Summary
So - we might leave it here for Sportwatch tonight; an abridged offering for you because we’ve got simply too much else coming your way tonight!
From the netball World Cup we’ve got Megan Maurice bringing you Australia v South Africa’s first semi-final:
For women’s cricket fans, it’s Ashes action from Taunton:
JP Howcroft is on Western Sydney Wanderers’ stadium relaunch match against Leeds United:
And for our golf connoisseurs, we’ve also just tee-ed off in The Open:
Thanks for your company as always, we’ll play again soon!
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NRL: Canberra Raiders 20-12 Wests Tigers
They huffed and they puffed, the Tigers - but they just couldn’t quite breach the Raider’s line in a bruising second half. The veteran, and skipper, Jarrod Croker with a possible try-saver late on to save his side - after Ricky Stuart’s men muscled it out for sixty minutes.
“Wasn’t our best performance, but our scramble got us there,” Croker said post-game. Is that the Tigers’ season over? Would be a shame to see the end of stars like Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah.
“There’s no next week if you don’t win this week,” said a deflated Benji post-game.
AFL: GWS Giants 19.8 (122) defeat Collingwood 11.9 (75)
They’ve done it easily in the end - but what a statement from the Giants! They’ve not only beaten the team second on the ladder, they’ve hammered them.
Jeremy Cameron’s finished with six, Harry Himmelberg’s kicked four, while Findlayson’s put the boots back in the bag after that first quarter spree, adding just a solitary behind for 3.1.
Brodie Grundy was immense for the Pies - they tried to double mark him in the ruck, and the big man’s still managed 48 hitouts, 31 touches and a goal. Nine tackles and four marks. What a shift.
Plenty of willing workers in black and white, but they just couldn’t handle the Giants front line. A big, big result - and one that could have some ramifications on percentage, come finals spots.
NRL - 60’ gone: Canberra Raiders 20-12 Wests Tigers
It’s a real war of attrition here. Benji Marshall is trying to spark his troops, there’s some very tired bodies out there on both sides. We’ve had no score from either side for over 20 minutes - the Raiders haven’t added to their tally since about the 20th minute when Rapana crossed, and it’s Wests with momentum. Can they bring it home though?
AFL - three-quarter-time: GWS Giants 13.5 (83) lead Collingwood 7.7 (49)
They like kicking towards this end, don’t they, the Giants? Eight in the first quarter, now four in this quarter. The Pies have edged it back a little - 4.5 plays 4.3 - but they’re running desperately out of time, having technically won the last two stanzas.
We talked about the “Jeremy show” of Cameron and Findlayson, but in the stripes of Collingwood Jeremy Howe has just joined the party. We’ll wait and see if I can find a nice gif for you - but that was an absolute humdinger of a mark from the Pies defender! Mark of the year? We’ll see.
NRL - half-time: Canberra Raiders 20-6 Wests Tigers
They’ve dominated in almost every statistical category, the Mean Machine. Some real Ricky-ball in action, just doing the simple things right and grinding their opponents down through their consistency.
Some sprinklings of sparkle-dust along the way though, like this from Aidan Sezer:
Superb pass 👌#NRLRaidersTigers#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/o5RIREUsfk
— NRL (@NRL) July 20, 2019
Football: Western Sydney Wanderers v Leeds United
And our man with the plan, JP Howcroft, is keeping a close eye on Western Sydney Wanderers official return to their former fortress at Parramatta - after three years in the wilderness, as eponymous Wanderers.
Their opponents aren’t to shabby - a little club called Leeds United, with the one, the only, Marcelo Bielsa at the helm.
Follow every kick of that one, here:
NRL - 15’ gone: Canberra 12-0 Wests Tigers
A bright start for the Raiders who have started with a point-a-minute opening with Dunamis Lui and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad crossing for tries.
That’s right. Dunamis and Charnze. Forget Thelma and Louise or Milo and Otis. Now here’s a duo.
How good is this bloke ✨#NRLRaidersTigers#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/CCk5CPB1Ow
— NRL (@NRL) July 20, 2019
AFL - half-time: GWS Giants 9.2 (56) lead Collingwood 3.2 (20)
How do you follow up an 8.2 opening quarter? Well, apparently, if you’re the Giants, it’s by going 26 minutes without a score.
Don’t let the scoreline fool you, Collingwood came back into the contest that quarter - they just couldn’t quite make it translate numerically.
They have to be careful not to go into their shells, the Giants. They’re far too far out to try and shut up shop and creep home. Still a fascinating half to come.
We’re not far from kick-off in our second NRL fixture of the afternoon. If you missed the overnight action from the Golf, it’s been a wild few days for Rory McIlroy.
Andy Bull with a lovely write up - how to capture one of the worst rounds of golf you’ll see, followed by one of the best?
When the stars falter, opportunities present for others though - Australia’s Cameron Smith two off the lead, just quietly.
AFL: Greater Western Sydney 8.2 (50) leads Collingwood 1.1 (7)
Ay carumba. You’ve heard of double jeopardy; but this is double Jeremy.
It’s the Cameron and Findlayson show - three goals a piece as the Giants have shrugged off recent indifferent form to send a first-quarter statement in Homebush!
Are we on track for a 200-er?! It’s their third best-ever opening in Giants history. Can they kick on from here? You don’t write off a team sitting second on the ladder, but wowee. They’ll need something special from here, the Pies.
NRL: Sydney Roosters 48-10 Newcastle Knights
Yikes. You can thank old Nostradamus here, who at half-time called this as a potential nail-biter ... (the cheque’s in the mail, I hope, Trent Robinson).
SEVEN second half tries for the Roosters - that Latrell 90m dash really sparked something. Even my boy Mitchy Aubusson got one. Love him.
Latrell with 8/8 from the boot just to really rub the salt in. Poor old Nathan Brown. He’s seen a bit in his young NRL coaching career - but he’ll be scratching his head here. They’d looked so good in the first half, the Knights!
AFL: Carlton 15.9 (99) defeats Gold Coast 11.9 (75)
They huffed and puffed that final quarter, the Suns, but they never got any closer than that three-quarter-time mark of 18 behind.
Four wins in six for Carlton, and back-to-back wins for the first time in over two years! Halcyon days for the long-sufferers - who saw this coming after they started the season 1-10, the Blues.
Kennedy finishing with four goals, McKay 2.2 - eleven different goalscorers for the hosts, perhaps disappointed not to register the 100pts.
Better from the Suns (at least in comparison to their last two outings) - but if they can’t win this one, what can they win? Much to muse over for Stuart Dew and his staff.
AFL: Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood - underway!
So, we’ve had first bounce in our third AFL fixture of the day and it’s first blood Giants, as Finlayson finishes a coast-to-coast move.
Six hosting two, we’ll keep the eyes on this one, it could be the clash of the round (although Bomber fans might have some words on that following Friday night’s showing).
NRL - 60’ gone: Roosters 24-10 Knights
Just as I was threatening to get excited about another possible boilover the Sydney big men have stood up. Latrell Mitchell and the skipper Boyd Cordner both crashing over early in the second half to put some comfort into this scoreline.
One of Taree’s finest with a sucker punch, sometimes it’s fine margins that determine footy matches and Jesse Ramien’s attempted grubber has been punished here by Latrell.
WOW.
— NRL (@NRL) July 20, 2019
Take a bow Latrell 👏#NRLRoostersKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/LTvxkbiA5D
AFL - three-quarter-time: Carlton 13.6 (84) lead Gold Coast 10.6 (66)
Hello! Hand me my Suns six-goal quarter klaxon! That’s been on the shelf for years now (can’t remember why I bought it, really). And it prompt the speculation: surely, not?
We’ve seen the Blues absolutely butcher some games this season (and others), but letting this slip would surely take some beating.
They got to 40+ ahead halfway through the third, Carlton, and it was almost like the rarified air made everyone’s noses bleed. From there the Suns rattled four straight goals - scoring 5/6 of the late action.
Three majors the difference. We’ve got a final quarter for you here!
AFL: Richmond 15.11 (101) defeats Port Adelaide 9.9 (63)
Comfortable in the end, as the Tigers purr their way into some handy form, with finals lurking on the horizon.
Four straight wins for the first time all season, although Tom Lynch might rue missed chances to close in on Jeremy Cameron in the Coleman. He finished with 3.4 having pulled down nine marks. Riewoldt with 3.1, while Prestia and Martin hit 30 disposals.
Some hard workers for Port, with Amon, Broadbent, Boak and Byrne-Jones seeing plenty of it - just not in the right areas. Richmond dominating the contested possessions and looking slick in transition with their handball game.
They stay fifth though, and will wait to see if the Pies, Lions or Eagles slip up.
As mentioned in the Preamble, we’ve got some big-ticket live action later - it’s semi-finals time at the netball World Cup as the Diamonds take on South Africa’s Proteas and hosts England face the Silver Ferns. Also from the UK, we’ve Women’s Ashes where Australiaa are travelling well thanks to, you guessed who, Ellyse Perry.
There’s been plenty written over the years about the remarkable former dual-international phenomenon, but here’s another cracker from Geoff Lemon:
NRL - half-time: Sydney Roosters 6-4 Newcastle Knights
An old fashion low-scorer from the SCG in Sydney. James Tedesco backing up his Origin heroics to open the scoring with seven gone, but then it was defences on top for most of this. The Knights actually edging time with the pill and completing their sets better than their hosts (18/22 v 15/20), so Tautau Moga’s four-pointer just before the break more than fair reward for their efforts.
Let’s see if the Ponga and Pearce show can really ruffle some Chooks after the break.
Too strong 😤#NRLRoostersKnights#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/f11rFp8gGd
— NRL (@NRL) July 20, 2019
AFL - three-quarter-time: Richmond 12.7 (79) lead Port Adelaide 7.7 (49)
They’ve led from the first whistle, the Tigers, but they’ve never been too far away here, Port. No wild oscillations, just Richmond steadily building a brick-wall row by row: 5-2, 3-2, 4-3 the goals by quarter breakdown.
Dusty Martin the touch-leader with 26, with Houli, Prestia and Ellis also lively. Riewoldt and Lynch leading the scoring with three and two goals respectively. Where can a spark come from for Port?
AFL - half-time: Carlton 8.5 (53) lead Gold Coast 4.5 (29)
They’ve been diabolical in recent weeks (Months? Years?) but any hopes the Suns have brought out the guns today appear misplaced.
They kicked two early, the visitors, through MacPherson and Rischitelli as they briefly threatened to fluster the Blues, but their lead didn’t last too long as Setterfield, Kennedy and Lang hit back, with Fisher and O’Brien majors late in the first sending Carlton comfortably on their way.
A lower-scoring second quarter, but they’ve pulled away to a 24-pt half-time lead, Carlton. How often do you get to say that.
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Preamble
Hi all! It’s another cracker-jack Saturday Sportwatch, with plenty on the local scene in the AFL and NRL - five fixtures from the former including the Blues-Suns cellar-dweller special, and three from the latter where there’s a Knights-Roosters top-eight battle (I know!).
Some big ticket items from overseas, where we’ll have live Women’s Ashes from the UK, and just around the corner, the netball World Cup semi-final as Australia takes on South Africa. Megan Maurice will be your point-by-point eyes on that, with Erin Delahunty bringing us an on-the-buzzer match report.
In football, Western Sydney Wanderers open their return to Parra feel-good party times hosting the mercurial Marcelo Bielsa and Leeds United. JP Howcroft will bring you that kick-by-kick.
It’s a big Guardian Aust Sportwatch team for you, so let’s crack on. As always, fire us a tweet or email to get involved, in the interim I’ll get some updates from the early AFL fixtures to you.
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