AFL: Melbourne beat Brisbane
Final score: Brisbane Lions 74-100 Melbourne Demons
Victory make Wanderers' finals path more difficult
Final score: Melbourne Victory 3-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Folau injured in Waratahs’ Super Rugby win
The Waratahs have hung on for a 24-17 Super Rugby victory over the Brumbies, doing it on the road without Israel Folau, who went to the bench with a suspected hamstring injury four minutes into the match.
It was concerning news for the Waratahs’ season as well as for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, who was watching in the crowd.
However, a powerhouse two-try performance from Taqele Naiyaravoro sparked Daryl Gibson’s team towards their third win of the season, closing the gap on the Australian conference-leading Melbourne Rebels.
The winger made the most of some sloppy play from the Brumbies right on half-time at GIO Stadium, running down the left wing to ensure the Waratahs were 13-11 after a Bernard Foley conversion.
The Brumbies’ only try for the evening came through Lausii Taliauli as he ran onto a classy chip kick from Hawera.
David Pocock had a quiet night in his first match with the Brumbies since 2016 after recovering from knee surgery following his 12-month sabbatical.
It was also the 100th Super Rugby appearance for Pocock, who took over as captain when Christian Lealiifano was subbed off in the 56th minute.
Injuries mar GWS’s tight AFL win over Pies
Greater Western Sydney claimed an impressive win over Collingwood at the MCG but both clubs are counting the cost of the brutal contest.
Serious injuries to the Magpies’ Tim Broomhead and Giants’ Tom Scully marred the thrilling 16-point Saturday night win in front of 33,941 fans.
Broomhead suffered a broken leg and Scully a suspected fractured ankle in the first quarter, with both stretchered from the ground and taken to the Epworth hospital.
Darcy Moore added to Nathan Buckley’s injury concerns, failing to appear in the second half due to a hamstring strain.
The Pies led by 11 points early in the final term but the Giants finished a gruelling contest strongly to secure a 15.5 (95) to 12.7 (79) win - just their second victory at the ground in the club’s history.
A quick break from the football codes for some surfing news.
Mick Fanning has made a good start to his swan song Rip Curl Pro, while fellow Australian Sally Fitzgibbons suffered an upset in the sudden-death second round.
Three-time Bells winner Fanning beat Sebastian Zietz and Brazilian Jesse Mendes in his opening heat on Saturday to book a place in third round, where he’ll face Zietz again after the Hawaiian went on to dispatch Brazil’s Ian Gouveia.
Fanning’s impending retirement means he’s the top drawcard at Bells beach this year and he was mobbed after his opening-heat win.
“It’s so awesome to have so much support down here at Bells and to have my family and friends around is great,” Fanning said.
“I’m stoked to get through that heat. It definitely wasn’t my best but it will do for now.”
Manly beat Canberra at Brookvale
Manly Sea Eagles 32-16 Canberra Raiders.
This is a big win for Manly after a poor showing last week.
Updated
Brumbies 17-24 Waratahs.
This was the Waratahs only fourth ever win in Canberra.
Updated
Bernard Foley has just scored a penalty and Waratahs are closing in on victory over the Brumbies with two minutes to go.
Brumbies 17-24 Waratahs
Scores update:
NRL: Manly 32-16 Canberra with six minutes to go
A-League: Melbourne Victory 3-1 Wanderers with 23 minutes to go
ALF: Fremantle 52-44 Essendon at half-time
AFL: Brisbane 41-63 Melbourne after 16 minutes of the third quarter
Rugby: Brumbies 17-21 Waratahs with six minutes left
I should point out that it’s 10 plays 10 in the Victory v Wanderers game. Both teams have had a man sent off.
Thomas Deng has just scored an extraordinary bullet of a goal for Melbourne Victory, who now lead Western Sydney 3-1. It is not looking good for Wanderers with 37 minutes to go.
Scores update:
NRL: Manly 28-16 Canberra with 20 minutes to go
A-League: Melbourne Victory 2-1 Wanderers at half-time
ALF: Fremantle 44-37 Essendon after 10 minutes of the second quarter
AFL: Brisbane 21-62 Melbourne after eight minutes of the third quarter
Rugby: Brumbies 14-18 Waratahs after 58 minutes
The Brumbies trailed the Waratahs at half-time in Canberra for the first time since 2005, and are still behind 10 minutes into the second half. They have just narrowed the gap though, and are now just four points behind, 14-18. David Pocock’s long awaited return is not going quite to plan.
Updated
So much AFL today. It’s half-time in the Brisbane v Melbourne game, with the Lions trailing 18-55.
Scores update:
NRL: Manly 26-6 Canberra at half-time
A-League: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Wanderers after 37 minutes
ALF: Fremantle 20-24 Essendon after 15 minutes of the first quarter
Rugby: Brumbies 11-13 Waratahs at half-time
Basketball: Melbourne United win NBL championship
Melbourne United beat Adelaide 36ers 100-82 in game 5 of the grand final to win NBL championship.
Chris Goulding and Casper Ware scored 23 points each helping United win the series 3-2.
Shannon Shorter led the scoring for the 36ers, with 20 points and four rebounds.
Updated
Israel Folau has gone to the bench with a suspected hamstring injury in the Waratahs’ Super Rugby clash with the Brumbies.
He lasted just four minutes in the match at GIO Stadium before being replaced by Alex Newsome.
Scores update:
NRL: Manly 26-6 Canberra after 35 minutes
A-League: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Wanderers after 20 minutes
ALF: Fremantle 14-6 Essendon after four minutes of the first quarter
Rugby: Brumbies 11-6 Waratahs after 33 minutes
A-League: flat Roar scrape past Mariners
Brisbane Roar have kept their A-League finals hopes alive with an uninspiring 1-0 win over Central Coast Mariners.
Henrique’s first goal for the Roar in nearly two years was enough to see them leapfrog Western Sydney Wanderers into the top six – at least for the moment.
It was Roar’s sixth win in their last nine A-League games, continuing a strong run of late-season results for John Aloisi’s side.
Next weekend’s away clash with the Wanderers now looms as a winner-takes-all battle for the one finals berth still up for grabs.
Manly are running away with it in Brookvale, leading the Raiders 24-6 with 12 minutes left in the first half. The Trbojevic brothers, Tom and Jake are playing very well. Presumably they are familiar with the Free song, My Brother Jake.
Some good cricket news after some dark days: Australia have won the women’s T20 tri-series.
I’m glad I said a few minutes ago that Manly had plenty of time to overcome their bad start to the game against the Raiders, because they have. And how.
Manly 18-6 Canberra, with 15 minutes to go in the first half.
Warriors thrash Roosters in NRL upset
The Warriors have trounced the Roosters 30-6 in Sydney.
Warriors’ halfback Shaun Johnson was ruled out with a groin injury, but his replacement, Mason Lino, had a great game.
The Warriors are unbeaten after four rounds and look genuine contenders after six years in the finals wilderness.
For the Roosters, the result was a shock after their win over Newcastle last week.
At least half the crowd of 14,493 at Allianz Stadium seemed to be Warriors supporters.
Manly are having a bad start at Brookvale and are trailing Canberra 0-6 after seven minutes. Plenty to time to go on Sydney’s northern beaches though.
In the basketball, Melbourne are leading Adelaide 79-69 with nine minutes left in the fourth quarter.
Full-time in the A-League after an awful lot of time wasting in added time by the home side. Brisbane Roar 1-0 Central Coast Mariners.
Full-time scores – rugby, NRL and AFL
Scores update:
Rugby: Blues 40-63 Sharks
NRL: Roosters 6-30 Warriors
AFL: Collingwood 12.7 (79)-15.5 (95) GWS
Updated
With two minutes to go in Auckland, the visitors from South Africa are running away with it.
Blues 35-56 Sharks.
There are three minutes to go at the MCG and the Pies are running out of time. The score is: Collingwood 79:89 GWS.
The Roosters are heading for their second loss from four and the Warriors are heading for their fourth straight win. With five minutes to go in Sydney, it’s Roosters 6-30 Warriors.
Scores update:
Rugby: Blues 28-43 Sharks with 15 minutes left
NRL: Roosters 6-26 Warriors with 14 minutes left
A-League: Brisbane 1-0 CCM after 63 minutes
AFL: Collingwood 73-73 GWS with 13 minutes left
The Warriors are continuing to pile the pressure on the Roosters, with a superb try from David Fusitua. Mason Lino converts and the score now is: Roosters 6-26 Warriors.
Updated
It’s 16 minutes into the second half in Auckland and the Blues’ Patrick Tuipulotu and Stephen Perofeta have scored wonderful trys in quick succession, both of which were converted. But the Sharks quickly responded with a try of their own, also converted. What a game at Eden Park.
Blues 28-33 Sharks.
The game at the MCG is proving to be real roller coaster. After a very strong second quarter from the Magpies, GWS are dominating the third. And, just as I typed that, the Pies have scored another goal and narrowed the gap. Collingwood 53-56 GWS.
At the risk of sending many of the readers of this blog elsewhere, our South Africa v Australia cricket Test live blog has just started.
Rugby: Blues 7-26 Sharks at half-time
NRL: Roosters 6-18 Warriors at half-time
A-League: Brisbane 1-0 CCM after 40 minutes
AFL: Collingwood 46-38 GWS in the third quarter
The Warriors continue to inflict more pain on the Roosters. The Kiwis are now leading 18-4, with three minutes to go in the first half.
In the rugby, the Blues are trailing the Sharks 7-16, with 13 minutes to go in the first half.
The Warriors have stretched their lead against the Roosters and are now leading 12-4. There are 13 minutes left in the first half.
Henrique has just scored for Brisbane, so the home side are leading Central Coast 1-0.
John Aloisi looks happy.
Just kidding, he doesn’t.
Collingwood are clawing their way back into the game against GWS. After a goal they are now within five points, 33-38. This is much better from the Pies in the 2nd quarter. It’s half-time at the MCG.
Updated
In the last few minutes Super Rugby, NRL and A-League games have kicked off. And there’s an AFL game already under way. Our various football codes are showing no consideration for the humble live blogger trying to cover them all.
Rugby: Blues 0-3 Sharks
NRL: Roosters 4-6 Warriors
A-League: Brisbane 0-0 CCM
AFL: Collingwood 27-38 GWS
Collingwood have just scored. They now trail by a mere 11 points, 26-37. I was so shocked I spilt tea all over my lovely Hawaiian shirt. Luckily, I made it ages ago, so embarrassment, rather than a burn, has ensued.
Ooh, the Pies fans are NOT happy. They reckon their man made a clean mark. The referee reckons otherwise, and GWS score another goal. The Sydney side now lead 37-20 in the 2nd quarter.
Updated
Collingwood’s Tim Broomhead and Greater Western Sydney’s Tom Scully were stretchered from the MCG in the first quarter with what appear to be serious injuries.
Broomhead looked to suffer a badly broken leg when he attempted to kick a loose ball off the ground but instead smashed his left leg into a goalpost.
Minutes later, Scully was left distressed when his right ankle collapsed underneath him in a strong tackle.
The second quarter has just started at the MCG and the visitors have added to their lead. Collingwood 20-25 GWS Giants.
Updated
Some good news about Australia’s rugby sevens captain, James Stannard. He has been told by surgeons he’ll make a full recovery from the fractured skull he suffered in a one-punch attack.
Sevens coach Andy Friend says Stannard has been cleared to be discharged from Sydney’s St Vincent’s hospital on Saturday.
Updated
Carlton 9.13 (67) - 15.11 (101) Gold Coast
Gold Coast co-captain Tom Lynch kicked a career-best eight goals on as the Suns beat the Blues by 34 points.
The Suns have had a 2-0 start under new coach Stuart Dew.
Carlton saw a lot of the ball but made too many errors.
They kicked the opening two goals of the second half to trail by 13 but Gold Coast held their nerve and kicked clear for a convincing win.
What a packed line-up we have this evening.
Super Rugby: Blues v Sharks (5.35 – Sydney time), Brumbies v Waratahs (7.45)
NRL: Roosters v Warriors (5.30), Manly v Raiders (7.30)
A-League: Brisbane Roar v Central Coast Mariners (5.35), Melbourne Victory v Western Sydney Wanderers (7.50)
AFL: Carlton 9.13 (67) - 15.11 (101) Gold Coast (already finished), Collingwood 20-24 GWS Giants (1st quarter), Brisbane v Melbourne (7.25) Fremantle v Essendon (8.10)
Cricket: South Africa v Australia (7pm)
Basketball: NBL grand final decider (6pm)
I will keep you informed with progress scores in a timely manner.
My previous post has reminded me of the genius of Hank Williams’s I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry.
Preamble
Good evening readers and welcome to the Guardian’s sportwatch on a much too hot Saturday (where I am anyway).
But is anyone paying attention to any sport other than cricket today? I hope so, or I’m going to be lonesome for the next five hours.
Two of the three most read stories on Guardian Australia today are about David Warner’s press conference. If you’re a sport fan, you’ve probably already read it, but just in case, here is our news report.
Updated
