Summary
A dramatic ending to Sportwatch tonight. They rarely fail to deliver, the Sydney Smashes, and it’s the Sixers who emerge, pretty in pink, against the Thunder.
A blistering start had the Thunder in command, before a run of wickets saw the previously undefeated side pull up a little short total-wise, posting just 149, despite another Ferguson half-century. The Sixers in contrast started slowly, before Dan Hughes and Moises Henriques got things moving. Their respective departures left it all to be done - before enter Tom Curran. 12 off his first three deliveries faced to set up a blockbuster super over finish.
He then turned round and got it done with the ball as well - seeing the Sixers home by just one run, despite Alex Hales late heroics.
A thriller in Sydney. 34,000+ going home happy. Even those in green couldn’t fault that game for drama. And that’s Sportwatch!
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They’ve been in their share of super overs throughout the Big Bash, but they don’t win too many, the Sixers. They have this time though! And it’s a hugely relieved Moises Henriques chatting post-game.
“We almost batted ourselves out of the contest, but thanks to TC (Curran) - five out of six yorkers at the death, that’s why they pay him the big bucks.”
Sydney Sixers win the Sydney Smash in a super over!
It’s the final ball, and Curran jams it in full and wide. Hales gets bat on it and it races away, but he can only get four.
They’ve won it at the death, in a super over - the Sydney Sixers. Take a bow, Tom Curran - he’s done it with the bat, and now he’s done it with the ball!
2/16 beats 0/15. Hales brave with 11* off 3. But the early singles proving too costly.
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Big Bash Super Over: Thunder 0/11 (0.5), Khawaja 4*, Hales 7*
And it is the experienced Usman Khawaja who gets the nod from the Thunder, to open with Hales at the other end. Curran waits at the top of his mark, ball in hand.
First delivery. Khawaja shuffles across and thumps through cover for two. The opener tries the ramp, but they only get one. What can Hales come up with. Curran jams in at the toes - they push for two, but Hales slips, and they only get one! Four off the first three balls. It’s not enough.
Thirteen off three needed.
Blockhole again - and Khawaja can only manage one! It’s two sixes or game over.
And Hales duly delivers the first! Curran gets it up there, but it’s just on the volley, and he crashes it back over the Englishman’s head for six!!
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And while we wait for the deliberations from both sides, how’s this from the late fixture of the W-League:
What a strike, Amy Jackson! 🚀#PERvMVC #WLeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/P72G7GmIeY
— Victory W-League (@victorywleague) December 28, 2019
So - another conference. Who to bowl? Who to bat?
Sixers put up Tom Curran once again. But who will face him? Perhaps the skipper Ferguson puts himself in, with the master-blaster Hales?
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Big Bash Super Over: Sixers 1/16 (1), Henriques 14*, Hughes 1*
Can you believe that! First ball, there’s a feather edge and Curran is gone, caught behind!! In comes Dan Hughes. The most auspicious of starts for the Thunder - and the man who single-handedly got the Sixers back in the contest goes for a duck.
It’s a wide second up, before a single from Hughes. Here’s Henriques - and first ball is a ramp for four! He then gets two. And next ball - it’s a reverse-ramp six!! He catches the back of the bat, and it’s flown for six. Did he mean that?! Almost certainly not. It was Maxwell-esque! Morris shakes his head and offers a wry smile.
The Sixers close it with a wild scamper. Add in overthrows - and they’ve got themselves to 16.
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My, oh my. What a dramatic end to this Sydney Smash! They rarely fail. Now Callum Ferguson has to decide who will bowl the super over. He confers with Usman Khawaja. The bowling coach Shane Bond gathers his quicks to talk tactics.
After 20 overs a piece, it all comes down to these six balls each. Who bats for the Sixers - presumably Curran and Henriques?
It’s Chris Morris with the ball for the Thunder - and Curran and Henriques with the bat for the Sixers.
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Big Bash: Sixers 7/149 (20), Dwarshuis 2*, Curran 35
It’s Tremain with the last over - first ball, and Curran thumps it for six!! They need 10 off five - but the next one is a dot, Curran plays and misses. Good bowling from Tremain who gets it in the blockhole, but they scramble for two, with all the fielders deep. Eight off three needed.
Dwarshuis runs like the wind, they get two again. Then Curran jams out an attempted yorker - and it races to the boundary!!
Two more off the last ball needed.
Curran sweeps it - they race for two, but they don’t make it back!!
Ties are scored. We are going to a super over.
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Big Bash: Sixers 6/134 (19), Dwarshuis 2*, Curran 20*
Curran smashes the first ball to the boundary. Morris slams in an ugly one, Curran gets it on the toe of the bat, and Ferguson climbs for the catch - but it trickles out of the hand! That could have been spectacular. Big let off for the Sixers.
Dwarshuis swings at a few, but he’s not the man the Sixers want on strike at this stage, as he trickles through for one. An LBW appeal on Curran - not out! Morris bowls well at the death, at Curran gets just the one off the last.
Was that the over that wins it for the Thunder? 16 needed to win the Sydney Smash in front of 34,000.
Big Bash: Sixers 6/127 (18), Dwarshuis 1*, Curran 14*
In comes the left-handed Dwarshuis, and he gets off the mark with a single. Good delivery from Sams cramps Curran in the crease, but they scurry for two. It’s a lovely slower ball wide for a crucial dot ball, and then just a single. Great death bowling - just five off it, but the crucial wicket of Henriques as well.
23 from 12 the runs needed now.
Big Bash: Wicket! Sixers 6/122 (17.1), Henriques 44
Henriques looks to go after Sams first ball - but he holes out! It’s a tricky catch in the deep as Ferguson almost loses it in the lights. What a terrific catch in the context - and the skipper goes! What a response from the Thunder.
Big Bash: Sixers 5/122 (17), Henriques 41*, Curran 12*
Wicket! Edwards looks to go big, but he holes out in the deep. A fine catch from Chris Green, who picks that one out of the lines. Edwards goes for 17. Did the batsmen cross? The umpires say no, and send Henriques to the non-strikers end.
Morris lobs a floater outside off and Curran crashes that for four. Then he clips it off his toes for four! A touch of inside edge - that’s very hard on the bowler. And then he smashes him through cover! 12 off three balls - has Tom Curran just turned this contest?!
28 off 18 the equation now.
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Big Bash: Sixers 4/108 (16), Henriques 40*, Edwards 17*
Henriques looks to go after Cook, but he can’t get hold of him cleanly. A big miss off a full toss, before a brace of dot balls late in the over.
He finishes with figures of 1/18 off four, Cook. Throw in that first over wicket and that’s a terrific contribution from the spinner.
The equation moves to 41 off 24. They need a big over here, the Sixers.
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Big Bash: Sixers 4/104 (15), Henriques 36*, Edwards 16*
So, WinViz had the Thunder at 60% likely winners - I’m not sure it’s that clear cut, especially with Henriques still lurking with intent.
Edwards slashes one through cover for four, but it’s singles everywhere else. The skipper tries the lap-shot on the last ball, but he retains the strike.
Big Bash: Sixers 4/89 (13), Henriques 31*, Edwards 6*
Let’s stay with the Sydney Smash now for the remainder of Sportwatch, as we get to the business end of this one.
This is some scratchy stuff from the Sixers, as Henriques calls the tactical timeout with his young colleague, Edwards.
61 off 42 is the equation. Still very gettable, but you’d imagine if the Thunder can get Henriques this could get very interesting, very quickly.
Big Bash: Wicket! Sixers 4/72 (10), Henriques 21*, Silk 2
And could that be decisive?! That’s terrific fielding from Green - Silk hits it nicely looking to roll for two, but the fielder flies in from the rope and hits the stumps clean - and he’s run out!
The skipper’s still there, but Dan Hughes’ nothing play against the spinner has turned this contest right around.
They only need about 80 off the final ten overs - it’s still very gettable, but not if the wickets keep falling!
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Big Bash: Sixers 2/57 (8), Hughes 36*, Henriques 10*
Morris picks up the opener Philippe for what feels a sluggish 11 off 17, bringing the skipper to the crease. Dan Hughes at the other end looking very tidy though - no sixes but six fours as he strikes at over 150. It’s been a controlled innings so far - can he be the man for the Sixers?
A-League: Newcastle Jets 1-1 Brisbane Roar
90 + 5 min: Jay O’Shea twists and turns and works a cross into the box - but it’s headed over.
Thurgate again sprints clear - he’s one-on-one, but this time Young makes up the ground and gets there first.
There’s the whistle, and in a game both sides desperately needed to win, neither has.
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A-League - 90 + 3 min: And now at the other end, it’s Moss saving from the former Jet O’Donovan.
It was a tepid encounter early on, but this has really come alive - what a dramatic last 5-10 minutes we’ve seen!
Brisbane with back-to-back corners, can they capitalise here?
A-League - 89 min: This is great pressure from Newcastle. Petratos wins a corner after superb energy. Miller recycles a ball back into the box and Ben Kantarovski rises highest - he fires a header goalwards.. but the giant paw of Young keeps it out! That’s a superb save from the Brisbane ‘keeper!
A-League - Goal! Newcastle Jets 1-1 Brisbane Roar (Inman)
87 min: And right on cue, that’s a belter from Brisbane! He swivels on the edge of the box, Brad Inman, and swings the right boot through it sweetly, and that fires past Moss and down off the crossbar. They’re back level - we’ve got a blockbuster finish in Newcastle all of a sudden!
Brad Inman, take a bow! 😍
— FOX Sports Football (@FOXFOOTBALL) December 28, 2019
Brisbane Roar have a late equaliser, and what a way to do it!#NEWvBRI
LIVE: https://t.co/R8cJvsoG2U pic.twitter.com/7b2WoypdGM
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A-League - 86 min: Matt Miller does well in defence as Inman again looked the X-factor for the Roar. They have to be careful not to drop too deep and invite Brisbane back into the contest.
Big Bash: Sixers 1/22 (4), Philippe 9*, Hughes 13*
It’s hardly the blistering start we saw from the Thunder, but it’s steady enough stuff from the Sixers after that disappointing first over. Hughes finds the boundary off Tremain and looks to be the one to make things happening here for the cross-town rivals.
A-League - 79 min: It’s an error at the back and Thurgate is clean through one-on-one with the Roar ‘keeper Young. Who saves! It’s a strong hand from the experienced custodian, but you have to say the youngster’s butchered that. They should have clinched it there, the Jets!
A-League - 73 min: And finally, the face on the bench everyone was expecting, as former fan favourite, Roy “the boy” O’Donovan comes on for Brisbane Roar.
A few boos from the crowd, Amadi-Holloway trots to the sideline. Didn’t he write some chapters in the famous blue and red of Newcastle, the well-travelled Irishman. The home fans will be hoping he doesn’t have another narrative handy today.
Big Bash: Wicket! Sixers 1/2 (1), Kerr 0, Philippe 1*
A dream first over from Jono Cook who dismisses the opener Kerr for a duck, after three consecutive dot balls. As run chases go, it’s not the most auspicious of starts for the Sixers, but there’s still plenty of balls to face and not an insurmountable total to run down.
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A-League - 68 min: Topor-Stanley with a key near-post intervention after second-half substitute Inman does well down the left. Amadi-Holloway can’t quite find the finish, but credit the experienced defender there.
A-League - 60 min: The onus is on the Roar to make the running, but they have to be careful not to leave themselves overcommitted and exposed on the counter.
They’ve grown into the game, Newcastle. To the delight of their home fans no doubt.
A-League - 53 min: We’re back on in Newcastle, where Petratos has flashed a dangerous effort past the post. A bit of niggle creeping into the contest as the home fans get frustrated by some shirt pull fouls.
Roar have lost their captain Aldred to injury, which doesn’t help their plight. The youngster Izaack Powell comes on.
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Big Bash - End of Innings: Thunder 8/149 (20), Ferguson 52, Nair 11*
Ferguson smashes one over the rope, first ball from Abbott - and that brings up his personal milestone of 50. A few singles before Ferguson is caught! But it’s a no ball! At least he’s off strike from a Sixers perspective. Nair is caught on the rope - but its the free hit. An almost comedic finish as Nair ramps back over the ‘keeper for four, before he completely misses the last ball and runs out his captain!
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And if you’re a Roar fan feeling a little down and out, spare a thought for Chesterfield over in the UK. They’ve just recorded their lowest home attendance since 1936 and are staring down the barrel of ANOTHER relegation. Oh mis días.
A-League: Newcastle Jets 1-0 Brisbane Roar - half-time
45 min: There’s the whistle. It’s not been the best we’ve seen from the Jets this season, but they hold the all-important lead in this battle of the cellar dwellers. Three points will see the Jets jump above both the Roar and the Mariners, but if it stays like this a sixth loss in ten games could really put Brisbane in all sorts of trouble, at the turning point of the season.
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Big Bash: 6/114 (16), Ferguson 30*, Sams 0*
That’s the end of a terrific spell from Lloyd Pope - the ginger-haired spinner finishes with 3/23 off 4, including 10 dot balls. Take that bad ball to Ross that flew for six away and he’d be stoked with those figures.
Gilks for a duck, Morris for one and Green for one. He’s really ripped through the Thunder middle order. Big few overs for the skipper Ferguson - can he salvage this innings?
A-League - 42 min: A big few minutes in the scene of Newcastle’s season - they need to hold on here and go into the sheds ahead.
The Roar skipper Tom Aldred rises well to a setpiece, and they’ve only just scrambled, the Jets! A nervy moment there.
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Big Bash: Wicket! Thunder 4/110 (14.2), Ross 26, Ferguson 28*
Ross picks the slower ball from Curran and whack - that flies over the rope! That’s the 50 partnership between these two - they’ve done the steady work, now to accelerate.
Ross looks to go big again, but he’s got that one horribly wrong. It’s a fine catch straight down the ground by Sean Abbott - and the English quick Curran gets the last laugh!
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A-League: Goal! Newcastle Jets 1-0 Brisbane Roar (Petratos)
32 min: It’s a basic play, and the Roar have been badly caught out! A long ball to the far post where Hoffman had ghosted in. Young saved his initial shot but he could do nothing about the follow-up from Petratos! He haunts his former club, once again!
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A-League - 30 min: The Jets just threatening to come into this contest, as Thurgate tries to weave his way through a crowded Roar penalty area. With their back five Brisbane are a tough side to break down early on - and given the stakes in this one, it’s unsurprisingly defences on top across the first half hour.
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Big Bash: Thunder 3/85 (12), Ferguson 19*, Ross 16*
They go nearly 50 balls without reaching the rope, but it’s a strong ending to that Pope over. Ross with a towering six to make it 14 off it.
One of these two needs to go, and needs to go soon, if Thunder are going to put on a game-commanding lead.
And a lovely yearender from Suzanne Wrack on a momentous year in women’s sport. Some terrific pics here, and from an Australian and WAFL perspective, great to see our very own Tayla Harris feature:
A-League - 16 min: It’s the visitors Brisbane still on the front foot in Newcastle, dominating the possession and territory early on. They’ve had over two-thirds of both so far - Robbie Fowler will be impressed, but he’d dearly love them to be on top on the scoreboard as well.
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And some NBL action for y’all - where there’s been a big message fired in the top-of-the-table clash:
Perth have overcome a fourth-quarter blitz from Casper Ware to claim a dramatic 98-85 victory over Sydney in their top-of-the-table NBL blockbuster.
The Kings were down by five points entering the final quarter on Saturday evening when Ware erupted with four long-range bombs to steal the lead.
However, Wildcats star Bryce Cotton, who scored a season-high 34 points, showed nerves of steel to produce some timely buckets and ice the win.
Ware, who also hit a season-high 33 points, and Cotton traded clutch shots in an electric final period for the 11,569 Qudos Bank Arena crowd.
Big Bash: Thunder 3/60 (9), Ferguson 8*, Ross 1*
Gilks goes very cheaply off the spinner Pope, and suddenly the run rate has really slowed down here. A big knock needed from the skipper Ferguson - he calls a “tactical time out”, after his side went from 0/48 to 3/54 in quick succession.
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A-League - 10 min: A first glimpse at Brisbane’s youngster Mirza Muratovic who makes his A-League debut for the Roar today - relegating the hugely experienced Roy O’Donovan to the bench. He twists and turns well and fashions a shot, but it’s well saved by Glen Moss between the sticks.
Some news for our yachting aficionados here on Sportwatch:
Defending Sydney to Hobart handicap winner Alive has crossed the line behind the five supermaxis as the race for overall honours heats up.
The 66-foot boat finished about 2.15pm on Saturday, around seven hours after Comanche won line honours for the third time.
While the vast majority of the 154 remaining fleet was still at sea, Alive on Saturday evening was second on the leaderboard in the race for the Tattersall Cup, the prize awarded to the leading overall boat.
But her corrected time might be beaten by NSW yacht Ichi Ban, which is slated to finish before midnight along with about 13 other boats.
Matt Allen, skipper of Ichi Ban - the 2017 Tattersall Cup winner which came fifth last year - told AAP prior to the race it was a tough field.“There’s about 15 really good 50-footers and so you’ve got to beat that whole pack to have any chance of winning this race,” he said.
A-League - 5 min: Brisbane with some early sustained pressure as they win back-to-back corners. Gillesphey rises, but he can’t get a clean header at it. Newcastle block successive shots before looking to counter through Angus Thurgate.
Big Bash: Wicket! Thunder 2/50 (6.1), Hales 32*
And that’s two on the spin - it’s the first ball of Curran’s second over that does the damage, as Hales flicks one aimless straight down the throat of Edwards. With two new batsmen at the crease could this be a crucial lull in momentum for the Thunder? That bright start has evaporated very quickly.
A-League - kick off!
1 min: And we’re underway in Newcastle: 11th hosting 10th. An absolutely crucial game in the respective seasons of the Jets and the Roar.
Big Bash: Wicket! Thunder 1/48 (5.1), Khawaja 16
First ball post-powerplay and what a key wicket that could be! The left-hander goes, and the competition’s golden hat wearer strikes! In comes the in-form Callum Ferguson - no doubt still fuming from the smoke-effected draw last weekend. They’re not out of the woods by any means, the Sixers, but this could be a key over in proceedings.
And here’s your A-League starting line ups, where Roar coach Robbie Fowler has made some pretty huge selection calls.
Here’s the home side, Newcastle:
Team = named. Pat Langlois retains his spot in the XI, Bobby Burns earns his first. Kick-off an hour away #NEWvBRI #ALeague #MadeOfNewcastle pic.twitter.com/hRtuEZAcXZ
— NEWCASTLE JETS FC ✈️ (@NewcastleJetsFC) December 28, 2019
And here’s that new-look Brisbane XI:
It's an @ALeague debut for Young Roar striker Mirza Muratovic & a long-awaited return for @hingert19 tonight in Newcastle!#RoarAsOne #NEWvBRI pic.twitter.com/ktzEeZ3XT3
— Brisbane Roar (@brisbaneroar) December 28, 2019
Big Bash: Thunder 0/40 (4), Hales 29*, Khawaja 10*
Khawaja with a huge hoick over the boundary to join the early explosion from his opening partner. Five fours and a six from Alex Hales to put the bowlers Ben Dwarshuis and Jackson Bird under some heat.
Tom Curran to come in and try and stem the bleeding - it’s a steady opening here for the Thunder.
And here’s the wrap on a thrilling day three from the Boxing Day Test - on another day on which Pat Cummins reminded the world why he’s the top-rated quick in world cricket:
Now, we are underway in Sydney in the Big Bash, where the Thunder have won the toss and elected to bat first in the Sixers-Thunders showdown.
I’ll have the updates from that one as soon as they unfold. And, there will be more A-League action as it’s 11th hosting 10th in the battle of the cellar dwellers. Huge game for Newcastle Jets and Brisbane Roar.
A-League: Western United 1-3 Wellington Phoenix
90 + 5 min: And there is the final whistle. It’s emphatic in the end for the visitors, who pick up a rare win in Victoria and regain their position in the A-League’s top six.
Well worth it for their three points, the Phoenix - can they kick on and ruffle some feathers up the competition’s leaderboard?
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VAR - no goal! Western United 1-3 Wellington
90 + 5 min: Ugh. And the video men have ruled it out. Gary Hooper started his run from about 3mm offside, allegedly. We’ll never really know because it’s an imprecise science. And a very good goal has been chalked off.
Hasn’t it improved football? Got to love VAR.
Goal! Western United 1-4 Wellington Phoenix (Hooper)
90 + 4 min: And there is more late goal drama - but it’s the visitors again! It’s a seemingly harmless long ball, but Hooper doesn’t give up on it. Kurto comes but doesn’t claim, and it’s a terrific header from the former Premier League star.
Goal! Western United 1-3 Wellington Phoenix (Diamanti)
90 min: No mistake from the veteran Italian Alessandro Diamanti who lashes home an unstoppable effort. Marinovic guesses the right way, but he can’t get a hand on the ball as it nestles into the bottom right-hand corner.
And is there a lifeline, however remote, for the home side?
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88 min: Penalty! And just as they would have been thinking about a clean sheet it’s a brain explosion from the skipper Steven Taylor who outstretches a hand along the ground and gives away the most obvious of penalties! Entirely needless, you’d have to say - Marinovic was every chance to save the shot!
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84 min: Heavy clatter between Durante and Ball, and the former Nix captain gets into a heated war of words with the new Phoenix coach.
They never worked together in Durante’s 11 seasons with the clubs, but some real feeling there. Frustration perhaps on the legendary Wellington captain’s part.
Goal! Western United 0-3 Wellington Phoenix (Davila)
80 min: And there’s the coup de grâce from the visitors. The points well and truly secured and their prodigious Mexican, Ulises Davila finishes his eighth of the season. Calmly done, and that’s good night to the side from Melbourne’s West, playing in Western Victoria.
76 min: A fresh headache for the homeside - on comes Phoenix’s marquee signing, Gary Hooper, who is still seeking to build match fitness after a late arrival and ankle injury. If they can get some regular minutes into the prolific former Norwich and Celtic man they could be a real threat come the end of the season, Wellington.
72 min: Burgess looks to pull the trigger for Western, but he loops his effort harmlessly wide. They haven’t created anything of note for Berisha up front, and with midfielders blazing away from deeper it’s not likely to test a keeper of Marinovic’s quality.
68 min: Dario Jertec goes in the book and it’s a fair freekick opportunity for the Nix, perhaps a little too far out for the shot.
They play short and look to Arsenal their way through a tight defence, and it nearly ends with an opportunity at the back post for Liberato Cacace.
63 min: A sumptuous freekick delivery from Diamanti - he finds Pierias at the far post with a looping ball, but the youngster completely fluffs his lines. They’re cutting deflated figures on the Western United bench, after a 10-15 minute patch in which they thought they’d draw level - only to go further behind.
60 min: Concern here for Western United’s centre back Aaron Calver - they’ve already lost fellow CB Brendan Hamill to a suspected serious knee injury, let’s hope this isn’t a big setback for the young defender. He hobbles to the side line, and it sees Dario Jertec come on, and a possible formation shuffle for Rudan’s side.
Goal! Western United 0-2 Wellington (McCowatt)
55 min: Hello! And having weathered a patch of pressure, it’s the Nix who have hit against the run of play. How often do you see that in football? It’s terrific work from Reno Piscopo who feeds the young Kiwi star Callum McCowatt, who swivels well and fires a shot across Filip Kurto. What a sucker punch!
53 min: Devlin and Diamanti continue their scrap in midfield. That’s exactly why you want players with the vast experience of the Italian in the league - what an experience for a talented young Australian midfielder like Cameron Devlin to test his skills against the 17-cap Azzurri?
48 min: Ooh, that’s another terrific intervention from the All Whites No 1 - he denied Dylan Pierias brilliantly to start the first half, now he’s somehow kept out Scott McDonald!
Should the former Socceroo have hit the net there? It was a great back stick opportunity, after fine work down the right. This is Western’s best period of the match - can they capitalise?
A-League: Second half! Western United 0-1 Wellington Phoenix
45 min: And we’re back, and it’s the veteran Italian Alessandro Diamanti who flashes an early warning shot goalwards, but can’t quite force a save from New Zealand’s number one Stefan Marinovic.
And speaking of cricket, the day’s play in the trans-Tasman Test has just finished across the state in Melbourne - here’s our Sportwatch comrade Jonathan Howcroft’s take on play:
Interesting developments in the Wagner v Smith battle, which may have some clues for bowlers worldwide, on a day on which Australia remained very much in charge.
Afternoon all! Häid Jõule / Merry Christmas to all you and yours - I trust this finds you well, during this festive season.
Football and cricket are the flavours of the day, so we’ll stay will Western United v Phoenix. A really intriguing game this - they’re on a potentially seven-game unbeaten run, the Nix, and on this showing it’s hard to see where the spark will come from Mark Rudan’s side.
All sorts of rumours continuing to emerge from around the club this week, mind, with talk of both coaching staff and players about to depart. Let’s hope that hasn’t distracted the playing group from their task over a busy period of games.
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A-League: HT: Western United 0-1 Wellington It might be uncomfortably hot in Ballarat, but these two teams are all in and this was a very entertaining half of football. Swift ball movement, clear chances, yellow cards, rash challenges, a drinks break and a Phoenix goal that was thoroughly deserved. Scored by a man called Ball. That’s me out. Richard Parkin, you’re in.
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A-League: GOAL! Western United 0-1 Wellington (Ball, 41’) Well, it was coming. Wellington’s repeated forward moves have caused United some shape issues down back, and some nice work from Dávila sets up Ball directly in front. The Englishman doesn’t miss from there. Advantage the visitors.
A-League: 37 mins: Western United 0-0 Wellington This game has plenty of heat. Now Pain gets a yellow card and deservedly so after cleaning up Ball with a stray leg just outside the box. Dávila can’t do anything with the free-kick, but moments later Wellington go very close as Ball forces a fingertip save from Kurto.
A-League: 30 mins: Western United 0-0 Wellington And it’s time for drinks! I’m all for it in football games. Don’t care if it’s really hot, as it is in Ballarat right now, or -40C in a Russian winter. And upon resumption, as if to prove a point, a refuelled and refreshed Burgess slams a piledriver of a strike hard against the right post from distance. Phoenix keeper was beaten.
A-League: 23 mins: Western United 0-0 Wellington This is getting tasty, and not a little spiteful. Skotadis challenges Ball from behind, raises his arm and collects the Phoenix player square in the back. With meaning. Ball hits the deck, as one might, and there is a break in play while Ball and Skotadis gather their breath, and the gathering throng smoke the peace pipe, take a chill pill and generally chillax. It’s just a game, boys.
How do we end up with ridiculously finicky interpretations of the rules like Georgievski’s penalty last night due to the VAR but it doesn’t intervene in any manner when a bloke straight up elbows another player in the head? That from Skotadis was a red all day! #WUNvWEL
— Rudi (@RudiEdsall) December 28, 2019
Boxing Day Test update: Burns is out, Smith is out, the wickets are falling, the New Zealand fans are finding voice at the MCG ... but the Black Caps, who’ll possibly face a few overs tonight, are four-hundred-and-plenty behind and in all sorts.
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A-League: 10 mins: Western United 0-0 Wellington Calver slides into Devlin in the middle of the park and receives the game’s first yellow card. He didn’t miss his former Sydney FC teammate, did Calver. That’s a yellow in anyone’s language. Moments later, Hamill goes down after twisting his left knee. Looked innocuous enough but the Western United man is in some pain. And he’s off, both mentally and physically anguished.
Boxing Day Test update: Labuschagne is out, Smith is in ... and New Zealand are still in all sorts of strife. By all means, pop on over to Jonathan Howcroft’s liveblog.
A-League: 2 mins: Western United 0-0 Wellington An early shot across the Wellington bow from debutant Dylan Pierias, who forces a good save from Marinovic with his solid right-footed strike from just inside the box.
A-League stat attack I: Wellington are undefeated in their last six A-League games (W3, D3), having conceded only one first-half goal in that period.
A-League stat attack II: Western United’s Andrew Durante boasts a passing accuracy of 91.4% this campaign, the second highest of any player to have made at least 200 passes.
A-League teams:
WESTERN UNITED (3-2-2-3): Filip Kurto (GK); Aaron Calver, Andrew Durante, Brendan Hamill; Jerry Skotadis, Max Burgess; Dylan Pierias, Connor Pain; Alessandro Diamanti, Besart Berisha, Scott McDonald. SUBS: Ryan Scott (GK), Valentino Yuel, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Dario Jertec, Jonathon Aspropotamitis, Joshua Cavallo, Kwabena Appiah-Kubi.
WELLINGTON (4-4-2): Stefan Marinovic (GK); Tim Payne, Steven Taylor, Luke DeVere, Liberato Cacace; Reno Piscopo, Cameron Devlin, Matti Steinmann, Callum McCowatt; David Ball, Ulises Davila. SUBS: Oliver Sail (GK), Liam McGing, Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi, Ben Waine, Gary Hooper.
We’re not far off the start of the A-League game between Western United and Wellington. This will be the first time an A-League game has been played in Ballarat, proving there is life on Mars (Stadium).
🔟 minutes until kick-off. #WUFC #WUNvWEL pic.twitter.com/ERSjMyInCV
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) December 28, 2019
Wonderful, wonderful photo essay here on Poppy Starr Olsen, the Newcastle teenager on track to represent Australia at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Do yourself a favour.
The Sydney to Hobart has been, um, sailed and won. Comanche, which looked down and out at lunchtime yesterday, absolutely ‘keeled’ them en route to Tassie to take line honours for the third time. Early leader Scallywag collided with a shark and lost ground - or should that be water? Either way, see below for the lowdown and reaction to the annual blue-water classic.
The Boxing Day Test is an entirely appropriate moniker for this event in 2o19. Australia, batting for the second time as I type, have New Zealand on the ropes and are landing blow after blow after blow. This will be another massive victory for Tim Paine’s men. Now go and see what Jonathan Howcroft is making of events at the MCG. And then hurry on back. I’ve got a story about a shark for you.
Preamble
Best of the afternoon, lovers of sport. God bless pursuits such as chasing leather and whacking/kicking/catching things. How else would we amuse ourselves in this strange period between Christmas and new year? I don’t know about you, but I have trouble remembering what day it is. I had a half-hour debate with one of my sons earlier on regarding this very subject. He was convinced it’s Thursday (still is) but after giving it serious thought, I settled on it being Saturday. All day, as my mother would say. Enough digression. The Boxing Day Test is continuing at the MCG, we have two A-League games today and a Sydney derby in the Big Bash League. Plenty else on too, no doubt. Hang around. It’ll be fun. You can email me or drop me a tweet. Or, if you’d rather not, don’t.
