The day in summary
What an afternoon of sport this has been. It started with the New Zealand Breakers defeating Melbourne United in the National Basketball League, before Marc Márquez won the Australian MotoGP at Phillip Island to move within striking distance of his fourth world championship. We then saw the Newcastle Jets down Brisbane Roar in the A-League, while the Illawarra Hawks were too strong for the Brisbane Bullets. To wrap up the night, Perth Glory snatched a late win against the Central Coast Mariners and the Cairns Taipans are currently cruising to victory over the Perth Wildcats. Thanks for your company throughout – until next time!
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That concludes round three of the A-League. Melbourne City lead the ladder unbeaten, with Newcastle Jets and Sydney FC not far behind. At the other end, three sides jostle for second-last with one point apiece, while Brisbane Roar sit pointless at the bottom of the ladder.
Wishful thinking from one Mariners fan.
Can we bring in a First Goal Wins policy? Because if so, @CCMariners are top of the ladder with 9 points. 😞 #PERvCCM
— Dom Lovatt (@dom83) October 22, 2017
Full-time: Perth Glory 2-1 Central Coast Mariners
90 (+5) min: Peepppp! Referee Alex King brings an end to his debut A-League encounter, and it’ll be three points for home side Perth Glory courtesy of a late winner from Adam Taggart. Central Coast Mariners will fly home disappointed - they were the better side for large patches of this afternoon’s encounter, but a defensive lapse undid their hard work.
The Central Coast defence struggling with the offside rule.
Kids are taught to play to the whistle before they're taught anything else. How do professionals struggle with it? #PERvCCM #CCMFC
— Xavier Player (@xtgplayer88) October 22, 2017
It’s been an afternoon of frowns for Perth forward Adam Taggart, enduring miss after miss, but he stood up when it counted to score in the 85th minute.
Goal: Perth Glory 2-1 Central Coast Mariners
84 min: Adam Taggart! The Perth striker beats the offside trap and finally converts an opportunity following a day of misses. 2-1 Perth - surely that’s the game, Central Coast look fatigued.
81 min: Ohfff! Nervous times for Perth as the Mariners spend an inordinately long period of time in the Glory box without doing all that much. We’re back to end-to-end football - Perth counter, then Central Coast counter in turn. My neck hurts...
78 min: Central Coast’s Connor Pain takes a speculative strike and then goes down clutching his leg. Pain has troubled Perth all afternoon, so will be a real loss for the final dozen minutes if he can’t recover. Up the other end, Adam Taggart misses another opportunity for the Glory.
Over in the National Basketball League, the Taipans are cruising to victory against the Perth Wildcats - it’s currently 65-46 with 2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.
73 min: Well, doesn’t that mix things up. Perth had been threatening for a while, but that equaliser was really the result of poor defending from the Mariners. Paul Okon’s team now need to regain composure, otherwise they risk flying back to the east coast empty-handed. 1-1.
Goal: Perth Glory 1-1 Central Coast Mariners
69 min: Finally! Andy Keogh converts Perth’s umpteenth opportunity of the afternoon following an exquisite cross from Adam Taggart.
66 min: Desperate last-gasp defending from Central Coast denies an almost-certain goal. The Mariners are living dangerously here.
64 min: Another missed opportunity from Glory striker Adam Taggart. That’s the third or fourth chance he should have put away.
60 min: Perth’s Diego Castro goes down in the box and is adamant it was a penalty, but given the Spaniard was tugging on the shirt of his counterpart it seems hopeful at best.
58 min: Delightful deft flick-on from Daniel De Silva for the Mariners but his team-mates are not on the same planet, and the ball rolls through to Perth keeper Liam Reddy.
Here’s footage of that first goal for Central Coast. A nice hit.
Connor Pain ➡️ Wout Brama = 1-0 to @CCMariners!
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 22, 2017
Watch the second half right now LIVE on @FOXSportsAUS 501.#PERvCCM #ALeague pic.twitter.com/pvsCunvoYB
It’s half-time over at the Cairns Convention Centre, with the Cairns Taipans holding a 10 point lead over the Perth Wildcats in the National Basketball League. 43-33.
I’m not the only one to appreciate the Central Coast keeper’s surname!
Just noticed the CCM goalie is called Glover. Because of course he is. #nominativedeterminism #PERvCCM
— 💀 THIS WEBSITE 💀 (@DrYobbo) October 22, 2017
Perth’s Adam Taggart getting cosy with Mariners custodian Tom Glover earlier. Glover - not a bad name for a goal keeper eh?
48 min: The Mariners have begun the second half much as they started the first - on fire. Tom Hiariej hits a long-range strike that just goes over.
Second half underway: Perth Glory 0-1 Central Coast Mariners
45 min: We’re back in action in Perth for the final 45 minutes of the A-League’s third round. Can home side Perth find an equaliser, or will it be a happy flight home for the Mariners?
For those who found themselves under a rock last night, the Wallabies beat the New Zealand All Blacks for the first time in two years to take game three of the Bledisloe Cup.
One player not in the current Australian XV is Matt Toomua, who left the ACT Brumbies last year for Leicester in England. Robert Kitson had a nice chat with Toomua:
In the NBL, the Cairns Taipans are building a handy advantage over the Perth Wildcats. 38-24 late in the second quarter. Perth’s Bryce Cotton leads the scoring with 12, on 5-from-9 shooting.
Australian cyclists in action at the Japan Cup
Canberra’s Ben Hill sprinted to seventh in the Japan Cup earlier today, with Italian Marco Canola topping the podium following a 144-kilometre road race around Utsunomiya. Hill’s effort came less than 24 hours after he placed fifth in Saturday’s Japan Cup criterium. The two-day event was traditionally the final race on the cycling calendar ahead of the European winter break, but the Tour of Guangxi’s addition to the UCI calendar means the World Tour teams now can’t call it a day until Wednesday.
Tasmanian rider Richie Porte was due to make his racing return at the Japan Cup following a horrendous crash at the Tour de France. No word yet on where Porte finished in Utsunomiya – afraid my Japanese isn’t sufficient to decipher the tournament organisers’ website...
Half-time: Perth Glory 0-1 Central Coast Mariners
45 (+1) min: Peeepp! Referee Alex King, in his A-League debut, brings an end to the first half at nib Stadium in Perth. Exciting stanza that - Central Coast clearly the better team in the first 20 minutes or so, but Perth has responded well and created numerous chances. Possession statistics reflect the relatively even half: 49%-51% to the Mariners. More importantly, though, Central Coast are ahead on the score-sheet.
Over in Cairns, the Taipans lead the Perth Wildcats 21-15 at the end of the first quarter in the final National Basketball League of the weekend. Cameron Gliddon contributing early for Cairns with eight points and three rebounds.
39 min: Perth Glory working their way back into this encounter, with several decent opportunities. Diego Castro consistently the danger man - Central Coast’s high defensive line is not doing them any favours.
The latest Twitter commentary for your enjoyment.
Taggart misses a sitter!! #ALeague #PERvCCM pic.twitter.com/2BguUaRtXL
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) October 22, 2017
— Tim 🏳️🌈 (@TimothyJ_23) October 22, 2017
The Shed has fired up a chant of "You Don't Know What You're Doing". Directed at the ref, works for their own team though #PERvCCM
— Ben Smith (@BenSmith94) October 22, 2017
Nice action shot of Central Coast’s Dutchman Tom Hiariej.
33 min: Ohhh! So close for Perth. Adam Taggart is through on goal following a beautiful cross from Andy Keogh, but Taggart blazes wide.
32 min: Diego Castro with another break down the right-hand flank for Perth. He’s been their danger man so far, and the Mariners are struggling to contain the Spaniard.
I’m tired just watching this - seriously action-packed football. If you need a short break and want something more cerebral, I commend to you this provocative piece from Matthew Engel - a former editor at Wisden - on the deteriorating state of cricket.
27 min: Looping corner from Diego Castro for Perth, punched away by the Mariners’ 19-year-old keeper Tom Glover. The referee then blows up and it turns out the corner went out as it swung in, so Central Coast earn a goal-kick.
25 min: The tempo has settled somewhat here in Perth, but there are still frenetic moments from both teams. Adam Taggart is almost through on goal for the Glory, but he is flagged offside.
20 min: Perth with a nice opportunity on the right flank, but Central Coast almost immediately hit back on the counter. End to end stuff, this. Enjoyable Sunday evening viewing.
The Twitter reaction:
Brama goes boom!!! Mariners hit the lead with a sweetly struck shot! Nice cutback from Pain as well. #ALeague #PERvCCM pic.twitter.com/PwGiTuFHAg
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) October 22, 2017
WOUT! #PERvCCM #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/SC45WY4cj3
— Tim 🏳️🌈 (@TimothyJ_23) October 22, 2017
We are booing De Silva every time he touches it
— Michael Lazarides (@MLazarides) October 22, 2017
1) We are booing a lot
2) He's involved in all of their build ups
#PERvCCM
17 min: The Mariners are looking very impressive in the Sunday sunshine, sending wave after wave of attack at the Perth defensive line.
Goal: Perth Glory 0-1 Central Coast Mariners
14 min: Goal! A sublime Connor Pain cross finds Dutchman Wout Brama unmarked in the box, and the Mariners’ import places a clinical strike in the top of the goal.
NBL: Hawks shoot down Brisbane Bullets in Illawarra
The llawarra Hawks have earned their first win of the National Basketball League season, defeating the Brisbane Bullets 105-96 on Sunday afternoon. American guard Rotnei Clarke led the scoring for llawarra with 26 points, while Perrin Buford put up 26 points and nine assists for the Bullets.
8 min: Apologies for the temporary radio silence - I needed to replenish my chocolate chip cookie supplies. Central Coast are looking dangerous on the left-hand flank via Connor Pain, and win a corner.
Back on the east coast, and there’s a nail-biting conclusion coming up in the National Basketball League clash between Illawarra and Brisbane. Five points in it with just over a minute remaining - Illawarra in the lead for now.
Kick-off: Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
1 min: Peeeppp! And straight away the Mariners almost go one-nil up - Kwabena Appiah-Kubi makes a dangerous break and squares to a team-mate, but the ball is slightly too strong and the open goal goes unmolested. Phew. Beautiful afternoon in Perth, by the looks of it. And if the first minute is any indication, we’re in for a fun encounter.
Team news: Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners
Here are the starting XI:
☑️ Three Spaniards in.
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) October 22, 2017
☑️ Lowry & Harold back.
☑️ Your @PerthGloryFC line up revealed.#PERvCCM #CREATEDESTINY pic.twitter.com/9yTW7cVCqs
Our squad is 🔐 Just the one change to last week's starting 11 with Appiah replacing a suspended, Andrew Hoole! #PERvCCM #CCMFC pic.twitter.com/A7om9XV5Fu
— #CCMFC (@CCMariners) October 22, 2017
Full-time: Brisbane Roar 1-2 Newcastle Jets
90 (+9) min: Peeppp! Finally referee Matthew Conger calls an end to proceedings, and not a moment too soon - Newcastle were the walking wounded at the end there. A dominant first-half for the Jets was enough for them to take all three points, with a valiant Brisbane fightback unable to find an equaliser. The Newcastle now move into second on the A-League ladder, while the Roar remain pointless at the bottom of the table.
90 (+5) min: 10,104 here in attendance at Suncorp, and they’ll be going home disappointed unless the Roar can find an equaliser in the next few minutes. Still 2-1 to Newcastle.
9 (+1) min: Brett Holman went on a mazy run for Brisbane but failed to get away the all-important through-ball. Another injury stoppage. This game could easily break the 100 minute mark.
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90 min: Eight minutes of injury time here at Suncorp, and Newcastle lead 2-1. Can Brisbane appease the Roar faithful with an equaliser?
Over in the NBL, the Illawarra Hawks have overturned an early deficit to lead the Brisbane Bullets by 13 points in the final quarter. Rotnei Clarke having a dominant game for the Hawks: 24 points, four rebounds and four assists.
83 min: Brisbane’s Massimo Maccarone has a dangerous free-kick on the edge of the Newcastle box, but sends it very very wide. The Roar are applying the pressure here searching for an equaliser. Still plenty of time remaining - they’ll be at least seven or eight minutes of stoppage time following the injury to Ronald Vargas earlier. Can Brisbane find the equaliser?
Plenty of conjecture on Twitter about the VAR and that off-side call denying Brisbane a goal.
VAR getting the call correct, but why wasn't that called up by the AR?? The person whose job is literally to call offside? #BRIvNEW
— Josh Bird (@Budgeh) October 22, 2017
You can't let play continue a goal scored, celebrated everyone come back for the KO then spend 2 mins deciding if it counts or not #BRIvNEW
— Lee Burwood (@Blues_1988) October 22, 2017
VAR is a great idea until it works against you. #BRIvNEW
— Brodie Cowburn (@brodie_cowburn) October 22, 2017
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Brisbane import Eric Bautheac was all cheers earlier. The Frenchman was then subbed at half-time - he only arrived in Australia midweek.
74 min: Things are getting heated here at Suncorp Stadium. Brisbane skipper Matt McKay is not happy at all after his team had that goal denied - audibly swearing in the vicinity of referee Matthew Conger. Assistant Roar coach Ross Aloisi then makes his outrage felt, and some of the other Brisbane players decide to get involved a couple of minutes later. They need to watch themselves, or Conger might start wielding the cards.
69 min: Massimo Maccarone!!! Brisbane’s 38-year-old marquee shows his class with a mazy run towards the top of the box, before cutting through several defenders and slotting past Newcastle keeper Jack Duncan. Some goal, that. But the referee goes upstairs and - four minutes later - it’s ruled offside. Ouch. That’s a real shame for Maccarone.
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Over in the NBL, Illawarra Hawks trail Brisbane Bullets by three points midway through the third quarter in Woolongong. Stephen Holt and Perrin Buford lead the scoring for Brisbane with 17 points each; American Demitrius Conger, who went undrafted in 2013, has 18 for the Hawks.
64 min: Play finally underway again following a lengthy stoppage. The Newcastle players look visibly shaken - that was a bad injury to Vargas. Will Brisbane capitalise?
58 min: Beautiful movement from Newcastle’s Venezuelan Ronald Vargas on the left wing provides a perfect opportunity for Andrew Nabbout, but the Jets’ forward shoots wide. Moments later Vargas is involved in a nasty tackle and has to be stretchered off - could be sidelined for at least a few weeks, that did not look good.
50 min: Newcastle counter following an attacking move from the home side. Avraam Papadopoulos with a crucial intervention keeps the Roar out of trouble. Signs of improvement from Brisbane, but it’s still 2-1 to the Jets.
And the latest from Twitter:
John Aloisi trying to motivate his side at half time to win this game... #BRIvNEW pic.twitter.com/EZcnPxzemi
— The Football Sack (@TheFootballSack) October 22, 2017
The Roar have gone from Golden Boot winner to relying on an oppositions defence scoring on their behalf. Jamie would be spewing #BRIvNEW
— Easy As Isaias (@rosaaaav10) October 22, 2017
Dimi hit a screamer? Imagine my surprise. #BRIvNEW pic.twitter.com/mxCyb1UlRo
— Matt (@DTDmatt) October 22, 2017
Incredible that the oldest starting lineup in #aleague history doesn't have any energy or dynamism at all #BRIvNEW
— scouse always haunt (@scouse_roar) October 22, 2017
Here’s that strike from Dimi Petratos just before half-time. Niiccee.
STUNNER! What an incredible strike from @NewcastleJetsFC's Dimi Petratos. #BRIvNEW #ALeague 🎥: @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/7fCtXuJ10d
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) October 22, 2017
Second half: Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
45 min: Peepp! we’re underway again at Suncorp. Newcastle should be in a better position than this following a dominant first stanza. Will they find a quick third, or can Brisbane work their way back into this encounter?
Plenty still to come on the Sunday Sportswatch - the second-half of Brisbane v Newcastle, then more A-League with Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners, plus a smattering of National Basketball League and we might have some rugby union and cycling discussion. Do get in touch with what’s on your mind sports-wise: via email, Twitter or below the line in the comments.
Staying with basketball, the Brisbane Bullets lead the Illawarra Hawks by 10 points at half-time in the NBL, 55-45 at the Win Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Australians in the NBA recap
It was a big day of basketball action for the Australians plying their trade in the NBA. Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova both contributed to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 113-110 victory over Portland. Maker nabbed three points and three rebounds, while Dellavedova had four assists. Canberran Patty Mills only managed two points in 21 minutes for San Antonio, but the Spurs were still too good for the Chicago Bulls.
In Salt Lake City, Joe Ingles sparkled with 19 points and three rebounds as Utah defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-87. But the biggest Australian performance of the day came from Ben Simmons, as last year’s number one draft pick put up 18 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the Philadelphia 76ers’ loss to Toronto. Simmons has now scored 10+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in his first three NBA games. The only other debutant to manage that feat? Hall-of-Famer Oscar Robertson, a 12-time All Star in the 1960s and 1970s.
I interviewed Simmons back in 2015, when he was playing college ball for Louisiana State and had his eye on the NBA draft. Some interesting insight into 2017 Simmons, if I say so myself. Give it a read. My tip? An NBA All Star for sure. He’ll look good in an Australian Boomers jersey as well.
Brisbane marquee Massimo Maccarone has had a few opportunities today, but so far the Italian hasn’t troubled the scoresheet.
Half-time: Brisbane Roar 1-2 Newcastle Jets
45 (+3) min: Referee Matthew Conger brings an end to the first part of proceedings at Suncorp Stadium. An exciting end to the half saw Brisbane equalise through an own goal only for Newcastle to regain the lead through a Dimitri Petratos stunner two minutes later. Stay tuned - I’ll be back shortly.
Goal: Brisbane Roar 1-2 Newcastle Jets
44 min: Offfff! Former Brisbane attacker Dimitri Petratos responds immediately with a superb strike from outside the box. Newcastle back in front with the half-time whistle imminent.
Updated
Goal: Brisbane Roar 1-1 Newcastle Jets
42 min: Oohhhhhh. Horrendous own goal from Nigel Boogaard sees Brisbane move level on the stroke of half-time. Jack Hingert fizzed in a cross, and instead of seeing the ball out Boogaard accidentally touched it into his own net. He won’t be a popular character in the sheds at half-time.
39 min: Newcastle players call for a hand-ball in the Brisbane box, and it goes to the VAR. No penalty is the call, although it looked a bit suspicious.
38 min: Brisbane custodian Michael Theo with a reaction save to deny the Jets, who are looking dangerous as half-time looms.
36 min: Newcastle keeper Jack Duncan punts it long from a goal-kick to Dimitri Petratos, a former Brisbane Roar player, but the 24-year-old can’t make anything of it.
There was some interesting off-pitch murmurings at Brisbane Roar this week. The club sacked managing director Mark Kingsman, who is reportedly now considering legal action. Awkwardly, a company run by Kingsman - East Coast Car Rentals - are Brisbane’s back-of-shirt sponsor. It has also been reported that the team’s unpopular owners, the Bakrie Group, rejected a $10 million offer for the club from a Russian consortium. Brisbane lost their opening two games of the A-League season - will things go from bad to worse, on and off the field?
Some nice facial expressions here.
23 min: Newcastle has tightened their grip on this game, with 70% of possession in the last 10 minutes. Brisbane need to hit back soon or it could be a long afternoon for the Roar faithful at Suncorp.
Southern Stars win game one of the women's Ashes in Brisbane
Despite a late scare, Australia has clinched the opening one-day match of the women’s Ashes by two wickets in Brisbane. Alex Blackwell’s unbeaten 67 guided the Southern Stars to the target of 229, securing the win with five balls remaining. More details over this way:
Some analysis from the Twitterati:
More #aleague tonight. Top viewing so far. Pity bout some of the crowds & ratings. Suffering a real lack of promotion, not quality #BRIvNEW
— Tony Tannous (@TonyTannousTRBA) October 22, 2017
Brisbane's #BRIvNEW starting line-up the oldest in Aus national league history! Avg age 31.6 yrs. Next oldest 31.4 (Adelaide Utd 25-Nov-06)
— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) October 22, 2017
Brisbane's defenders trying to track O'Donovan in the penalty area #BRIvNEW pic.twitter.com/8Ldk2FQzcX
— Dale Roots (@dale_roots) October 22, 2017
16 min: Massimo Maccarone with a half-chance. The Roar’s 38-year-old marquee hasn’t had the best start to the season, managing only one goal as Brisbane lost their opening two games, but he has already had some dangerous touches this afternoon.
Goal: Brisabane Roar 0-1 Newcastle Jets
12 min: Roy O’Donovan collects his fifth goal in three A-League games this season with a far post tap-in for Newcastle. Delightful cross there from young Ivan Vujica, who spent some time at Dynamo Zagreb before joining the Jets last season.
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9 min: Ben Kantarovski collects the first booking over the game, for a strong challenge on Ben McKay. It’s been a fairly even encounter so far - Newcastle with 55% of possession.
4 min: Winless Brisbane have been bolstered for this game by the arrival of Frenchman Éric Bautheac, who was stuck in France as visa issues held up his switch to the Roar. He’s had a few touches so far, and the jetlag isn’t showing.
Naili-biting stuff at Allan Border Field in the cricket - Australia need 11 runs from 18 balls in game one of the women’s Ashes.
Kick-off: Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
1 min: Peeeppp! We’re underway at Suncorp Stadium for the penultimate game of this weekend’s A-League round. The pitch is looking a bit rough after last night’s Bledisloe Cup action.
NBL: New Zealand Breakers stun United in Melbourne
21 points for Tom Abercrombie lifted the NZ Breakers to a 88-76 win over Melbourne United in the National Basketball League, shocking the United faithful in Melbourne’s first home game of the season. Despite Josh Boone and Casey Prather collecting 22 and 20 points apiece, United could not overcome the physical Breakers.
Team news: Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets
The first of two A-League games for this afternoon begins shortly. Starting XIs as follows:
Brisbane Roar: Theo, DeVere, Brown, Papadopoulos, Maccarone, Holman, North, Ben Khalfallah, McKay, Caletti, Bautheac
Newcastle Jets: Duncan, Georgievski, Boogaard, Topor-Stanley, Vujica, Kantarovski, Ugarkovic, Vargas, Petratos, O’Donovan, Nabbout
We’re all set for a thrilling finale to game one of the women’s Ashes in Brisbane - Australia need 37 runs in 37 balls. Vithushan Ehantharajah can keep you up to date over here:
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End of @MotoGP #AustralianGP ..... and breathe. Great race
— Donna Parker (@bikerangel26) October 22, 2017
There won’t be much breathing this afternoon - Brisbane v Newcastle begins shortly in the A-League and Melbourne United are on the charge in the NBL, although it’s probably too late for a come-back.
A Phillip Island MotoGP win for Marc Márquez - his third in four races - consolidates the Spaniard’s series lead over Andrea Dovizioso. The Honda rider can secure the 2017 title at the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang next week. Márquez is only 24, but has already won three MotoGP World Championships (2013, 2014 and 2016).
Marc Márquez wins Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island
Honda’s Marc Márquez has secured a commanding win at the Australian Motorcycle Grand Prix, followed in by Valentino Rossi and Maverick Viñales.
Two laps remaining in the MotoGP on Phillip Island: Marc Márquez leads Valetino Rossi and Johann Zarco. Australian Jack Miller still hanging on in seventh.
In the National Basketball League, the NZ Breakers are up by 12 points with nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Tom Abercrombie leads the scoring for the Kiwis with 16 points; Josh Boone, an NBA draft pick back in 2006, has 19 for Melbourne.
Some exciting motor-racing at Phillip Island - six laps to go and Spaniards Maverick Viñales and Marc Márquez are fighting for the race lead. Valentino Rossi is still lurking; Jack Miller is back in seventh.
All change at the front again! Maverick leads Rossi and #MM93, Iannone and Zarco complete the group with 8 laps to go.#AustralianGP pic.twitter.com/7bTPQdJUZK
— Box_Repsol (@box_repsol) October 22, 2017
Back at Phillip Island, there was temporarily a change in the standings but nine-time world champion Valentino Rossi is now back in the lead. Frenchman Johann Zarco is in second, while the Aussie Jack Miller has slipped to sixth. 11 laps remaining.
In the warmer climes of Brisbane, there is currently an exciting run-chase going on in game one of the women’s Ashes. England ended their 50 overs on 9-228, and the Australians are currently 5-150 with 18 overs remaining. The Southern Stars are missing captain Meg Lanning for the series, which means the likes of Ellyse Perry will need to step up if Australia are to retain the trophy. Perry was stumped for 20, and took two wickets.
My colleagues are live blogging the game over here, if you want a full over-by-over account.
Staying in Victoria, Melbourne United is currently trailing the New Zealand Breakers in the National Basketball League. Watched on by a full house at Hisense Arena, United’s five are struggling to match the physical Breakers - who lead 58-49 midway through the third quarter.
Over on Phillip Island the MotoGP’s Australian leg is underway and Valentino Rossi leads Marc Marquez with 21 laps remaining. Home hero Jack Miller is in fifth place for Honda. Compatriot Casey Stoner famously won here on six consecutive occasions - can another Australian take the Phillip Island crown?
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Preamble
Welcome to the Sunday Sportswatch! Kieran Pender here, and I’m bracing myself for a busy afternoon and evening of Australian sport. We have two A-League encounters on the menu (Brisbane Roar v Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory v Central Coast Mariners), some Melbourne United v New Zealand Breakers action in the National Basketball League, MotoGP at Phillip Island and Richie Porte’s return to cycling at the Japan Cup. Phew! I’m tired just thinking about it all.
Do get in touch throughout the afternoon. Send me your thoughts via email, Twitter or in the comments below the line.
Kieran will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how Saturday went down:
