In summary
So, the Crows’ utter annihilation of the Power in the 43rd Showdown headlines the day’s AFL action, although Richmond’s 29-point win over in-form Hawthorn was equally impressive and keeps alive their top four hopes. Earlier, St Kilda roared back from 14 points down early in the final quarter to edge West Coast by eight at the final reckoning, keeping alive their finals hopes in the process.
In the NRL, Manly bounced back from two consecutive defeats with victory over the second-placed Roosters to give their season the shot in the arm it needed. For the Roosters, it’s now going to difficult to win the minor premiership; they meet ladder leaders Melbourne Storm next Saturday night in a must-win game. Tom Trbojevic was the standout performer for the Sea Eagles, with two tries, 171 running metres, four tackle breaks, a linebreak, a linebreak assist and a try assist to Brad Parker. In the day’s other NRL game, the Panthers moved into the eight with a nervy 28-14 win over Wests Tigers at Pepper Stadium.
And in rugby union, there have been some interesting developments in the saga around the culling of an Australian team – the club’s Super Rugby licence has been transferred from private owners to the Victorian Rugby Union, a piece of brinksmanship that will make it difficult for the ARU to axe them.
Righto, that’s all from me for today. Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Until next time...
AFL: Adelaide beat Port Adelaide 18.22 (130) to 7.4 (46)
There goes the siren and it’s all over at Adelaide Oval! It’s a record winning margin for the Crows in a Showdown and that’s now five straight wins over the Power for the Crows – the first time they’ve managed to do that in this game’s history.
AFL: Q4 2 mins remaning – Adelaide 18.22 (130) v Port Adelaide 6.4 (40)
Cameron finds Betts and Eddie will have a chance for a fourth. He nails it, to the delight of the crowd, and this is on course to be a record Showdown shellacking.
AFL: Q4 4 mins remaning – Adelaide 17.22 (124) v Port Adelaide 6.4 (40)
They’re not letting up – there’s no mercy in local derbies. Walker rises to pluck the ball out of the night sky and he’ll have a chance to kick a third. He does so, apparently with utter ease.
AFL: Q4 7 mins remaning – Adelaide 15.22 (112) v Port Adelaide 6.4 (40)
Sloane slots another goal for the Crows – his first of the night – and the camera pans over to a sign, held aloft in the stands of Adelaide Oval. “It’s a murder,” it reads. One wonders how confident Crows fans must have been before this match, to bring such a sign into the stadium? Anyway, it turns out that confidence was entirely justified.
AFL: Q4 12 mins remaning – Adelaide 14.21 (105) v Port Adelaide 5.4 (34)
The Crows are playing with Port now, as Tex Walker pretends he’s not going to kick to Betts, despite the latter’s insistence he does so, but then he does find him in the end, only for Betts to disappoint pretty much everyone in the crowd with a poor kick. Despite his brilliance, he’s only booted three goals from nine shots at goal.
AFL: Q4 15 mins remaning – Adelaide 14.18 (102) v Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
How to stop this Crows side at the moment? Collingwood came might close last weekend, but this has been some way to come back from that draw. Indeed, it feels like the Crows have made a big statement against their local rivals tonight. Goals by Jenkins and Cameron extend their lead further as the clock ticks down.
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AFL: Q4 19 mins remaning – Adelaide 12.18 (90) v Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
Here we go then, the final quarter is under way at the Adelaide Oval. How bad is this shellacking going to get for the Power? And just how good for the Crows? We’re about to find out.
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AFL: end of Q3 – Adelaide 12.18 (90) v Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
Jenkins has time to kick another goal just before the siren sounds at the end of the third quarter and this is now getting ugly for the Power. The Crows lead by 62 (sixty-two) points and the margin is likely to only get even bigger in the final quarter. While we’re waiting for that to happen, please enjoy that Eddie Betts wonder goal from earlier:
Eddie Betts you are a genius!!! Simply miraculous! #AFLCrowsPower pic.twitter.com/CqIGO8TEGy
— AFL (@AFL) August 6, 2017
AFL: Q3 1 min remaining – Adelaide 11.18 (84) v Port Adelaide 4.4 (28)
Charlie Dixon grabs another for the Power before Betts links up well with Cameron before striking a post! The Crows do get another one soon after though when Betts finds Jenkins in acres of space and he slots home without fuss.
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AFL: Q3 8 mins remaining – Adelaide 10.17 (77) v Port Adelaide 3.3 (21)
Rory Laird and Jared Polec trade goals but the intensity of this game has disappeared since the Crows started to pull away. As a contest, there’s not much left in it.
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Super Rugby: Rebels deal put pressure on ARU
Here’s more on that big story in Australian rugby union:
AFL: Q3 14 mins remaining – Adelaide 9.16 (70) v Port Adelaide 2.3 (15)
The Fox commentators are going nuts for Eddie Betts, with good reason here – he somehow manages to squirm a kick on goal through, from a seemingly impossible angle, to take his tally to three for the night. Soon after, there’s a “runner” on the field, and play is interrupted. No indication of the person’s state of dress, but heres a gratuitous piece on streaking anyway:
AFL: Q3 16 mins remaining – Adelaide 6.15 (51) v Port Adelaide 2.3 (15)
This is in real danger of turning into an absolute blood bath for the Power but, against the run of play, they end the Crows’ run of seven consecutive goals thanks to Robbie Gray. Charlie Cameron, meanwhile, is off the pitch with a serious-looking problem with his arm.
AFL: Q3 19 mins remaining – Adelaide 6.15 (51) v Port Adelaide 1.3 (9)
Much less than the expected 50,000 at the Adelaide Oval today, by the way. The weather might have had something to do with that. Anyway, we’re back underway, and Betts is up and running straight away, kicking his second almost immediately after the restart.
NRL: Penrith Panthers beat Wests Tigers 28-14
All over at Pepper Stadium, where the Panthers put the accelerator down after the half-time break to win by 14 points. There was another try for Watene Zelezniak in the second half, plus tries to Edwards and May, as the Panthers move into the top eight at the end of round 22.
AFL: Richmond beat Hawthorn 13.15 (93) to 9.10 (64)
So, no worries for the Tigers at the MCG, who have despatched with the Hawks quite comfortably and will finish the round in third place on the ladder. Josh Caddy with four goals was impressive. He says: We got the win which at this stage of the year is important. I missed the hard ones, but I got on the end of some easy ones. Hopefully we can finish off the year strongly.”
AFL: half-time – Adelaide 5.15 (45) v Port Adelaide 1.3 (9)
McGovern slices an easy kick on goal wide of the mark after the siren but the Crows still head into the sheds in complete control after a dominant midfield showing so far. The conditions are awful, and the scoreline has been affected by that, but equally, it’s making for plenty of unpredictability and that makes for entertainment.
AFL: Q2 2 mins remaining – Adelaide 5.14 (44) v Port Adelaide 1.3 (9)
The Power finally manage to end their drought, with a behind from Amon, but the scoreline still makes for pretty sorry reading for Port fans as half-time approaches.
AFL: Q2 6 mins remaining – Adelaide 5.13 (43) v Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
Boos ring out among the crowd after Eddie Betts – with a real contender for goal of the season – is thwarted by the umpires, who saw a touch on its way through from an impossible angle.
AFL: Q2 7 mins remaining – Adelaide 5.13 (43) v Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
OK, back to Adelaide, and the Crows have kicked the last five goals in a row to extend their lead and finally begin to assert their dominance.
Super Rugby: Rebels secure future in competition
And some huge news in rugby union: the Melbourne Rebels have confirmed they have transferred their licence from the club’s private owners to the Victorian Rugby Union. That means the ARU cannot buy the club and shut them down, ensuring their future in the competition. Now everything is hanging on the Western Force’s arbitration case with the ARU, which is expected to reach a conclusion this coming week. More to come on this story.
AFL: Q2 11 mins remaining – Adelaide 4.11 (35) v Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
Tex Walker steps up when needed, booting two goals in quick succession as the Crows begin to pull away. In between, it all kicks off with Jackson, Jenkins and Trengove all invloved. The Showdown is firing up!
No love lost between these two sides. #AFLCrowsPower pic.twitter.com/O6O2riAyf2
— AFL (@AFL) August 6, 2017
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AFL: Selwood to have surgery
We interrupt this broadcast with some important news: Geelong star Joel Selwood will undergo surgery on his ankle and not play until the AFL finals. “Selwood will not be available for the remaining three home and away games but is expected to be able to return for the finals series,” the Cats said.
AFL: Q2 17 mins remaining – Adelaide 2.9 (21) v Port Adelaide 1.2 (8)
Back to the Adelaide Oval, where the rain has begun to fall again and the conditions continue to make the game look like an episode of Keystone Cops. Enter Eddie Betts who marks inside 50, his third so far, and kicks the Crows’ second goal of the day.
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AFL: end of Q3 – Richmond 9.10 (64) v Hawthorn 4.8 (32)
There’s a glimmer of hope for the Hawks at the MCG, but it’s faint heading into the final quarter. It would have to take something mighty spectacular for them to turn this one around.
NRL: half-time – Panthers 10-8 Tigers
It’s close at the break at Pepper Stadium in the final NRL match of the week – two tries apiece, with Peachey and Watene Zelezniak going over for the Panthers and Nofoaluma twice for the Tigers so far.
AFL: end of Q1 – Adelaide 1.9 (15) v Port Adelaide 1.1 (7)
There goes the siren and the Crows lead by eight, although it should really be more. They’re dominated in every statistic, apart from goals scored. On that count it’s one each, and for that, the Power are still in this one.
AFL: Q1 2 mins remaining – Adelaide 1.9 (15) v Port Adelaide 1.1 (7)
With another chance to translate their dominance into goals, Adelaide blow it again. They’re now winning the inside 50 count 20-5, yet they lead by just eight points.
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AFL: Q1 4 mins remaining – Adelaide 1.8 (14) v Port Adelaide 1.1 (7)
What a mark by Tex Walker! It’s nearly a no-look effort to pluck Cameron’s kick forward out of the air – he glances back just at the critical moment and, after a shove to the defender’s chest, catches the ball. But he’s off target and again the Crows fail to hammer home their ascendency with a goal.
AFL: Q1 5 mins remaining – Adelaide 1.7 (13) v Port Adelaide 1.1 (7)
Eddie Betts! But even he can’t muster a goal and has to settle for a behind. The weather’s certainly not helping and the wind could well be the reason for the lack of accurate kicking so far.
AFL: Q1 8 mins remaining – Adelaide 1.6 (12) v Port Adelaide 1.1 (7)
Fifteen inside 50s to one, in favour of the Crows, but they haven’t been able to capitalise on those numbers so far.
AFL: Q1 10 mins remaining – Adelaide 1.4 (10) v Port Adelaide 1.0 (6)
Jacobs takes the mark all too easily for Port’s liking and gets the Crows up and running, much to the delight of the majority of the crowd.
AFL: Q1 18 mins remaining – Adelaide 0.3 (3) v Port Adelaide 1.0 (6)
Westhoff boots the first goal of the day, kicking forwards to one one at all, but racing after it himself, getting there first and slotting through the posts! Unconventional, but effective.
AFL: Q1 17 mins remaining – Adelaide 0.3 (3) v Port Adelaide 0.0 (0)
So, it’s first versus fifth today; there have been 42 previous meetings between these two clubs – and it’s 21-21 to date. And with the great leveller of inclement weather, this one couldn’t really be more evenly matched, on paper at least. Of course, the Crows are favourites though, such has been their form this year, but really, anything can happen today.
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AFL: Q1 – Adelaide v Port Adelaide
Some pretty ordinary weather has greeted the players aon the pitch at Adelaide Oval – it’s raining and apparently the wind will kick up even more as the Showdown 43 progresses in the evening. Anyway, it’s the big one, and we’re up and running in Adelaide!
It's a Gray old day in Adelaide ☔️ #AFLCrowsPower pic.twitter.com/ZVCn7imXn3
— AFL (@AFL) August 6, 2017
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Football: Kewell off to losing start
Harry Kewell’s managerial career didn’t get off to the start he wanted as Crawley Town lost 3-1 to Port Vale in England’s League Two overnight. The former Socceroo, who took the reins of the unfashionable outfit before last night’s opening match, spoke to John Davidson before his debut:
AFL: Half-time – Richmond 6.8 (44) v Hawthorn 2.5 (17)
The Tigers are in complete control of this one and are in the sheds 27 points to the good. The Hawks have a lot to do in the second half if they’re to get back into this one. It’s a very long shot.
Triathlon: Gentle wins in Canada
Australia’s Ashleigh Gentle has pulled off a remarkable victory in the World Triathlon Series round in Montreal, dragging herself out of her sick bed to claim her first ever win. This from our friends at AAP:
The 26-year-old Rio Olympian ran away from defending world champion and Commonwealth Games favourite, Bermuda’s Flora Duffy in the 10km run to finish the olympic distance race that started with the 1.5km swim followed by a 40km bike. Gentle finally turned five silvers into a spectacular gold in the greatest moment of her career.
The Gold Coaster, who has already earned early nomination for next year’s Commonwealth Games, arrived into Montreal from her Spanish training base yesterday feeling under the weather and far from convinced she would be able to race.
An emotional Gentle spoke of her last-minute decision to start in the race. “I arrived into Montreal feeling sick and didn’t know whether I would be able to race – I only made my decision this morning, hours before the start,” Gentle said.
Football: Ibrahimović to Melbourne City
Don’t be silly. This is never going to happen. Despite a certain amount of internet buzz earlier today, clearly there’s more chance of Ibra coming to the A-League than Matt Simon securing a move to Paris Saint-Germain to take up a role as Neymar’s foil. All it takes for people to get excited these days, it seems, is for someone to make up a rumour and post in on Twitter. Matt Simon to PSG, anyone?
Football: Saha treads unusual post-career path
What’s that, you say? A footballer with a brain? A player who is doing something ‘a bit different’ post-retirement? Step forward the former Everton and Manchester United striker, Louis Saha, a man with an interesting story to tell.
Tennis: Kokkinakis beaten in maiden ATP Tour final
So close for Thanasi Kokkinakis but a maiden ATP Tour title remains elusive for the moment – the 21-year-old pushed Sam Querrey all the way in Los Cabos, but eventually fell in three sets 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to the American second seed. Nevertheless, his run in Mexico is set to boost his world ranking from 454 to 225 when they’re next published.
AFL: end of Q1 – Richmond 5.4 (34) v Hawthorn 1.5 (10)
The Tigers have raced out of the blocks at the MCG and are up by 24 points against the Hawks as the second quarter starts up, Corey Ellis having booted two of their goals.
AFL: Saint Kilda beat West Coast 15.13 (103) to 14.11 (95)
Down in Melbourne, Saint Kilda have edged a real thriller in the AFL. It could easily have gone the other way, with West Coast chasing victory late on and down by just two points with time running out, but Saints’ Jack Billings kept his cool under intense pressure to ice the victory with just 24 seconds left. A thrilling end to a game that was up for grabs from start to finish, and quite some way for Nick Reiwoldt to celebrate his impending retirement.
NRL: Manly Sea Eagles beat Sydney Roosters 36-18
Well, what a way to bounce back from two disappointing defeats. It’s official, Manly are back and very much in the top four mix once again. What a fantastic performance this second half, albeit against a Roosters side barely recognisable to the one which did so well to build a lead in the first half.
NRL: 80 mins – Sea Eagles 36-18 Roosters
It is a party now! Cherry-Evans puts an, um, cherry on the result after Walker flips the ball out of the back of his hand to Uate, who in turn flings it back inside to DCE, who gleefully accepts the invitation to run in! The conversion is good and that’s that at Lottoland.
NRL: 76 mins – Sea Eagles 30-18 Roosters
This is turning into a party now! No wait, it’s not, Watson impeded Lawrence in the buildup to Winterstein’s “try” and it will be ruled out by the Bunker.
NRL: 74 mins – Sea Eagles 30-18 Roosters
Manly extend their lead to 12 points after Cherry-Evans is held back and the home side opt to take the two points. This one seems to be heading Manly’s way now. They’ve done terrifically well to bounce back.
NRL: 69 mins – Sea Eagles 28-18 Roosters
Bradley Parker’s over, thanks to a lovely soft pass by Trbojevic, and Manly are eight up! Wright grimaces while holding his shoulder before taking the resulting kick, but he doesn’t let the pain put him off and he nails it. Manly by 10 points with 10 minutes to go.
NRL: 67 mins – Sea Eagles 22-18 Roosters
What an effort from Lane and Uate, who hold up Manu and carry him all the way back into the Roosters’ in-goal! The locals love that! And Manly have another set of six here.
NRL: 65 mins – Sea Eagles 22-18 Roosters
Oh dear, this isn’t good for the Roosters – Tupou clearly “does his groin” on a Roosters break, pulling up before meeting Wright head on. And it’s not exactly great news for Manly either as, in making the tackle on a slowing Tupou, Wright seems to do some damage to his shoulder.
NRL: 62 mins – Sea Eagles 22-18 Roosters
Impossible to predict which way this one is going to go now. Since the last score went in it’s been pretty much end to end stuff.
NRL: 58 mins – Sea Eagles 22-18 Roosters
Talk about laying it on the line for your team! Trbojevic dives to collect a Pearce kick through, but in doing so he takes a hefty knee in the ribs from Mitchell! A try-saving moment, for sure, but one he’ll feel in the morning. Nevertheless, he sucks in some air and gets back up again, ready to continue. These men of league are tough, that’s for sure.
NRL: 54 mins – Sea Eagles 22-18 Roosters (Brown)
There it is! Manly take the lead as Brown crashes over with a posse of Roosters players hanging off him. It initially appears he has managed to get the ball down, but it goes upstairs and there’s suddenly some consternation over whether he did. But there’s “insufficient evidence” to prove overturn Matt Cechin’s on-field decision and the try stands! Wright boots firm and true and this game is Manly’s to lose now!
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NRL: 52 mins – Sea Eagles 16-18 Roosters
Parker has a great chance to put Manly into the lead but he can’t quite get control of the ball as it bounces up off his head a couple of times – not too dissimilar to that old Brazilian footballer, Kerlon, and his seal dribble – before hitting the deck.
NRL: 49 mins – Sea Eagles 16-18 Roosters
Blake Ferguson does very well to take a high ball which falls out of the sky with the sun in his eyes, but not too long after, Manly get another set of six thanks to Cherry-Evans, and the home side can press for the lead now.
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NRL: 47 mins – Sea Eagles 16-18 Roosters (Trbojevic)
Trbojevic gets another! And it’s a classic Manly set play that the Roosters simply don’t know how to deal it. Wright adds the kick and it’s a two-point game and nicely poised for an entertaining second half.
A double for Tom Trbojevic!#NRLManlyRoosters 16-18 after 48 minutes. #NRL pic.twitter.com/T4RpKzmiKv
— NRL (@NRL) August 6, 2017
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NRL: 45 mins – Sea Eagles 10-18 Roosters
Mitchell, clearly with confidence running high, attempts a flick pass inside his own in-goal that takes everyone by surprise. It’s suicidal but he’s bailed out by the referee’s whistle. Whatever happened to playing it simple?
AFL: end of Q3 – St Kilda 10.7 (67) v West Coast 10.10 (70)
And as we get back under way in the NRL, the early AFL match has reached the end of the third quarter. And, that three-point Eagles’ lead is STILL a three-point lead, kind of typifying this evenly-matched, thrilling AFL season.
NRL: 40 mins – Sea Eagles 10-18 Roosters
Here we go then, back under way at Lottoland, where the sun is still shining, making writers of blogs who are stuck inside an office pine for the outdoors.
Super Rugby: Crusaders crowned champions
In case you missed it earlier, New Zealand has further stamped its authority on the Super Rugby competition after the Crusaders beat the Lions in Johannesburg, 25-17.
Football: Cahill really, really likes this product
You can just imagine Tim Cahill tapping out this post on his phone without any prompting or influence from the tape-makers. No siree, none at all.
NRL: half-time – Sea Eagles 10-18 Roosters
And that’s that for the first half, which Manly ended as they started – on top. It was just the middle bit that let them down, when an inspired Latrell Mitchell did much to undo the hosts. Still, all to play for in the second half, which is coming up shortly.
NRL: 40 mins – Sea Eagles 10-18 Roosters
And very nearly another for Manly as Cherry-Evans breaks away right at the death, but his final pass is poor and to no one in particular, and the move breaks down. That could have turned this match on its head just before the break.
NRL: 38 mins – Sea Eagles 10-18 Roosters (Trbojevic)
Here we go, just what the Sea Eagles needed before half-time! There’s life in this one yet. It’s all about Winterstein though, who busts through a big hit before offloaded to Trbojevic, and there’s no stopping Turbo Tom as he hares off to celebrate his 50th appearance with a try. The conversion is good and it’s an eight-point game.
NRL: 30 mins – Sea Eagles 4-18 Roosters (Keary)
Another one! Mitchell is again the architect, somehow flipping the ball to Tupou as he tumbled to the floor. Tupou hares off before finding Keary, who does the rest to give the Chooks a healthy-looking lead. The main man of the moment adds the extra two and it’s now a 14-point lead.
NRL: 24 mins – Sea Eagles 4-12 Roosters
Ooh, the Roosters so nearly get in again thanks to some devastatingly quick Mitchell hands, but Tupou eventually runs into a wall out on the left-hand side before Cherry-Evans saves Manly with an out-stretched hand which collects a dangerous kick through. Manly find themselves under the cosh now, with about a quarter of an hour remaining of this first half.
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NRL: 21 mins – Sea Eagles 4-12 Roosters (Mitchell)
Pearce kicks high, but there’s no real chase by the Roosters, and Cherry-Evans takes it, just outside the in-goal. He escapes one tackle but when he comes up against Mitchell, the Roosters player simply strips him of the ball, takes a stride or two forward and touches down! He then adds the extras and the Chooks lead by eight after falling behind early on.
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NRL: 18 mins – Sea Eagles 4-6 Roosters (Tupou)
The Roosters hit back through Tupou who touches down after latching onto a superb pass. He bursts over the line, before running all the way through to touch down under the posts, making Latrell Mitchell’s job with the conversion an easy one.
A blindside bullet from Radley 👏 #NRLManlyRoosters #NRL pic.twitter.com/VLPTZpJ0Sv
— NRL (@NRL) August 6, 2017
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NRL: 13 mins – Sea Eagles 4-0 Roosters
Pearce looks to find something special in a bid to inspire the Roosters, but his attempted grubber really doesn’t come off. That said, the Chooks hold onto the ball and come again with another set of six.
AFL: Half-time – Saint Kilda 7.5 (47) v West Coast 7.8 (50)
There’s still nothing to separate these two at Etihad. Well, that’s not true, there are three points separating these two at the main break, the Eagles still with their beaks just about in front. It’s shaping up nicely.
NRL: 8 mins – Sea Eagles 4-0 Roosters (Wright)
And there it is! A slick, smooth Manly attack sees quick hands deliver the ball to Matthew Wright who goes over in the corner. The conversion is well to the right of the posts and it’s just the four for now.
NRL: 7 mins – Sea Eagles 0-0 Roosters
It’s been all Manly so far and you get the feeling a breakthrough isn’t far away. Their third repeat set of six doesn’t come to anything though, with another grubber coming to nothing.
NRL: 5 mins – Sea Eagles 0-0 Roosters
Manly are on the front foot early on. Taupau manages to rumble closest to the Roosters’ tryline, but not cigar for the big man this time. The Roosters hold firm but Manly get another set straight away, and then another one soon after.
NRL: 2 mins – Sea Eagles 0-0 Roosters
The Sea Eagles were, of course, sitting pretty in third just behind the Roosters two weeks ago. But two weeks in rugby league can be a long time, as someone might have said once, and two defeats – heavy ones at that, conceding a total of 92 points – have seen them tumble to seventh and in danger of dropping out of the eight. Big game, this one today.
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NRL: Sea Eagles 0-0 Roosters
The bell tolls for 2pm at Lottoland and in bright northern beaches of Sydney sunshine, the teams run out onto the pitch. We’re nearly good to go – stay with us as we’ll be focusing on this match for the time being.
Dog surfing: It’s a thing
Apologies, but I’m not massively up on the ins and outs of the world dog surfing championship, but it’s real is currently in play in Pacifica, California. Here’s proof, if you don’t believe me.
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Cricket: Warner hopeful management still like him
Shop steward and sometime explosive batsman David Warner reckons the recent pay dispute, during which he spoke his brains on a regular basis, will not have an adverse affect on any hopes he harbours of captaining Australia in the future. Now the stoush is finally over, Warner will wait and see how his role over the past few months has gone down with in the corridors of power at Cricket Australia, although he’s not too concerned about being forced into a spell on the naughty step. Asked whether that was the case, Warner told Nine Network’s Sports Sunday: “I highly doubt that ... from where I sit I was doing just what I had to do to be in the frontline for all the players.”
Athletics: Gatlin rains on Bolt’s parade
In case you missed it earlier, Usain Bolt bowed out of sprinting at the world championships in London with defeat to Justin Gatlin, not that a third-placed finish did much to dampen his opinion of himself.
“I’ve proved to the world I’m one of the greatest athletes. I don’t think this changes anything. I’ve done my part as an athlete, to uplift the sport and show it’s getting better. I can’t be too disappointed. I did my best. It’s hard to be sad with the energy that the crowd was giving me. They stayed and they shouted and they cheered.”
And to be honest, who can argue with that? This, by Tim Adams, is worth a read:
Meanwhile, Australian long-jump hope Fabrice Lapierre struggled in the final and could not match his Olympic silver of two years ago. He came in 11th in the end, with a disappointing best of 7.93m, as South African Luvo Manyonga claimed gold, a touch over half a metre further down the sand pit.
AFL: end of Q1 St Kilda 3.2 (20) v West Coast 3.5 (23)
So, first up, an update from Etihad where the Saints lead the Eagles by three at the end of the opening quarter. West Coast are, of course, just outside the top eight as of this afternoon, while St Kilda’s finals aspirations are very much still alive – for them today victory would be invaluable to their post-season hopes.
Preamble
Hello and welcome one and all to this, another instalment of Guardian Australia’s sportwatch on what promises to be a fascinating day. Already up and running in the AFL are St Kilda and West Coast (more on that in a tick), with Richmond v Hawthorn later on this afternoon and the big one in the evening – Adelaide v Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in a fixture that has more Adelaides in it than you can shake a stick at. In the NRL, we’ll be focusing on the Manly v Roosters game first up, with the Sea Eagles hoping to steady their ship after two consecutive defeats have left them in seventh spot. The Panthers play the Titans at 4pm AEST. There’s also some UFC going on in Mexico, the small matter of a ridiculous rumour involving Zlatan Ibrahimović and Melbourne City to get to address and the world dog surfing championship, apparently. Strap yourselves in.
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Mike will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s how things went down yesterday:
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