Summary
My, what a frenetic few hours that was. And only a taster of what’s going on around the country, including various forms of cricket.
A clear result in the Sheffield Shield where Queensland have rolled Tasmania by 10 wickets, while New South Wales head into a final day nicely poised against Victoria - 1/41 down, chasing 291 despite Nic Maddison’s superb century. Elsewhere, South Australian lead by 314 against Western Australia.
A massive day in the W-League with Canberra United’s win setting up a mouth-watering three-way contest for the final top four spot after Perth Glory’s six-goal thriller in the West sunk the Roar, and Victory’s four-goal derby capitulation.
A fast finish from the reigning premiers Adelaide sent fans home delighted after their comeback to sink the Saints in the AFLW, while Collingwood turned its record around against the Blues.
Brisbane Roar kept their resurgence firing in the A-League against a hugely disappointing Western United, but the story of the day unfolded in South Australia, where the great Korean, Inbee Park overcame blustery final day conditions to hold on and win the LPGA Australian Open by three shots.
Thanks for your company - that’s Sportwatch!
AFLW: Adelaide 6.4 (40) defeat St Kilda 4.3 (27)
And that’s why they call them the championship minutes - what an incredible late surge from the reigning premiers! They led 27-20 about 13 minutes into the final quarter before the Crows took to wing. They’ve had their injury concerns and they had to blood a bunch of youngsters this season already, but they’re on the board now.
No dice for the Saints in their debut year. They’ll have learned a stack from this defeat though. Finally - a grandstand AFLW finish this weekend!
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AFLW - final quarter - 5’ to play: and we’re tied!
It’s a terrific feed into the goalsquare to find the debutant Caitlin Gould - and the former volleyballer marks well, and then smacks home her set shot! And we are level with under five minutes to play!
And with their tails up, it’s the Crows in full flight, all of a sudden. They string the handpasses around the edge of the circle, and then find Madison Newman inside the 50 - and she fires them ahead! For the first time all game, can you believe this!
What were you doing at 36? And after three children? Is the answer: making a professional comeback - seven years after your last official match? Because that’s the equation for “Aussie” Kim Clijsters - who takes to the court once again at the Dubai Open this week. No doubt there will be plenty of fans cheering on the former World No 1. What a dead-set legend.
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AFLW - 3/4 time: Adelaide 3.2 (20) trail St Kilda 4.2 (26)
Well, we’ve been crying out for a tight one this round - so far 11 points is the closest final margin we’ve had, but this one, ladies and gentleman is poised nicely as our nail-biter.
The Crows making plenty of the running, but shooting themselves in the foot with a series of inexplicable 50-metre penalties.
St Kilda led by seven at the first turn, seven at the major break, and now just six at three-quarter-time. Can the premiers pull off a final quarter turnaround though?
Inbee Park wins Australian Open
It was nervy near the death, but in the championship moments the seven-time major winner showed her incredible pedigree. It was ice in the veins on the 17th - here’s the write up from our eyes at the ground courtesy Australian Associated Press:
South Korean great Inbee Park has won the Women’s Australian Open to add to her golfing legend.
The seven-time major winner claimed a three-shot victory, capturing her 20th LPGA Tour title despite a final round of one-over 74 at Royal Adelaide on Sunday.
Park finished at 14-under to win from American Amy Olson (70) while Hannah Green (74) was the best-placed Australian, tied 13th at six-under.
Green stumbled with three early bogeys cruelling her quest to bridge the gap on overnight leader Park.
Former world No 1 Park started Sunday’s final round with a three-shot cushion from her 19-year-old compatriot Ayean Cho.
But Cho’s hopes of catching her esteemed countrywoman were quickly dashed: a birdie at the second hole was followed by three bogeys in the next four holes as she slid from contention.
American Olson tried to put some pressure on Park, firing a three-under round in blustery winds.
“It was a battle out there,” Olson said.
“But I was really pleased with how I struck it. In the wind you’re going to miss greens and I had some really good up-and-downs.”
Only one golfer shot a lower round than Olson on Sunday - American Cristie Kerr carded a four-under 69 and finished eight-under and tied for sixth.
France’s Perrine Delacour (10-under) took outright third with China’s Yu Liu and American Marina Alex the next-best at nine-under.
Australia’s Green headed the locals with world No 8 Minjee Lee finishing four-under and 21-year-old Robyn Choi three-under.
Australia’s Katherine Kirk finished at three over and Karis Davidson endured a torrid five-over final round to end at 11 over.
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W-League: Canberra United 3-1 Adelaide United
And then there were three. W-League aficionados would have looked at this weekend’s fixtures and said it was Roar’s finals spot to lose; Victory with a good shout too. But the green machine from the capital have hung in there, despite a late first-half scare from the Lady Reds.
Almost two-thirds possession and fashioning plenty of chances. Canberra grab a vital three points as both Victory and Roar slip up.
What a way to finish our last home game of the season! 💚 #GoGreen pic.twitter.com/pfIak6N055
— Canberra United (@CanberraUnited) February 16, 2020
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A-League: Western United 0-1 Brisbane Roar
It was a pressure fixture for the two seasons of these respective sides - Brisbane on the ascendent, Western United on a slow slide over recent weeks. With top six spots on the line it was the visitors who got the points - a costly mistake by debutant Imai and a fine finish by the youngster Muratovic today.
“We played really bad. We cannot win games like this, and we definitely did not deserve to win the way we played today.”
A pretty rugged appraisal from skipper for the day, Besart Berisha - they were second best all over the park.
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W-League: Melbourne Victory 0-4 Melbourne City
It’s a bad day at the office for Tash Dowie and her vastly experience Victory colleagues - they’ve been hit by a light-blue coloured cyclone today! The Scotswoman Emslie firing a brace, with Matildas’ Simon and Van Egmond adding salt to the wounds.
The only silver lining for Victory fans is Brisbane’s loss that sees their nearest rivals fail to make ground. But it could make for some nervy weeks to come.
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Golf - Australian Open - Yu implodes as Park eyes title
Oh my. It was Inbee Park feeling the heat as Yu and Olson came home hard, but its the Chinese who has choked spectacularly late on. Two shots dropped while the South Korean navigates the par-5 17th nicely, getting onto the green after two near-perfect approach shots. It’s the Frenchwoman Perrine Delacour now looming late at -10, in third behind Olson at -11, but Park remains -13, two shots clear.
W-League - Goal! Canberra United 2-1 Adelaide (Khamis)
68 min: Hello. Here’s an update, and how important could this news be in the scale of the season? It’s the veteran Leena Khamis - a name almost synonymous with the entire W-League era - who pops up when her club needs her most. Canberra are back in front - and if it stays like this they’ll make huge inroads on their rivals Roar and Victory.
Update: And the points look safe now! Simone Charley with her fifth of the season with a towering far-post header off Thorsnes’ delivery. And the home fans are ecstatic. 3-1!
A-League - Goal! Western United 0-1 Brisbane (Muratovic)
61 min: Call this one a “Latergram” update - while I had eyes on the golf there’s finally been an end to the stalemate in Ballarat.
Robbie Fowler went to the bench after 50 minutes, calling time on the Dylan Wenzel-Halls experiment, replacing him with fellow youngster Mirza Muratovic - with near instantaneous effect.
It was a good pinch from Brad Inman who stole the ball off debutant Tomoki Imai and fed the replacement who finished calmly with a well-struck effort. Game on!
Golf - Australian Open - Inbee Park wobbles late on
Plenty of divergent fortunes on the final round of the LPGA in South Australia. Park’s Korean compatriot Ayean Cho has gone +4 so far with American Marina Alex also posting +3. In contrast it was the aforementioned Yu Liu and Amy Olson coming home with appropriately-moistured sails: -2 and -3 rounds respectively, and they’re the two putting the heat on as Park bogeys the 15th to drop a shot. The gap’s back to two - could we have a grandstand finish in store?
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W-League: Perth Glory 4-2 Brisbane Roar
Well, there was a late, late goal in the west - but alas for Roar fans it wasn’t their team pulling it back to 3-3. Ayesha Norrie with the final word in what is just Perth’s second win of the these. A terrific result for the team that has seemed a shadow of itself post-Sam Kerr. But they’ve caused a major upset here, which could have huge ramifications for the finals run-in.
And we have our finals teams decided in the NBL, where Melbourne United have won the local derby to claim fourth spot ahead of Brisbane, setting up a semi-final stoush with fierce rivals Sydney.
Here’s our eyes at the ground from the Australian Associated Press:
It took until the final game of the regular season but Melbourne United have finally booked their place in the NBL semi-finals with a 109-90 victory over South East Melbourne Phoenix.
United led from start to finish in Sunday’s local derby at Melbourne Arena to record their 15th win of the season, earning fourth spot on percentage ahead of the Brisbane Bullets and New Zealand Breakers.
The result also locks United into a mouth-watering best-of-three semi-final series with the league-leading Sydney Kings, opening on February 29 at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney.
After struggling for consistency for most of the season, United roared home by winning four of the last five games to qualify for their third successive finals campaign.
Brisbane’s play-off hopes rested on the Phoenix upsetting Melbourne after Saturday’s 36-point demolition of Cairns saw them overtake New Zealand in fourth spot.
But United took control of the do-or-die contest from the outset, captain Chris Goulding piling on 15 points in the first quarter, then answering every challenge from the Phoenix to claim the season series 3-1 against the first-year franchise.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 0-3 Melbourne City (Emslie)
50 min: Oh my. The biggest ever derby margin is four goals; could we be on track for something more here today? There’s just so much firepower in this City squad - they may have faltered last season, but Rado Vidosic’s chargers are champing at the bit this year. It’s a near faultless season thus far, and Emslie grabs he second of the match to put an exclamation point on it.
Update: and can you believe it - it is four! And who else, Kyah Simon. They boast nine Matildas in their squad (as well Scottish and Kiwi internationals). Just too strong.
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A-League - 50 min: Oh my - that’s a fair miss from Jay O’Shea - after Brad Inman fires in a terrific cross! The Irish playmaker hasn’t scored a goal in Australia, yet - and he hooks that effort just high and wide of Filip Kurto’s goal. We’re still goalless.
Golf - Australian Open - Inbee Park closes in on win
A lively end to the LPGA Australian Open from Seaton in South Australia, where the Korean Inbee Park was sitting very handsomely, four shots clear with her eye on a very tasty $1.3m purse at -15. It’s tightened up a little since then though, with China’s Yu Liu edging back a shot at -12, and American Amy Olsen grabbing clear third in -11 as all three come home on the back nine. Hannah Green the best of the Australians at -6, with Minjee Lee a touch further back at -4.
W-League - half-time: Canberra 1-1 Adelaide
And we did get a response in the capital, in blustery conditions. Isabel Hodgson with the equaliser right on the stroke of half-time and suddenly that finals race has got very lively again. The home side still in the box-seat, with the veteran 100+ cap Norwegian Elise Thorsnes looking prominent.
In the Melbourne derby it has remained 2-0 to City at the break as well.
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AFLW: Carlton 3.6 (24) lose to Collingwood 6.3 (39)
Well, they huffed and they puffed, the Blues, but its the old rivals, Collingwood, that emerge with the four points. They’re looking a different prospect to the side the languished in the much-maligned conference system last season. Great to see for Pies fans.
Jordan Membrey with a double, and goals to Sarah D’Arcy, Jordyn Allen, Sophie Casey and Aishling Sheridan. Brooke Walker, Lauren Brazzale and she of the golden kick, Tayla Harris, grabbing majors for Carlton.
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W-League - Goal! Perth Glory 3-2 Brisbane Roar (Yallop)
57 min: Here we go! It’s another experienced head - the vastly experienced Tameka Yallop - that’s decided enough is enough for those in orange. Do we have a seven-goal thriller on our hands? There’s still plenty of time to come. 3-0 up 25 minutes in; you hope for Perth fans sake they don’t squander this one.
W-League - Goal! Canberra United 1-0 Adelaide (Hughes)
35 min: And there’s the opener in the capital! With Brisbane struggling and Victory looking on the ropes, could the team from the territory keep their outside finals’ chances alive? They’re on there way now, thanks to Laura Hughes. A nice strike off the left peg has delighted the home fans. Can the Reds fight back?
A-League - 30 min: So still tightly poised in Ballarat, where with half an hour gone we’re still 0-0. The home side Western United enjoying the lion’s share of the possession, but not too many clear cut opportunities, despite a bright first five minutes.
W-League - Goal! Melbourne Victory 0-2 Melbourne City (Emslie)
31 min: With a third of the game gone, is it entirely gone for the hosts? A good little patch for the visitors, whose Matildas have been prominent. Emily van Egmond - the hero for the national team against China - has got another goal, and just minutes later it’s the Scot Claire Emslie who doubles the advantage. They’re chasing shadows at the moment, Victory. They need their old heads to shake things up and get a foothold here.
AFLW - 3/4 time: Carlton 2.4 (16) trails Collingwood 4.3 (27)
We’ve seen some relatively uneven contests this weekend across the AFLW, but could this one offer some last quarter fireworks? Both sides have been buzzing with intent, but it’s the Magpies who have really dominated the marks inside 50, 9-2. Carlton notching almost 2-1 in the tackle count though, so they’re working hard, the Blues.
W-League - half-time: Perth Glory 3-1 Brisbane Roar
Given what’s at stake in this match - specifically Roar’s finals hopes - especially seen in contrast to Perth’s season, which has been a tough one so far, then you’ll be as surprised as I am to know there have been FOUR first-half goals scored by Glory.
Unfortunately one of those has been in the wrong net, with Morgan Aquino the unlucky party to register an own-goal, but they have flown out of the blocks courtesy a thumping 3rd minute header from Morgan Andrews, a clever lob from Crystal Thomas, before the American Andrews made it three from the spot. The og gives a small sliver of hope though.
Massive half for Roar to come, you’d have to say. They cannot afford to drop points here if they’re to play finals.
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There’s an all-Melbourne grudge match ticking over in the AFLW as well: Carlton v Collingwood - these legendary clubs of AFLM. And we’re not far away from the late fixture where the Crows take on the Saints.
We’ve got a feast of football happening in the W-League today - as around the country there are currently three games underway. A shock result trickling in from the West - more on Perth v Brisbane, shortly - while we’ve just kicked off in Canberra where the green machine host the Reds of Adelaide, and in Melbourne: a very tasty Melbourne derby. Yes please.
A-League - Western United v Brisbane Roar - kick-off!
1 min: We’re in Ballarat, where it’s picture perfect conditions for football - what a great stadium this looks.
A very public display of cordiality pre-game between Mark Rudan and Robbie Fowler, who you may recall were not best pals on first impressions. No Scott McDonald today though - the player who Brisbane whisked to freedom after an SOS send from Western United - he has a contract provision precluding him from facing his initial club.
Preamble
It’s a heaped plate on Sunday Sportwatch, with a veritable feast of AFLW and W-League to choose from, as well as a very tasty A-League grudge match between two clubs that have developed quite an animosity despite their tender age (on the part of Western United at least).
There’s women’s golf - maybe some cricket? Who knows! If it’s sport, if it moves, we’ll hunt it.
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