more than 200 thousand civilians, and left many to suffer from the after-effects of radiation even today 60 years later." Fukuyama also said "that all Parties to the Treaty must work to bridge the differences in their respective positions and find common ground for collaboration in the spirit of multilateralism, in order to pave the way for a "world without nuclear weapons" while also maintaining "atoms for peace."


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The Conference closed on 28 May and until the last minute was hard to know if it would have a positive outcome, as the risk of blocking persisted. Consensus was achieved during the afternoon that day, when the plenary was finally gathered and Ambassador Cabactulan got the approval for his proposal of Final Document.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The final document supported the early entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, as well as the prompt negotiation of a Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, recognized the legitimate interest of non-nuclear weapon states to request nuclear weapon states to reduce operational status of their nuclear weapons. It also called to achieve total disarmament and then to maintain a world without nuclear weapons.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The final document called for a 2012 conference of all Middle Eastern states to move forward on a 1995 proposal for a nuclear-free Mideast and for the United Nations secretary general, along with the United States, Russia and Britain, to appoint a facilitator and consult with the countries of the Middle East convening the conference. The United States announced after the Review Conference that the United States, Russia, and the United Kingdom, along with the UN Secretary General, will co-sponsor the meeting and determine a country to host it and an individual to help organize it.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The document also called for India, Pakistan and Israel, all holding nuclear weapons but not nonproliferation treaty members, to join the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It also emphasized the need for countries to respect treaty guidelines for keeping their nuclear programs open to international inspection and suffering the consequences if they do not. With respect to international inspection the document called for the universal adoption of the IAEA Additional Protocol.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The document contained a recommitment of nations to the basic bargain of the NPT i.e. that "Countries with nuclear weapons will move towards disarmament, countries without nuclear weapons will not acquire them, and all countries can access peaceful nuclear energy." It also contained specific action plans on nonproliferation, disarmament, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. There are specific and measurable actions in the final document that states are asked to take in support of these three pillars of the NPT, which could serve as a scorecard for measuring progress and ensuring there would be accountability at future meetings.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The nonproliferation section covered a range of issues such as: ensuring compliance, strengthening safeguards, encouraging the adoption of the Additional Protocol, supporting the IAEA, strengthening export controls, emphasizing the need for the physical protection of nuclear materials, stopping illicit trafficking, and preventing nuclear terrorism, etc. The nonproliferation action plan also enabled a scorecard exercise to see how well states perform on the stated actions.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
In the disarmament section, for the first time, a world free of nuclear weapons was articulated as the goal of nuclear disarmament. Acknowledged nuclear weapon states also committed themselves to continuing to work together to accelerate concrete progress on disarmament. Efforts to include a timeline for a negotiated nuclear weapons convention failed, but the disarmament action plan included a timeline whereby the nuclear weapon states should report on their disarmament activities at the 2014 NPT Preparatory Committee meeting. They were also encouraged to develop a standard reporting form as a confidence building measure.


2010 NPT Review Conference, Outcome
The outcome document also reiterates that all states have to abide by international humanitarian law at all times, while expressing concern at the "catastrophic humanitarian consequences" any nuclear weapon detonation would entail. This language gave rise, in subsequent conferences of the NPT, to the Humanitarian Initiative, which is further pushing the envelope on the delegitimization of nuclear weapons in light of their humanitarian consequences. Norway and Mexico are also fulfilling this mandate for a renewed focus on the humanitarian consequences through their hosting of conferences focusing specifically on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, in early 2013 and early 2014, respectively.


2010 NRL Grand Final
The 2010 NRL Grand Final was the conclusive and premiership-deciding game of the 2010 NRL season. Played on Sunday, 3 October at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, the match was contested by the St. George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters. It was the first time the two sides met in a grand final. They had played each other twice before during the season, with St. George Illawarra winning on both occasions. The Dragons finished the season as minor premiers as they had the previous season. The Roosters were the previous year's wooden-spooners and only after playing and winning for five consecutive weeks were able to reach the 2010 decider.


2010 NRL Grand Final
In the grand final, St. George Illawarra trailed by two points at halftime, but broke the shackles in the second half, keeping the Roosters scoreless while adding 26 points to their score. The game finished with a 24-point margin in favour of St. George Illawarra, claiming their first premiership as a joint-venture club.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Background
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March with sixteen teams competing for the 2010 Telstra Premiership whilst the third season of the National Youth Competition was also in progress. The 2010 season was marred by the Melbourne Storm's admission in April of systematically breaching the salary cap. As part of the NRL's imposed penalties, the Storm were deducted all 8 competition points earned at the time of the announcement, and were barred from receiving points for the rest of the season, guaranteeing them the wooden spoon.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Background, St. George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons qualified for the Grand Final having defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles and the Wests Tigers in the finals series. The club had finished the regular season as minor premiers for the second consecutive season. The Dragons suffered a poor record in finals matches, having been knocked out of the finals series in straight sets in 2009, and having qualified for a Grand Final only once (in 1999, their first year as a joint venture) in eight finals appearances since the joint venture came into existence. It had been 31 years since the St. George Dragons side of the joint venture last won a premiership, while the Illawarra Steelers club had never won a premiership or qualified for a Grand Final.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Background, Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters entered the Grand Final from a markedly different path to that of the Dragons. The Roosters had finished the 2009 season on the bottom of the ladder. Under new coach Brian Smith, and having signed troubled star Todd Carney, the Roosters improved to finish sixth on the ladder in 2010, before consecutive finals series victories against the Wests Tigers, the Penrith Panthers and the Gold Coast Titans launched the club into the Grand Final. The Roosters were thus in a position where they could become the first club since the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1934 to win a premiership after finishing last in the previous season.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Grand final day schedule
Australian rock band You Am I headlined the pre-match entertainment, which also featured Jessica Mauboy, Australian dance act Justice Crew, an ensemble of the Sydney Children's Choir, the Gondwana National Indigenous Children's Choir and the Glebe Public School Choir and a tribute to the NRL's retiring players. The 21 Australian soldiers killed in the war in Afghanistan also received a tribute that concluded with the traditional arrival of a Blackhawk helicopter.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details
The Grand Final commenced at approximately 5.15pm, following the grand finals of the NSW Cup between Windsor Wolves and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Toyota Cup between South Sydney Rabbitohs and New Zealand Warriors. The weather was overcast, 13 degrees Celsius, with light rain which meant the two earlier matches had caused the centre of the field to become muddy. A crowd of 82,334 was in attendance for the match.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, First half
After a sixth-minute penalty to the Dragons helped them up into good field position, Jamie Soward from the ten-metre line kicked the ball over into the Roosters' in-goal and Mark Gasnier, racing through from the right side, leapt to catch it on the full and put it down just inside the dead ball line. The video referee Bill Harrigan awarded the try and Soward's conversion was successful, so St. George Illawarra was leading 6-0 after eight minutes.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, First half
However, video replays showed that in the lead up to the try, Dragons winger Brett Morris had passed the ball with a foot outside the touch-line so play should not have been allowed to continue. Later, in the sixteenth minute, the Roosters had made their way up into better field position when Todd Carney, twenty metres from the opposition try-line's right side, kicked high to the left corner.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, First half
His winger Joseph Leilua caught the ball, crashed over the try-line, and while attempting to put it down had it knocked from his outstretched hand by Jamie Soward's knee, but Roosters captain Braith Anasta was there to ground it. The video referee was again called upon to award the try, and with Carney's kick going wide the score was 6-4 in favour of the Red & Whites.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, First half
Less than two minutes after the restart of play St. George Illawarra knocked on in their own half and the Tricolours, after getting within fifteen metres of the try-line, moved the ball through the hands from the left side of the field to the right where Mitchell Aubusson crashed over near the corner. Carney again missed the conversion but his side was now in the lead 8-6 with a quarter of the match gone. In the twenty-sixth minute the Dragons were awarded a penalty in a goal-kicking position but Soward missed.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, First half
At the thirty-minute mark St. George Illawarra prop Michael Weyman was helped off the field after getting a swinging arm to the head from Daniel Conn which was placed on report. The third quarter of the match was played in both ends of the ground with neither side able to turn their opportunities into points, so the teams left the field with the Sydney Roosters leading 6-8.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Second half
Less than six minutes after the break and having forced the Roosters to do a goal-line drop-out, St. George Illawarra got their first try of the half. On the second tackle and twenty metres out, the ball made its way through their hands to right winger Jason Nightingale who stepped around his defender and dove over in the corner. Soward's kick from the sideline added the extra two points, so the Dragons led 12 - 8.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Second half
The rain had started falling heavily when the Red & Whites scored another similar try, with a long cut-out pass going to ground but Nightingale was able to pick it up and cross in his corner again. Soward again kicked the extras, pushing his side's lead out to 18 - 8 with a quarter of the match remaining.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Second half
About two minutes later St. George Illawarra had again worked the ball up into an attacking position when Nathan Fien, less than ten metres from the uprights, darted ahead from dummy half before passing to Dean Young who juggled the ball as he crashed through the defence and over the line. The video referee awarded the try 'benefit of the doubt' and with Soward adding the extras the Dragons were now leading 24 - 8.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Second half
The Roosters, still unable to get the ball out of their danger zone conceded another penalty in front of their posts and Soward added another two points for his team, making it 26 - 8. Further errors from the Tricolours led to another White & Red attacking wave and another close-range try, with Fien pushing through the goal-line defence from dummy half.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Second half
After another simple kick for Soward, St. George Illawarra lead 32 - 8, and with no more points in the remaining eight minutes this was the full-time score to secure St. George Illawarra their first premiership as a joint-venture side. The premiership also ended 31 years of hurt for St. George fans as the club had previously lost finals in 1985, 1992, 1993, 1996 and 1999.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Timeline
-8th: Dragons 6–0 (Try: Gasnier, Goal: Soward)-16th: Roosters 6-4 (Try: Anasta)-20th: Roosters 8-6 (Try: Aubusson)-46th: Dragons 12-8 (Try: Nightingale, Goal: Soward)-60th: Dragons 18-8 (Try: Nightingale, Goal: Soward)-63rd: Dragons 24-8 (Try: Young, Goal: Soward)-67th: Dragons 26-8 (Penalty Goal: Soward)-70th: Dragons 32-8 (Try: Fien, Goal: Soward)


2010 NRL Grand Final, Match details, Timeline
It was the third time in the 2010 season that the Dragons had trailed the Roosters at halftime before keeping them scoreless in the second half to win. St. George Illawarra fullback Darius Boyd was judged by Australian selectors to be awarded the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match. Boyd became the fourth fullback to win the Clive Churchill, after Newcastle's Robbie O'Davis (1997), former Broncos teammate Darren Lockyer (2000) and Melbourne's Billy Slater (2009). Boyd had a hand in both of Nightingale's tries and made 111 metres from 13 hit-ups. This was Boyd's second premiership win, having won with the Brisbane Broncos in his debut year of 2006.


2010 NRL Grand Final, Audience
Australia's national television audience for the match was over 3.1 million and up on the previous year's decider in Sydney and Brisbane. A further 197,000 people watched the game live in New Zealand.


2010 NRL Grand Final, 2011 World Club Challenge
Having won the NRL grand final, St. George Illawarra had earned the right to play against 2010's Super League XV Champions, the Wigan Warriors in the following February's World Club Challenge, which they won 21-15.


2010 NRL Under-20s season
The 2010 NRL Under-20s season was the third season of the National Rugby League's Under 20s competition and was known commercially as the 2010 Toyota Cup due to sponsorship by Toyota. Solely for players under 20 years of age, the draw and structure of the competition mirrored that of the 2010 NRL Telstra Premiership season.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Three second-half tries in 10 minutes helped the Warriors run all over the Rabbits in Sydney.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
After holding a slender 12–10 lead at the break, the Warriors turned on the after-burners with halfback Shaun Johnson leading the charge through an impressive kicking and running display.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Though for the first seven minutes after kick off it was a different story, with Souths’ halfback Adam Reynolds getting an early 40/20 and showing his chipping and kicking skills to force the Warriors to line drop out early.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
But, despite the early pressure from the Rabbitohs, the Warriors taught them a lesson on how to turn pressure into points and they did so with their first foray into opposition territory.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
A Shaun Johnson in-goal grubber was unable to be controlled by South's fullback Malcolm Webster and Elijah Taylor was first on the scene to slap a hand on it. Johnson converted for the Warriors to lead 6–0.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Within seconds, Shaun Johnson was the architect of the Warriors second try, running the ball and offloading with an over-the-top pass for Siuatonga Likiliki to get his 19th try of the season. Johnson converted off the post from wide out for a 12–0 lead.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
The Rabbitohs had their chances, held up within the first few minutes of the match and going close but for a knock on in the 20th minute, but struggled to adapt with the big warriors pack able to get 60 metres each set, skillfully followed up by the excellent kicking games of Shaun Johnson and five-eight Carlos Tuimavave.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
But the big pack and wide men were caught out in the 27th minute. Souths had a scrum 70 metres out and Reynolds let loose with a kick for his speedsters to chase. Souths 17-year-old flyer James Roberts left all in his dust, nudged it over the line with his foot and fell on the pill. Reynolds converted for 12–6.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
The Warriors suddenly looked rattled, kicking out on the full to hand over possession and Souths rubbed salt in a wound when Matt Mundine gave Taioalo Vaivai the space needed to stretch out and score. The conversion missed and the Warriors had a two-point lead, 12–10.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Ten minutes into the second half the Warriors took advantage of a weak Rabbitoh's blindside defence. A Shaun Johnson grubber ended up under the hand of Elijah Taylor for the stand-in captain to score his second try and the kick taking his side out to 18–10.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Two minutes later, Siuatonga Likiliki showed his class to bump off six would-be tacklers, offload to fullback Glen Fisiiahi who stepped inside to score. Johnson kept his perfect record intact and converted again for 24–10.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Shaun Johnson, the classiest on the park along with Jack Gibson medal winner, Carlos Tuimavave, chipped and regathered then flung the ball out from underneath him to the man-mountain that is Sam Lousi to score. Johnson converted for a 30–10 score line.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
Then it was the turn of "The Junior Beast", Elijah Niko, to force his way across the line and Johnson highlighted the total control by once again adding the extras, 36–10.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
The Warriors eased, and Rabbitohs' lock Blake Judd and captain Nathan Peats managed to grab two late tries to make the score respectable at 36–22.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
But the Warriors were not done, Nafe Seluini accelerating away to slide under the posts. Johnson added his seventh conversion from as many attempts for 42–22.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
The match was well over when big Jack Tulemau added a consolation try in the final minutes for Souths.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
New Zealand Warriors 42 (Elijah Taylor 2, Siuatonga Likiliki, Glen Fisiiahi, Sam Lousi, Elijah Niko, Nafetalai Seluini tries; Shaun Johnson 7/7 goals)


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Finals Series, Grand final
South Sydney Rabbitohs 28 (James Roberts, Taioalo Vaivai, Blake Judd, Nathan Peats, Jack Tulemau tries; Adam Reynolds 4/5 goals)


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Awards, Player of the Year
The winner of the award is decided by the most votes during the year as decided by the referee of each game on a 3-2-1 basis for each game played throughout the regular season.


2010 NRL Under-20s season, Awards, Team Of The Year
Voted on by the 16 Toyota Cup coaches, with the players with the highest votes in each position selected.


2010 NRL Under-20s season results
This article details scores and results from the 2010 NRL Under-20s season.


2010 NRL Under-20s season results, Regular season
Times for Rounds 1 - 4 are Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time. Times for Round 5 and the remainder of the season are Australian Eastern Standard Time.


2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium. Sixteen teams competed for the 2010 Telstra Premiership whilst the third season of the National Youth Competition was also in progress.


2010 NRL season
The 2010 season was marred by the Melbourne Storm's admission in April of systematically breaching the NRL salary cap. As part of the NRL's imposed penalties, the Storm were deducted all 8 competition points earned at the time of the announcement, and were barred from earning points for the rest of the season, guaranteeing them the wooden spoon. The club was also stripped of all titles earned during the period they were in breach, including their 2007 and 2009 premierships and their 2006, 2007 and 2008 minor premierships, and later also their 2010 World Club Challenge title.


2010 NRL season
2010's NRL premiership was won by the season's minor premiers the St George Illawarra Dragons, the first title for the joint venture club. The Dragons became the first minor premiers since the Penrith Panthers in 2003 to complete the minor premiership and premiership double.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
During the pre-season the Melbourne Storm defeated the Leeds Rhinos 18–10 in the 2010 World Club Challenge. The inaugural All Stars match took place on 13 February at Skilled Park, Gold Coast, where the Indigenous All Stars team won 16–12.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
Significant dates throughout the season include the annual ANZAC Test and City vs Country Origin weekend, resulting in a shortened round in early May. Byes take place throughout the State of Origin period between Rounds 11 and 18 (during June and July). The annual heritage round takes place again in Round 10, a round celebrating Women in League has been earmarked for Round 16, and later in the season a round has been set aside to celebrate Indigenous Australians.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
For the second successive year the St. George Illawarra Dragons took out the JJ Giltinan Shield for winning the minor premiership.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
The overall attendance record during the regular season was 3,151,039, an increase on last year's record of 3,081,874. This was the second consecutive year that the rugby league attendance record has been broken.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
On 7 September 2010, Sydney Roosters' five-eighth Todd Carney won the coveted Dally M Medal for Player of the Year for season 2010 and was also awarded the people's choice Provan-Summons award (see 2010 Dally M Awards for full award listing). It was a remarkable return to the field for Carney who in 2008 was sacked by the Canberra Raiders and deregistered by the NRL for the 2009 season for repeated off-field indiscretions.


2010 NRL season, Season summary
In 2010, NRL games on New Zealand's Sky network drew average audiences of 60,779.


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Rule changes
During the 2010 season, a rule change to the playing field was implemented so that if a player in possession of the ball made contact with the corner post that player would no longer be considered to be touch in-goal. Proponents of the move argued a series of possible future scenarios made this preventative measure necessary, with ARL chief executive Geoff Carr stating, "no one has thought of the possibility of using the corner post as a weapon to defuse a try and we want to stop it before they do".


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Rule changes
One scenario was that a defending player might manipulate the corner post to put an attacker out of play. Another concern cited was that the corner post might be made to make contact with a rolling ball to ensure the defending team gains possession with a 20-metre restart. Corner posts, which sometimes lean to one side, have no upper height limit set and this led to a fear that corner posts might become "long rubber snakes, biting attackers and sending them into touch", in the words of Roy Masters. Other laws concerning the corner posts remained unchanged.


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Rule changes
A ball that makes contact with the corner post while not in the possession of a player will be deemed to be touch in-goal as before. There was no attempt to remove the corner posts from the playing field as they are used to promote sponsors and are also a useful aid for players to judge their kicks. The change was agreed by the NRL Board and approved by the RLIF as an experimental rule. Implementation occurred mid-season following feedback from clubs.


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Melbourne Storm salary cap breach
On 22 April, Melbourne Storm officials confessed to the NRL that the club had committed serious and systematic breaches of the salary cap regulations for the last five years by running a well-organized dual contract and bookkeeping system which left the NRL unable to know of $3.17 million in payments made to players outside of the salary cap, including $550,000 in 2007, $965,000 in 2009 and $1.03 million in 2010.


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Melbourne Storm salary cap breach
As a result of this confession, the following penalties were imposed by the NRL:


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Melbourne Storm salary cap breach
The Storm accepted this decision without question; however, the former directors of the club took legal action which later collapsed. The matter has been referred to ASIC, Australian Tax Office, the Victorian State Revenue Office, and the Victoria Police.


2010 NRL season, Season summary, Melbourne Storm salary cap breach
Melbourne eventually finished the 2010 season with a 14–10 win-loss record, which would have seen them finish 5th disregarding the punishments, with Manly missing the finals. Statistically, the North Queensland Cowboys were the poorest performing team during the season, winning only five of its 24 matches played which, disregarding the Storm's punishment, would have been their first wooden spoon since 2000.


2010 NRL season, Season advertising
A new approach was taken in 2010 following the controversies of 2009 wherein marquee players Greg Inglis (who had featured in the season launch ad) and Brett Stewart (who had been the face of a season launch event) were charged with assault thus disempowering the message behind the ad. The NRL and their advertising agency MJW Hakuhodo set about presenting the acceptable face of Australian rugby league to the world and interspersed some sparse action shots with a gallery of characters to assure viewers that league is a family-friendly sport watched by everyman.


2010 NRL season, Season advertising
For the first time in many years the launch commercial did not use a popular soundtrack. Titled, the "Voices of the Game" the ad set out to show the diversity of rugby league's appeal featuring fans from all walks of life including a rodeo clown, a sculptor, a farmer, a businessman and Australian Paralympian Kurt Fearnley The proposition was that "this season, many of you will....see/ feel/ experience/ dream/ hurt/ believe". The fans highlighted ticked all the boxes of a diverse but wholesome audience demographic. Veteran Kangaroo captain Darren Lockyer is the only player to appear with a speaking part.


2010 NRL season, Teams
The number of teams in the NRL remains unchanged since the previous season, with sixteen participating in the regular season: ten from New South Wales, three from Queensland and one from each of Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and New Zealand. Of the ten from New South Wales, eight are from Sydney's metropolitan area, with St. George-Illawarra being a Sydney and Wollongong joint venture. Just two foundation clubs from New South Wales Rugby League season 1908 played in this competition: the Sydney Roosters (formerly known as Eastern Suburbs) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.


2010 NRL season, Ladder
1 Melbourne were deducted eight premiership points and barred from receiving premiership points for the rest of the season due to gross long-term salary cap breaches.


2010 NRL season, Finals Series
To decide the grand finalists from the top eight finishing teams, the NRL adopts the McIntyre Final Eight System.


2010 NRL season, Finals Series
Only three teams from 2009's finals series made an appearance in the 2010 finals race: St George Illawarra Dragons, Gold Coast Titans and Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with only the Dragons managing to not drop positions from last year. Major improvements saw the Canberra Raiders, New Zealand Warriors and Sydney Roosters make a return to the finals after finishing 13th, 14th and last in 2009.


2010 NRL season, Finals Series
This season also saw the Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers make their long-awaited return to the finals race, with the Tigers last featuring in their grand final year of 2005 whilst the Panthers last appeared in the 2004 season. This was one of the 3 seasons where Melbourne were not in the finals and the first since 1991 which did not feature Brisbane.


2010 NRL season, Team and player records
The following statistics are correct as of the conclusion of Round 26.


2010 NRL season, Team and player records
Most points scored in a match by an individual team


2010 NRL season, Team and player records
Paul Gallen ran 4,056 metres with the ball in 2010, more than any other player in the competition.


2010 NRL season, Attendances
The 2010 regular season attendance figures bettered last year's figures of 3,081,849 to become the highest attended regular season in Australia's rugby league history, with a total of 3,151,039. Along with 2009, the 2010 season also outshone other attendance blockbuster years of 2007 and the 1995 Winfield Cup.


2010 NRL season results
The 2010 NRL season consisted of 26 weekly regular season rounds, starting on 12 March and ending on 5 September, followed by four weeks of play-offs culminating in the grand final on 3 October.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The 2010 NRL Second Qualifying Final was a rugby league match contested between the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters in the first week of the 2010 NRL finals series on 11 September 2010. The match is notable as it was the first finals match to be played under the golden point rule since it was introduced in 2003. The match was hailed as "one of the greatest matches in recent memory".


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
Both the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers had qualified for the NRL finals series, held annually during September of every NRL season, after varying absences: the Roosters had finished last in 2009 after reaching the finals in 2008, whilst the Tigers had not reached the finals since winning the premiership in 2005. The Tigers recorded their best ever regular season by winning 15 of its 24 matches and finishing third on the ladder, both surpassing the previous records set in 2005, whilst the Roosters won 14 of their 24 matches to finish sixth at the end of the regular season.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The McIntyre Final Eight System, which was in place at the time, meant that the two teams were to be drawn against each other in the first week of the finals. The Roosters had won both of their meetings in the regular season, by 12 points in Round 2 and by four points in Round 8.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The Tigers had three chances, through Gareth Ellis, to score the first try of the match within the first 13 minutes, however, on each occasion, he was denied: first after Todd Carney had dislodged the ball from his hands, the second after he was held up over the line by some desperate Roosters defence, and the third after Benji Marshall was penalised for an off-the-ball incident with Mitchell Pearce. They were, however, the most dominant team of the first half, scoring two tries, through Lote Tuqiri and Beau Ryan, to the Roosters' sole penalty goal (kicked by Carney), and taking a 10–2 lead into half-time.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
Ellis was placed on report in the 18th minute for a high shot on Carney; he subsequently escaped any judiciary sanction over the incident.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
Blake Ayshford scored first for the Tigers eight minutes into the second half, and, following by a field goal by captain Robbie Farah soon after, the Tigers' lead had stretched to 15–2, and it appeared the match was won. However, the Roosters would score two converted tries, both set up by Todd Carney for captain Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce, to narrow the margin to 15–14 with less than ten minutes left to play in regular time.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
Simon Dwyer later appeared to win the match for the Tigers with two minutes remaining when he hit Jared Waerea-Hargreaves hard in the 78th minute of play, thus dislodging the ball from the latter's hands. This won the Tigers a scrum feed inside the Roosters' half, however, after Benji Marshall had fed the scrum, the Roosters pounced on the loose ball, giving them one last chance to win the match in the final minute. After initially trying to go for a match winning try, the ball found the hands of Braith Anasta, who kicked the match-tying field goal with mere seconds left, to send the match into golden point extra time.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
For the first time since golden point was introduced by the NRL in 2003, a finals match was to be decided by golden point. Whereas in a regular season match the final result would be a draw after neither team scored in ten minutes of golden point, in finals matches, the match goes on for an indefinite period until any team scored through any method (try, penalty goal, field goal).


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
Following a scoreless first five minutes of extra time, play continued indefinitely during which Robbie Farah, Todd Carney and Mitchell Pearce all missed attempted field goal shots until Shaun Kenny-Dowall was able to intercept a Liam Fulton pass and run sixty metres to score the match winning try in the 100th minute of the match, thus completing one of the greatest comebacks in Roosters history, winning the match 19–15.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
1 No conversion on goal was required following Kenny-Dowall's try, as golden point rules stipulate that a try scored in golden point is not needed to be converted.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
In a match which pitted two of the game's entertainers (Benji Marshall and Todd Carney) up against each other, the match did not disappoint. It has been remembered as "one of the greatest Roosters victories of all time", as well as "one of the most epic matches in recent times". In particular, the final five minutes in regular time proved to be the most dramatic of the match, whereby Benji Marshall left the field injured, leaving the Tigers with only 12 men. The Tigers had failed to capitalise on a Roosters error with two minutes remaining in the match, allowing the Roosters to kick the match-levelling field goal in the final seconds of regular time, sending the match into extra time, which was remembered by many for its nail-biting finish.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The result of this match, and the format of the final eight system, meant that the Tigers would only survive in the finals series if at least one of the two higher-ranked teams (St. George Illawarra or Penrith) won their respective qualifying final ties against the Sea Eagles and the Raiders. The Panthers' loss to the Raiders left the Tigers at risk of an early elimination, however they survived after the Dragons defeated the Sea Eagles in their qualifying final. They were then drawn against the Canberra Raiders, the lowest-ranked of the qualifying final winners, in a match that was to be played at Canberra Stadium.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The Tigers narrowly defeated Canberra by 26–24, thus progressing them to the preliminary finals, where they were eventually defeated by the eventual premiers, St. George Illawarra, 13–12.


2010 NRL season results, Finals series, Qualifying finals, 2nd qualifying final
The Roosters were guaranteed to remain in the finals series, regardless of any other subsequent results. However, as the third-highest ranked of the four winning teams from the first weekend of the finals series, they had to play in the second week of the finals series; they were subsequently drawn against the Penrith Panthers, the highest-ranked loser from the qualifying finals. The Roosters won 34–12, to progress to the semi-finals, where they defeated the Gold Coast Titans by 26 points to eventually make the Grand Final. However, the finals series eventually took its toll on the Roosters and they were soundly beaten by the Dragons 32–8 in the premiership deciding match.=


2010 NRW Trophy
The 2010 NRW Trophy was held in two parts, with ice dancers competing separately from the singles disciplines and pair skating. Both competitions were held at the Eissportzentrum Westfalenhalle in Dortmund. The ice dancing competition was held between November 5 and 7, 2010, and the other disciplines between December 2 and 5, 2010. Skaters competed in the disciplines of men's singles, ladies' singles, pair skating, and ice dancing across the levels of senior, junior, and novice. In addition, the ice dancing competition includes a pre-novice division.


2010 NSC Minnesota Stars season
The 2010 NSC Minnesota Stars season was the first season of the franchise to be played in the USSF Division 2 Pro League.


2010 NSC Minnesota Stars season, Competitions, U.S. Open Cup
NSC Minnesota Stars entered the 2010 edition of the Open Cup at the First Round stage, defeating KC Athletics before being knocked out in the Second Round by AC St. Louis.


2010 NSW Premier League season
The 2010 NSW Premier League season was the 10th season of the revamped NSW Premier League. This season also marked the addition of a new team, in the Rockdale City Suns Football Club from the Super League (one division lower).


2010 NSW Premier League season
The 2010 season began on 27 February with the first two games being played.


2010 NSW Premier League season
Throughout the season, the Waratah Cup was once again contested, with competing teams from the Premier League, Super League, Division One and Division Two.


2010 NSW Premier League season, Clubs
Teams promoted from Super League:(After the end of the 2009 season.)


2010 NSW Premier League season, Clubs
Teams relegated to Super League:(After the end of the 2009 season.)


2010 NSW Premier League season, Finals Series, Week 1
Loser is eliminated, winner goes on to face loser of Qualifying Final in week 2


2010 NSW Premier League season, Finals Series, Week 1
Loser faces winner of Elimination Final in week 2, winner faces Minor Premiers in Semi Final 2 in week 2


2010 NSW Premier League season, Finals Series, Week 2
Winner goes to Grand Final loser faces winner of Semi Final 2 in Grand Final Qualifier in week 3


2010 NSW Premier League season, Finals Series, Week 2
Loser is eliminated, winner goes on to play loser of Semi Final 2 in Grand Final Qualifier in week 3


2010 NSW Premier League season, Statistics, Attendances
These are the attendance records of each of the teams at the end of the home and away season. The table does not include finals series attendances.


2010 NWT/Yukon Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2010 NWT/Yukon Scotties Tournament of Hearts was held January 7–10 at the Yellowknife Curling Club in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The winning team represented NWT/Yukon at the 2010 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.


2010 NZIHL season
The 2010 NZIHL season was the sixth season of the New Zealand Ice Hockey League, the top level of ice hockey in New Zealand. Five teams participated in the league, and the Botany Swarm won the championship by defeating the West Auckland Admirals in the final.


2010 Nadeshiko League
Statistics of Nadeshiko League in the 2010 season. NTV Beleza won the championship.


2010 Nadeshiko League
As of 2010, by the reformation announced in November 2009, Division 1 and Division 2 was renamed as Nadeshiko League and Challenge League respectively. Also, the number of participating teams became 10 teams for Nadeshiko League from 8, and 12 teams for Challenge League, from 8, dividing into 2 sections of 6 teams.


2010 Nadeshiko League Cup Final
2010 Nadeshiko League Cup Final was the 6th final of the Nadeshiko League Cup competition. The final was played at Nishigaoka Soccer Stadium in Tokyo on August 22, 2010. Nippon TV Beleza won the championship.


2010 Nadeshiko League Cup Final, Overview
Nippon TV Beleza won their 2nd title, by defeating Urawa Reds Ladies 3–2 with Shinobu Ono, Kanako Ito and Mana Iwabuchi goal.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
The 2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes were a series of exchanges of gunfire that took place on February 18 on the line of contact dividing Azerbaijani and the Karabakh Armenian military forces. Azerbaijan accused the Armenian forces of firing on the Azerbaijani positions near Tap Qaraqoyunlu, Qızıloba, Qapanlı, Yusifcanlı and Cavahirli villages, as well as in uplands of Agdam Rayon with small arms fire including snipers. As a result, three Azerbaijani soldiers were killed and one wounded.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
The engagement became the second deadliest ceasefire violation since 1994, after the 2008 Mardakert clashes.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, Incidents
The incidents embraced two regions in Nagorno-Karabakh (Tartar Rayon, Agdam Rayon) and one region out of it (Goranboy Rayon). Azerbaijani sources claim that on 13:00 local time the Karabakh Armenian military fired from Talysh towards the Azerbaijani positions in Tap Qaraqoyunlu. Accordingly, at 15:00 Armenian troops allegedly opened fire from Agdam Rayon, killing one Azeri soldier. After some time the shooting achieved a large-scale character and continued until evening. According to the Azerbaijani side, Karabakh Armenian troops withdrew with losses.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, Casualties
Following the incidents the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the names of those killed: Private Sahil Mammadov (born 10 April 1991, called up by Shaki Commissariat in April, 2009), Corporal Royal Farajov (born 8 March 1991, called up in April, 2009), Private Davud Rustamov (born 22 July 1991, called up in October, 2009). Private Elvin Adigozalov (born 10 December 1990, called up in January, 2009) was wounded.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, Casualties
Although the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense estimated Armenian casualties to be "not less than ours", Armenian military spokesman Senor Hasratian denied that the Armenian side had sustained any casualties.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic on 23 May 2010.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Background
Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence from Azerbaijan in 1991. The First Nagorno-Karabakh War took place between 1988 and 1994 which resulted in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Armenian support, becoming de facto independent from Azerbaijan. However it has not been internationally recognised and Azerbaijan still claims the area as part of its state.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Background
Several changes to the election process were made since the previous election in 2005. Whereas previously, 22 of the parliament's 33 seats were filled using party-list proportional representation and 11 using first-past-the-post, the distribution for these elections is 17–16. Another change concerns the lowering of the election threshold from 10% to 6% (for political parties) and from 15% to 8% (for electoral blocs).


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Background
A total of 94,900 voters are registered for the election, about 66% of the total population of Nagorno-Karabakh.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Contesting parties
Before the elections, it became clear very few opposition parties would contest. Four parties contesting the 17 list-based seats are registered: Free Motherland (FM), led by Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, the Democratic Party of Artsakh (DPA), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARM) and the Communist Party of Artsakh (CPA). Of these parties, only the communists did not support president Bako Sahakyan in the 2007 election. 44 More candidates stand for election in the 16 FPTP constituencies.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Results
With about 50% of the votes counted, Free Motherland led the count with 45.8% of the votes. The DPA was at 30.7% and the ARF at 18.2%. The CP was below the electoral threshold of 6% (5.34%), which means it might be difficult for them to get a seat.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Results
The Communist Party failed to cross the electoral threshold and did not win any seats.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Reactions
About 120 international observers from France, Russia, USA, Italy, Germany, Greece, Great Britain, Argentina, Ireland, Czech Republic, Denmark, Iran, Netherlands, Canada, Slovakia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Transnistria, and others, as well as a big group of observers from Armenia observed the elections. Later the Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast stated that Iran had not delegated any observers. Azerbaijan made a black list of the international observers who visited Nagorno-Karabakh and declared them personae non-gratae.


2010 Nagorno-Karabakh parliamentary election, Reactions
Various international organisations and countries issued statements refusing to recognise the 2010 elections in Nagorno-Karabakh, among them the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the European Union, the United Kingdom, France, Iran, Russia, Turkey, and Lithuania.


2010 Nagoya Grampus season
The 2010 Nagoya Grampus season is Nagoya Grampus's 18th season in the J.League Division 1 and 29th overall in the Japanese top flight. They also competed in the 2010 J.League Cup, 2010 Emperor's Cup.


2010 Nagoya Grampus season, Players, Current squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2010 Nagoya Grampus season, Players, Transfers
In:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2010 Nagoya Grampus season, Players, Transfers
Out:Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2010 Namibian local and regional elections
Namibia held elections for their local and regional councils on 26 and 27 November 2010. The terms of regional councillors and local authority representatives were originally set to expire in 2009. As a local and regional election in 2009 would have meant to organise four different elections in one year, this part of the election was postponed and terms of office extended by one year.


2010 Namibian local and regional elections, Local election
Local elections determine the population of the village, town, and city councils and have a direct influence on who will become mayor, as this position is elected among all councillors. Contrary to the regional elections, local elections in Namibia are determined by party, not by individual. There are 50 local authorities in Namibia with a total of 327 seats.


2010 Namibian local and regional elections, Local election
The ruling SWAPO Party obtained representation in all local councils and won 226 seats all in all. Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP), the official opposition, managed to get into 36 local councils with a total of 48 seats in them.


2010 Nanjing chemical plant explosion
The 2010 Nanjing chemical plant explosion occurred on July 28, 2010 in Qixia District, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, People's Republic of China.


2010 Nanjing chemical plant explosion, Explosion
The explosion happened at 10:15 am in the abandoned Nanjing No.4 Plastics factory. Most buildings within a 100-metre radius were flattened by the blast, according to China National Radio. According to official news, at least 13 people were killed with as many as 300 people injured. However, eyewitness accounts suggested the total number of deaths was much higher.


2010 Nanjing chemical plant explosion, Aftermath
A preliminary investigation suggested that the explosion was caused by the rupture of a propylene pipeline.


2010 National Camogie League
The 2010 National Camogie League, the second most important elite level inter-county competition in the women's team field sport of camogie was won by Wexford for the second year in succession. They defeated Kilkenny in the final, played at Semple Stadium.


2010 National Camogie League, Arrangements
The seven teams in the first division were drawn into two groups of four and three. Each team played one another once only. The top two in each group contested the semi-finals. Since 2006 the league is organized into four divisions, with 22 competing county teams graded into four divisions, with the strongest teams in Division 1. The semi-finals were contested at O'Connor Park, Tullamore on 10 April 2010, in which Kilkenny staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Galway,.


2010 National Camogie League, The Final
final at Semple Stadium Thurles on Saturday, 24 April 2010, Wexford defeating Kilkenny by 1–7 to 1–6, the winning point coming from Ursula Jacob in the eighth minute of injury time, after a late goal from substitute Linda Bolger. Wexford manager JJ Doyle told the Irish Times his job should come with a health warning after the victory.


2010 National Camogie League, Lower Divisions
Eleven counties in Division 2 were drawn in two groups of five and six, including the second teams of Cork, Galway, Kilkenny, Tipperary and Wexford. Wexford intermediates, managed by Karen Barnes and captained by Ciara O'Connor of Rathnure, surprisingly defeated Offaly in the final by 2–9 to 1–9, the second year in succession that Wexford has simultaneously held the first and second division titles. Six teams contested Division 3, including the second team of Dublin with Laois defeating Meath in the final, and three counties contested Division 4, including London, with Westmeath defeating Tyrone in the final.


2010 National Cheerleading Championship
The 5th Season of National Cheerleading Championships reached another milestone by giving special slots to 2009 NCAA Cheerleading Competition, where top three winners will compete in this season's National Finals.


2010 National Cheerleading Championship, Regional qualifiers, Central Luzon
Held at University of Assumption in San Fernando, Pampanga, on October 25, 2009


2010 National Cheerleading Championship, Regional qualifiers, Mindanao
Held at Xavier University - Ateneo de Cagayan in Cagayan de Oro, on November 15, 2009


2010 National Cheerleading Championship, Regional qualifiers, North Luzon
Held at University of the Cordilleras in Baguio City, on November 29, 2010


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20
The 2010 National Cricket League Twenty20 (Bengali: ন্যাশনাল ক্রিকেট লীগ) tournament in Bangladesh (abbreviated as NCL 1 2010 or the NCL T20 2010), played in April 2010, was the sole edition of a now-defunct Twenty20 league involving the teams in the National Cricket League (NCL). The tournament was initiated by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). It included six teams representing the divisions of Bangladesh. It was a limited success and has effectively been replaced by the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The tournament was won by the Rajshahi Rangers who defeated the Kings of Khulna by 6 wickets in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, the winning team's Qaiser Abbas being named "Man of the Match".


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20, Background
Bangladesh Cricket Board launched the first-ever National Cricket League T20 competition to be played from April 11 to 20 to prepare the national cricketers for the T20 World Cup.


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20, Teams
Six teams competed in the first edition of NCL Twenty20 tournament. Each team represented the six administrative divisions of Bangladesh:


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20, Teams, Franchises
Six companies bid to buy a team in the tournament. The companies went into a lottery of which they were to pick one of six "iconic" players from Bangladesh who were perceived to have outstanding ability. Each company then picked three of 18 players who had represented the Bangladesh national cricket team. They were categorised into a certain class, getting paid a certain amount of money. No player could cost more than 400,000 Taka.


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20, Teams, Icon players
Each franchise had an "icon" player. Although originally suggested to have player auction, due to the shortage of time players were divided into Grades: A+, A, B, C, D with the A+ players receiving 4 lakh Bangladeshi Taka. Each team was allowed to list up to 6 foreign players but play a maximum of two. Most foreign players were from the Indian subcontinent including Shoaib Akhtar (Cyclones of Chittagong). Rajshahi Rangers signed Aiden Blizzard from Victoria, Australia.


2010 National Cricket League Twenty20, Media
ATN Bangla televised all matches live and showcased highlights. The official website was . All of the matches were played at the Sher-e-Bangla Cricket Stadium or BKSP in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Results can also be observed on .


2010 National Football Challenge Cup
The 2010 National Football Challenge Cup was the 20th edition of National Football Challenge Cup, the main cup competition in Pakistani football. The tournament was held in Multan.


2010 National Football Challenge Cup
A total of 16 were participating in the tournament, but Karachi Port Trust withdrew few days before the start of tournaments.


2010 National Football Challenge Cup
Khan Research Laboratories were the defending champions, winning the previous edition defeating Pakistan Airforce in the finals.


2010 National Football Challenge Cup
Khan Research Laboratories successfully defended the title, as they went on to defeat Pakistan Navy 4–0 in the finals.


2010 National Football League (Ireland)
The 2010 National Football League known for sponsorship reasons as the Allianz National Football League was the 79th staging of the National Football League (NFL), an annual Gaelic football tournament for the Gaelic Athletic Association county teams of Ireland. The League began on Saturday 6 February 2010. Thirty-two Gaelic football county teams from Ireland, plus London, participated. On 25 April, Cork defeated Mayo by 1–17 to 0–12 to win their sixth league title and their third in a row.


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Format, League structure
The 2010 format of the National Football League was a system of four divisions. The top three divisions consisted of 8 teams, and Division 4 contained nine teams. Each team played every other team in its division once, either home or away. 2 points were awarded for a win and 1 for a draw.


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Tie-breaker
If three or more teams were level on points, points difference was used to rank the teams.


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Format, Finals, promotions and relegations
The top two teams in Division 1 contested the 2010 NFL final. The top two teams in divisions 2, 3 and 4 were promoted, and contested the finals of their respective divisions. The bottom two teams in divisions 1, 2 and 3 were relegated.


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Fixtures and results, Division 2
Compete in Division 2 final and automatic promotion to Division 1  Automatic relegation to Division 3


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Fixtures and results, Division 3
Compete in Division 3 final and automatic promotion to Division 2  Automatic relegation to Division 4


2010 National Football League (Ireland), Fixtures and results, Division 4
Compete in Division 4 final and automatic promotion to Division 3


2010 National Hurling League
The 2010 National Hurling League (known as the Allianz National Hurling League for sponsorship reasons) was the 79th season of the National Hurling League. 35 teams competed in the league.


2010 National Hurling League, Format
The 2010 format of the National Hurling League is a system consisting of five divisions. There are thirty-five teams competing: Divisions One and Two have eight teams in each, Division Three A contains six, Division Three B seven, and there are six teams in Division Four.


2010 National Hurling League, Format, Division 1
Division 1 contains eight teams. Each team plays all the others once. The top two play the final; the winners of the final are the 2010 NHL champions. The last-placed team is relegated.


2010 National Hurling League, Format, Division 2
Division 2 contains eight teams. Each team plays all the others once. The top two play the final; the winners of the final are the 2010 Division Two champions and are promoted. The last-placed team is relegated to Division 3A.


2010 National Hurling League, Format, Division 3A
Division 3A contains six teams. The top two teams shall contest the final; the winners of the final are the 2010 Division Three champions and are promoted. The last-placed team is relegated to Division 3B.


2010 National Hurling League, Format, Division 3B
Division 3B contains seven teams. The top two teams shall contest the final; the winners of the final are the 2010 Division 3B champions and are promoted to Division 3A. The last-placed team is relegated.


2010 National Hurling League, Format, Division 4
Division 4 contains six teams. Each team plays all the others once. The top two play the final; the winners of the final are the 2010 Division Four champions and are promoted to Division 3B.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 1
Kilkenny came into the season as defending champions of the 2009 season. Offaly entered Division 1 as the promoted team.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 1
On 2 May 2010, Galway won the title following a 2–22 to 1–17 win over Cork in the final. It was their first league title since 2004 and their 9th National League title overall.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 1
Limerick, who lost all of their group stage matches, were relegated from Division 1. Wexford won Division 2 and secured promotion to the top tier.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 1
Offaly's Shane Dooley was the Division 1 top scorer with 6-57.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 2
Clare and Kildare entered Division 2 as the respective relegated and promoted teams from the 2009 season.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 2
On 2 May 2010, Wexford won the title following a 1–16 to 2–9 win over Clare in the final.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 2
Kildare were relegated from Division 2 after losing all but one of their group stage matches. They spent just one season in Division 2.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 2
Wexford's Diarmuid Lyng was the Division 2 top scorer with 1-58.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 3A
Kerry and London entered Division 3A as the respective relegated and promoted teams from the 2010 season.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 3A
On 10 April 2010, Kerry won the title following a 2–18 to 1–15 win over Derry in the final.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 3A
Mayo were relegated from Division 3A after losing all but one of their group stage matches.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 3A
London's Martin Finn was the Division 3A top scorer with 2-27.


2010 National Hurling League, Division 4, Knock-out stage
Monaghan won promotion to Division 3B for 2011 while Longford remained in Division 4 for 2011


2010 National Invitation Tournament
The 2010 National Invitation Tournament was a single-elimination tournament of 32 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams that were not selected to participate in the 2010 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The 73rd annual tournament began on March 16 on campus sites and ended on April 1 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dayton won their 3rd NIT title (first title since 1968) over North Carolina, 79–68.


2010 National Invitation Tournament, Participants, Automatic qualifiers
The following teams were automatic qualifiers for the 2010 NIT field after losing in their respective conference tournaments; by virtue of winning their conferences' regular season championship and not qualifying for the NCAA Tournament.


2010 National Invitation Tournament, Participants, Automatic qualifiers
*Jacksonville split the Atlantic Sun regular season title with Campbell, Lipscomb and Belmont, but the conference tournament was won by fifth-seeded East Tennessee State. The Dolphins earned the automatic NIT bid by advancing the furthest of the four in the Atlantic Sun tournament even though Lipscomb was the #1 seed in the tournament.


2010 National Invitation Tournament, Participants, Automatic qualifiers
The entire 32-team field was announced on March 14, 2010 on The NIT Selection Show at 9 pm ET on ESPNU.


2010 National Invitation Tournament, Bracket
Played on the home court of the higher-seeded team (except #1 Illinois in the first round)


2010 National League Championship Series
The 2010 National League Championship Series (NLCS) was a best-of-seven game Major League Baseball playoff series that pitted the winners of the 2010 National League Division Series—the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants—against each other for the National League Championship. The Giants would defeat the Phillies, four games to two, to advance to their first World Series since 2002. The series, the 41st NLCS in league history, began on October 16 and ended on October 23. The Phillies had home field advantage as a result of their better regular-season record. The Phillies hosted Games 1, 2 and 6, while the Giants were at home for Games 3, 4 and 5.


2010 National League Championship Series
The Giants would go on to defeat the Texas Rangers in the World Series in five games, winning their first World Series championship since 1954, and their first since relocating to San Francisco from New York City back in 1958, ending the Curse of Coogan's Bluff.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Saturday, October 16, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. (EDT) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
In one of the most touted postseason pitching matchups in recent history, two former Cy Young Award winners faced off: Roy Halladay for the Phillies and Tim Lincecum for the Giants. The Giants jumped out to a 1–0 lead in the top of the third inning on a Cody Ross solo home run, Halladay's first hit allowed in the postseason. The Phillies quickly tied the game up in the bottom half of the same inning on a home run from catcher Carlos Ruiz.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning, when Ross belted his second homer of the game, another solo shot, giving San Francisco a 2–1 lead. The Giants extended that lead to 4–1 the following inning on a string of three two-out hits, namely, a single by Buster Posey, a double by former Phillie Pat Burrell, and a single from Juan Uribe. In the bottom of the same inning, the sixth, the Phillies closed the deficit to 4–3 on a two-run blast from Jayson Werth.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 1
Lincecum and Halladay then each pitched a scoreless half of the seventh before turning the game over to their respective bullpens. Southpaw Javier López retired the first two Philadelphia batters of the eighth inning, then handed the ball to Giants closer Brian Wilson, who recorded a four-out save, striking out Shane Victorino to end the game.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
Sunday, October 17, 2010 — 8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
In the first inning Chase Utley walked, then stole second. Mike Fontenot misfielded Plácido Polanco's grounder and everybody advanced. Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins both walked, bringing in Utley for the first run. Oswalt no-hit the Giants through the fifth inning until Cody Ross hit a home run, his third in two games. This was the third straight game in which Ross's solo home run broke up a no-hitter. In the bottom inning, Shane Victorino doubled, then advanced to third on a Utley fly out. Polanco's sacrifice fly brought in the second Phillie run.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
In the bottom of the seventh inning Oswalt hit a single up the middle. That knocked Sánchez out of the game, bringing in Ramón Ramírez. Oswalt then advanced on a Victorino sacrifice bunt. Polanco then ripped a single up the middle bringing in Oswalt. Ramírez was brought down and in came Jeremy Affeldt. Affeldt struck out Howard then intentionally walked Jayson Werth. Giants manager Bruce Bochy then sent in Santiago Casilla to face Jimmy Rollins. Rollins ripped a three-run double off Casilla, extending the Phillies' lead to five.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 2
With a five-run lead, Oswalt pitched a scoreless eighth. He struck out nine while allowing three hits and walking three.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 — 4:00 p.m. (EDT) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
With the series shifting to San Francisco for a day Game 3, and the series tied 1–1, both teams again threw very good starting pitchers, 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels for Philadelphia and All-Star Matt Cain for San Francisco. Both starters started out strong, dominating the first three innings. In the fourth inning, however, the Giants broke through against Hamels. Édgar Rentería led off with a base hit to right, and was bunted to second by Freddy Sanchez. Following Buster Posey's strikeout and Pat Burrell's walk, Cody Ross ripped a fastball down the left field line for an RBI single, his fourth RBI of the NLCS. Aubrey Huff then singled off the glove of a diving Chase Utley, bringing in Burrell and making the score 2–0, Giants.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
The Giants added a third run in the next inning, when Aaron Rowand led off the inning with a double to left and scored on a Sanchez single that fooled Chase Utley. With a 3–0 lead, Matt Cain cruised through the Phillies lineup. In the seventh inning, he ran into trouble, but was able to get Shane Victorino to groundout to Sanchez with the bases loaded for the third out. Javier López relieved Cain and tossed a perfect eighth, striking out Ryan Howard to end the inning.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 3
Brian Wilson closed out the game by getting Raúl Ibañez to ground into a double play with one out and Jimmy Rollins at first. The Giants now had a 2–1 NLCS advantage.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Wednesday, October 20, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. (EDT) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
Game 4 was a match up of both teams' fourth starters, 21-year-old Madison Bumgarner for the Giants and Joe Blanton for the Phillies. The Giants scored first, when Buster Posey lined an RBI single into center field that scored Freddy Sanchez. Posey struck again in the third inning, scoring Huff on a two-out double over the head of left fielder Ben Francisco, increasing the Giants' lead to 2–0.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Phillies' offense broke through in the fifth inning against Bumgarner. Back-to-back singles by Francisco and Carlos Ruiz opened the inning, and Blanton hit a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position. Shane Victorino then hit a single up the middle, scoring Francisco; however, Ruiz was thrown out at home plate by Giants center fielder Aaron Rowand. Chase Utley singled to right and Santiago Casilla was brought in to face Plácido Polanco. Polanco doubled in both runners, giving the Phillies a 3–2 lead. Ryan Howard was then intentionally walked and Jayson Werth was hit by a pitch. Facing Jimmy Rollins, Casilla threw a wild pitch, bringing home a fourth Phillies run. Casilla finally ended the inning by striking out Rollins.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Giants got a run back on an Aubrey Huff single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth, which scored Andrés Torres. In the sixth inning, Pat Burrell drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a Cody Ross double. Pablo Sandoval came to the plate and appeared to double down the right field line, but the ball was called foul. Four pitches later, Sandoval lined a two-run double into the left-center field gap, scoring Burrell and Ross, and giving the Giants a 5–4 lead.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
The Phillies tied it in the top of the eighth with back-to-back doubles by Howard and Werth. Giants reliever Sergio Romo recovered and retired the next three Phillies batters to strand Werth at second. Going to the ninth inning, the game was tied 5–5. In the top of the ninth, Giants closer Brian Wilson threw a 1-2-3 inning.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 4
In the bottom of the ninth, Game 2 winner Roy Oswalt was brought in as a reliever. Sanchez lined out to right field to start the inning, but Huff singled past a diving Howard immediately afterwards. Posey followed with a base hit to right—his fourth hit of the game—moving Huff to third with only one out. Juan Uribe, pinch hitting in the pitcher's spot, followed with a sacrifice fly to left field, allowing Huff to tag up and score the winning run. The victory gave the Giants a commanding 3–1 series lead.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Thursday, October 21, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. (EDT) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Game 5 saw a rematch of Game 1's starting pitchers: Roy Halladay of the Phillies and Tim Lincecum of the Giants. In the bottom of the first inning Halladay walked leadoff hitter Andrés Torres. Freddy Sanchez followed up with a single, advancing Torres to third. Aubrey Huff lined out to first baseman Ryan Howard, followed by a Buster Posey RBI groundout to second.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
The Phillies struck in the top of the third inning. Raúl Ibañez singled, and Carlos Ruiz was hit by a pitch. Halladay then bunted the ball, which dropped in the home plate area, and the ball was ruled a fair ball by home plate umpire Jeff Nelson. Giants catcher Posey quickly picked up the ball and threw to third baseman Pablo Sandoval in an attempt to throw out Ibáñez; however, Sandoval, who was playing shallowly in anticipation of the bunt, misjudged the position of third base while retreating to the bag, allowing Ibáñez to reach safely.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Meanwhile, Halladay, thinking the ball was foul, did not begin his run to first base until after Ibáñez was ruled safe, and Sandoval had enough time to throw the ball to first base to retire Halladay. Television replays showed the ball was in foul territory when Posey picked it up, which means it should have been ruled a foul ball.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Then, Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff committed an error on a grounder by Shane Victorino, scoring two runners. Plácido Polanco added to the lead with an RBI single.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
In the bottom of the fourth with one out Pat Burrell hit a double to left and scored on a Cody Ross RBI double.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Phillies relievers José Contreras and J. C. Romero combined to shut the Giants down in the seventh inning. Then Phillies middle reliever Ryan Madson pitched a perfect eighth inning, striking out Posey, Burrell, and Ross.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
In the top of the ninth Jayson Werth hit a solo homer off Ramón Ramírez to extend the lead to two.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 5
Phillies closer Brad Lidge pitched a perfect ninth inning to collect his 12th postseason save out of 12 opportunities with Philadelphia (and the 18th of his career).


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
Saturday, October 23, 2010 — 7:30 p.m. (EDT) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
San Francisco starter Jonathan Sánchez had a poor outing. In the first inning, he walked Plácido Polanco and threw a wild pitch to Chase Utley that advanced Polanco to second base. Polanco then scored on an Utley RBI double, and Utley himself scored later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Jayson Werth.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
San Francisco rallied against Phillies starter Roy Oswalt in the third inning. Sánchez singled off his opposite number and advanced to second base on a long fly ball from Andrés Torres that was dropped up against the center field wall by Shane Victorino. Freddy Sanchez bunted the runners over to second and third and Aubrey Huff hit a single up the middle, which only scored Sánchez as Torres was thrown out at home by Victorino. Huff took second base on the throw home and eventually scored on a throwing error by Polanco to tie the game at 2–2.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
Sánchez was still very wild with his command as he walked Polanco and hit Utley to start off the bottom of the third. Utley flipped the ball back towards the mound which led to Sánchez and Utley exchanging hostile words. The confrontation led to both benches clearing. No one was ejected as a result of the incident, but Sánchez was removed from the game and replaced with Jeremy Affeldt. Affeldt was effective for the Giants, retiring the next three Phillies to end the scoring threat in the third, then throwing a 1-2-3 fourth inning.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
In the fifth, Affeldt was relieved by Madison Bumgarner. Jimmy Rollins singled and advanced to third on a two-out double from Ryan Howard. After walking Werth intentionally, Bumgarner got out of the jam by getting Victorino to ground out with the bases loaded.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
Oswalt got into a jam himself in the top of the sixth, when Cody Ross doubled and Juan Uribe was hit by a pitch. Oswalt got out of the jam by getting Édgar Rentería to ground into Utley who executed the double play. Bumgarner faced yet another jam in the bottom of the sixth, as Raúl Ibañez doubled to lead off the inning and was bunted over to third by Carlos Ruiz. Bumgarner then struck out pinch hitter Ben Francisco and induced a fly ball out from Rollins to end the threat once again.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
The Giants finally broke through in the top of the eighth, when Uribe hit an opposite field home run off Philadelphia reliever Ryan Madson. Tim Lincecum, who was the Giants' starting pitcher in Games 1 and 5, then entered the game in a relief role to pitch the eighth inning. Lincecum struck out Werth, but gave up back-to-back singles to Victorino and Ibáñez. Giants manager Bruce Bochy promptly brought in closer Brian Wilson for a five-out save. Phillies catcher Ruiz hit a line drive right at Giants first baseman Huff, who caught the ball and easily doubled off Victorino at second to get out of the inning.


2010 National League Championship Series, Game summaries, Game 6
At the top of the ninth, Phillies closer Brad Lidge allowed two hits and an intentional walk of Buster Posey to load the bases but escaped the jam without allowing any scoring after getting the pitcher Wilson to groundout to Howard at first. Wilson got pinch hitter Ross Gload to ground out to start the bottom of the ninth, but then walked Rollins to put the tying run on base. Polanco grounded into a fielder's choice to Uribe, who threw to second to force out Rollins. Utley then drew a walk, which put the winning run on first base. With a full count and the runners moving on the pitch, Wilson struck out Howard looking to end the game and send the Giants to their first World Series in eight years.


2010 National League Championship Series, Broadcasting
Fox televised the NLCS in the United States, with Joe Buck providing play-by-play and Tim McCarver as commentator. Every pitch of 2010 NLCS was also broadcast on ESPN Radio with Dan Shulman (play-by-play) and Dave Campbell (color commentator). The series did not air in Cablevision homes after News Corporation, Fox's parent company, pulled station WTXF on October 16 as the result of a carriage dispute with Cablevision.


2010 National League Division Series
The 2010 National League Division Series (NLDS) were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2010 National League Championship Series. The three divisional winners and a fourth team—a "Wild Card"—played in two series from October 6 to 11. TBS televised all games in the United States.


2010 National League Division Series
Under MLB's playoff format, no two teams from the same division were matched up in the Division Series, regardless of whether their records would normally indicate such a matchup. Home field advantage went to the team with the better regular-season record with the exception of the wild card team, which defers home field advantage regardless of record. The matchups were:


2010 National League Division Series
The Phillies and Reds had met in the postseason once before: in the 1976 NLCS, which the Reds won 3–0. The Giants and Braves also had one prior postseason series—the 2002 NLDS—which the Giants won 3–2.


2010 National League Division Series
The Giants would go on to defeat the Phillies in the NLCS, then win the 2010 World Series by defeating the American League champion Texas Rangers. The franchise's first World title since 1954.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 1
5:00 p.m. (EDT) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 1
In his first career postseason start, Phillies ace Roy Halladay hurled a no-hitter, giving up only one walk (to Jay Bruce in the fifth inning). Halladay's was only the second postseason no-hitter in Major League Baseball history, and the first since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He threw only 104 pitches.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 1
During the 2010 regular season, Halladay had thrown a perfect game on the road against the Florida Marlins on May 29. He thus became the first and only pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the regular season and a no-hitter in the postseason in the same year. Halladay is also the fifth major league pitcher to throw two no-hitters in the same year, and the first since Nolan Ryan in 1973.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 1
The Phillies' offense got started early when Shane Victorino sliced a double down the left field line in the first inning. After stealing third base, Chase Utley brought him home with a sacrifice fly. Victorino went 2-for-4 in the game and also had two RBIs on a single in the second inning that scored Wilson Valdez and Halladay. Halladay had reached earlier in the inning on an RBI single of his own, helping his own cause and becoming the first pitcher in major league history to outhit the opposing team in a postseason game.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 1
Cincinnati starter Edinson Vólquez lasted only 1+2⁄3 innings before Travis Wood was called upon in relief by manager Dusty Baker. Volquez gave up four hits, four runs (all earned), and two walks. He faced 11 batters, retiring only five.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
6:00 p.m. (EDT) at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
On the fourth pitch he saw, Brandon Phillips hit a home run to lead off the first inning. This was both the first hit and first run since 1995 for the Reds in the postseason. Laynce Nix scored another run in the top of the second inning on two throwing errors and a wild pitch.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
Jay Bruce hit a lead-off homer in the fourth inning to increase the lead to 3–0. In the top of the fifth inning, Phillips hit a lead-off double, advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on Joey Votto's sacrifice fly.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
The Phillies mounted their attack in the bottom of the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Domonic Brown reached first base on a fielder's choice, then the Phillies loaded the bases on two consecutive defensive errors. Chase Utley delivered a two-out RBI single to get the Phillies on board, but Arroyo struck out Ryan Howard to limit the damage at two.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
The Phillies scored again in the sixth inning. Jayson Werth walked, stole second, then scored after two batters were hit by pitches and a bases-loaded walk by Reds relievers Arthur Rhodes and Logan Ondrusek.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
The Reds sent flame-thrower Aroldis Chapman to the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. He hit Chase Utley, the third time by Reds' relievers in the night, then struck out Ryan Howard. Werth hit a ground ball to Reds third baseman Scott Rolen, but Utley was called safe at second base. The next batter, Jimmy Rollins, hit a fly ball to right field, but Reds right fielder Jay Bruce lost it in the lights; Reds second baseman Phillips also missed the relay catch. These two crucial errors—the third and fourth on the night—let both Utley and Werth score. Rollins scored later on Raúl Ibañez's single and Carlos Ruiz's RBI force-out. Reds reliever Nick Masset replaced Chapman and got Shane Victorino to ground out to end the inning. The Phillies took a 6–4 lead on Reds' errors into the eighth inning.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Utley hit a one-out single then stole second. Masset intentionally walked Howard to set up a potential double play for the next batter. However, Werth hit an RBI single to left field to score Utley.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
Phillies closer Brad Lidge closed the ninth for the save.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 2
The six combined errors tied an LDS record previously set by the Athletics and Red Sox in the 2003 ALDS.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 3
8:00 p.m. (EDT) at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 3
Cincinnati was again dominated by Phillies' starting pitching. Cole Hamels pitched a complete game shutout, striking out nine while allowing five hits. Plácido Polanco scored for the Phillies on Orlando Cabrera's throwing error in the top of the first inning. Chase Utley added another run to the lead by hitting a home run in the fifth inning. With one out in the top of the ninth inning, Carlos Ruiz hit a double off Aroldis Chapman on a pitch that was clocked by PITCH f/x at 103.5 mph, making it the fastest pitched ball ever to result in a hit.


2010 National League Division Series, Philadelphia vs. Cincinnati, Game 3
For the series, Cincinnati was shut out two times and scored just four runs, making them among the very few teams to lose in a shutout twice (the 1966 Los Angeles Dodgers lost in three shutouts to the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series in a sweep). This was the Great American Ball Park's first playoff game.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 1
9:30 p.m. (EDT) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 1
Game 1 was a pitching duel that matched the Giants' two-time Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum, in his first postseason start, against the Braves' Derek Lowe, a seasoned veteran of postseason play.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 1
The game's only run came in the fourth inning. Giants rookie catcher Buster Posey singled to left, stole second in a controversial play where he was called safe while appearing to be out, and then scored on a two-out single by Cody Ross. That run was the only one Lincecum needed, as the Giants' ace was dominant, pitching a complete game shutout, allowing only two hits and striking out a franchise record 14 while walking only one.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
9:30 p.m. (EDT) at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
The Giants took a quick 3–0 lead as Pat Burrell hit a three-run home run, following Freddy Sanchez's single and Buster Posey's walk in the bottom of the first inning.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
Braves manager Bobby Cox was ejected from the game in the top of the second inning, arguing that Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff's foot did not stay on base on Álex González's ground-out.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
Giants starter Matt Cain also hit an RBI single in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Cody Ross, who had doubled earlier.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
Braves first baseman Derrek Lee hit a lead-off single in the top of the sixth inning and advanced to second base on Pat Burrell's error. Brian McCann singled him home in the next at-bat to end the 14 scoreless innings streak for the Braves in this series.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
The Braves struck back in the top of the eighth inning. After consecutive singles by Lee and McCann, the Giants brought in closer Brian Wilson for a six-out save. However, the next hitter, Melky Cabrera, hit an RBI ground ball that scored Lee from third base and Cabrera beat the throw to first base due to Giants' third baseman Pablo Sandoval's throwing error. Following Brooks Conrad's sacrifice bunt, Álex González's RBI double scored both runners and tied the game at 4–4.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
The game remained tied and went to extra innings. In the bottom of the tenth inning, two consecutive bunts—one single, one sacrifice—knocked Braves closer Billy Wagner out of the game because of injury. Braves reliever Kyle Farnsworth hit the next batter, Freddy Sanchez, then walked Huff to load the bases. However, Posey grounded into a double play to end the inning.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 2
In the top of the 11th inning, Rick Ankiel hit a go-ahead home run into McCovey Cove on the fly to give the Braves a 5–4 lead. At the time Ankiel was the only player in postseason history besides Barry Bonds to hit a home run into McCovey Cove. Farnsworth threw a scoreless 11th inning for the win and the series was tied at 1–1.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 3
Game 3 was yet another dramatic matchup of strong pitching. The Giants sent lefty Jonathan Sánchez to the mound, who turned in a strong performance, pitching a no-hitter through six innings. The Braves countered with right-hander Tim Hudson, who matched Sánchez for seven innings, allowing only one unearned run.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 3
The Giants took an early lead in the second inning after leaving the bases loaded in the first. Third baseman Mike Fontenot started the inning by driving a triple off the right field wall. The next batter, Cody Ross, lofted a pop fly that was dropped by Atlanta second baseman Brooks Conrad, giving San Francisco a 1–0 lead. That run seemed to be all Sánchez would need, as he shut out the Braves for 7+1⁄3 innings.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 3
With Álex González at first and one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, and the Giants still nursing their 1–0 lead, Giants setup man Sergio Romo, a right-hander, relieved Sánchez to face the right-handed Troy Glaus as a pinch-hitter. Braves manager Bobby Cox countered by sending left-handed batter Eric Hinske to the plate instead. With two strikes on him, Hinske turned on a hanging slider from Romo and drove it just inside the right field foul pole for a home run, giving the Braves a 2–1 lead, and electrifying the crowd at Turner Field.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 3
Rookie right-hander Craig Kimbrel came out of the bullpen to start the top of the ninth for the Braves, relieving Jonny Venters, who had struck out the side the previous inning. Kimbrel retired Ross on a popout to Conrad, for the first out. Travis Ishikawa then pinch-hit for Romo and drew a walk. After striking out leadoff man Andrés Torres, Kimbrel gave up a single to second baseman Freddy Sanchez, and was removed from the game, leaving runners on first and second base, with two outs.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 3
Another rookie Brave, lefty Michael Dunn, came on and gave up a game-tying single to Aubrey Huff. Dunn was then pulled for a right-hander, Peter Moylan, who induced a grounder from Buster Posey, which proceeded to bounce through the legs of Conrad, the second baseman's third error of the game. Sanchez scored on the play, giving the Giants a 3–2 lead. Kyle Farnsworth came on and got the third out, but the damage was done. The Giants brought in their closer Brian Wilson for the bottom of the ninth. He held the lead, giving up a single to Brian McCann, but retiring Nate McLouth on a grounder to end the game.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
With their backs against the wall, the Braves sent Derek Lowe to the mound on three days' rest. The Braves scored first in the bottom of the third inning when Brian McCann's sacrifice fly drove in Omar Infante.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
Lowe took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, but the Giants tied the game with one out on Cody Ross' first-pitch homer off a cutter. McCann answered with another in the bottom of the inning off the Giants' rookie starter, Madison Bumgarner, to take back the lead.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
Lowe was relieved after 6+1⁄3 innings. After walking Aubrey Huff and allowing an infield single to Buster Posey, Bobby Cox made his way out to the mound, apparently to remove Lowe from the game. However, after talking to him, Cox elected to leave Lowe in, prompting huge cheers from the Atlanta fans. The next batter, Pat Burrell, walked on a 3–1 pitch near the inside corner and Lowe's night was done. He struck out eight while allowing only two hits and walking two.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
Braves' relievers Peter Moylan and Jonny Venters could not hold the lead as the Giants scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning on Juan Uribe's RBI fielder's choice and Cody Ross' RBI single. The Braves might have been able to escape the one-out, bases-loaded jam, but Álex González's throwing error, his second in the game, cost them. Both errors were debatable. The first was a ball hit in the hole he didn't field cleanly with the speedy Andrés Torres running. The second was, again, another crucial controversial call that went against the Braves in the series. With two on and one out and a weakly hit groundball, González elected to go to second, throwing it high, causing Omar Infante to edge up, however, the umpire ruled he came off the base.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
Left-handed Giants reliever Javier López entered the game with two outs in the eighth, and pinch-runner Nate McLouth as the tying run at second base, and struck out Jason Heyward. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Braves had one last chance to rally. With one out, Giants closer Brian Wilson walked Rick Ankiel and Eric Hinske to put the winning run on base. However, Omar Infante struck out swinging and Melky Cabrera grounded out to end the game and the series.


2010 National League Division Series, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Game 4
This was Braves manager Bobby Cox's last game. After the game ended, he came out of the dugout briefly to acknowledge the fans. He was greeted with loud cheers from the entire stadium, as well as an ovation from the Giants' players and coaches.


2010 National League speedway season
The 2010 season of the National League, the third tier of British speedway, was contested by ten teams. Buxton Hitmen beat Newport Hornets in the play-off final to become champions.