Thank you all for your company this evening. It’s time for me to log off for the night and savour another salvo of Mitchell Starc’s missiles. Remember, you can follow all that action via the link below. I’ll catch you again here soon.
Women’s World Cup 2019: If that wasn’t enough live sport to digest of a Saturday evening, why not gorge yourself some more with a World Cup quarter-final liveblog?
AFL: Port Adelaide 5.11 (41) v 10.6 (66) Western Bulldogs
Yeah, it started raining again during the final quarter so that goal blitz of the third term pretty much settled the contest. For the Bulldogs it means only a second ever win at Adelaide Oval and lifts them one win outside the eight. For Port Adelaide it’s a massive comedown after such a stirring victory over Geelong last time out. Credit to anyone who turned up and sat through two hours of relentless sheeting rain.
FT: @westernbulldogs 10.6 (66) defeat @PAFC 5.11 (41).#AFLPowerDogs pic.twitter.com/xnhSH2a9a1
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Do you own this as well?
AFL: Collingwood 5.7 (28) v 11.15 (81) North Melbourne
Collingwood have finally been put out of their misery on a wretched night at Marvel Stadium. Beaten all over the ground by a resurgent North Melbourne, the Pies lost two players to first-half injuries and now face the prospect of a treacherous month of footy undermanned and out of form. The Kangaroos were not flattered by the scoreboard and the dramatic impact of Rhyce Shaw shows no sign of abating. The Roos are now just a game outside the eight.
What an upset!
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
FT: @NMFCOfficial 11.15 (81) defeat @CollingwoodFC 5.7 (37).#AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/V4nzw6Dhgj
The worst sort is the best sort. Mr Stewart is always welcome at any party of mine.
Back to songs about footballers, this is a belter from 1970.
That, sir, is opening the floodgates (no reference to Adelaide's weather) of the worst sort.
I give you Rockin' Rod and the Scottish World Cup Squad 1978.
Cricket: Never mind the calamities befalling other nations, Australia are in action from 10.30pm in a top-of-the-table clash against New Zealand. Of course there’s a live OBO to chart this trans-Tasman tete-a-tete and Geoff Lemon is already on deck setting the scene.
Cricket: Afghanistan are now 134-5 against Pakistan, which in context means the prospect of England somehow outdoing themselves in terms of World Cup humiliations remains very much on.
AFL: 3QT: Port Adelaide 5.8 (38) v 8.3 (51) Western Bulldogs - Conditions have improved somewhat since half-time which has led to improved ball movement and heavier scoring at Adelaide Oval. The Doggies still have their noses in front though despite Port Adelaide dominating the inside-50 count.
A turnover leads to a nice finish from Jack Macrae!#AFLPowerDogs pic.twitter.com/TDJTipZmkC
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Back to songs about footballers, this is a belter from 1970.
NRL: Eels 22-16 Raiders
Quite the turnaround up in Darwin and it ends with Parramatta sneaking into a playoff spot despite finding themselves down by 16 points after half-an-hour. Canberra looked destined for second spot on the ladder but were unable to respond to a four-try blitz in 29 minutes either side of half-time. It’s the first time the Eels have won consecutive matches since round two. You can imagine the look on Ricky Stuart’s face.
HOLY MOSES 🙌#NRLEelsRaiders 22-16#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/huF4ZFJoUV
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2019
AFL: 3QT: Collingwood 4.4 (28) v 8.14 (62) North Melbourne - This is turning into a filthy night for the Pies. They’ve played listlessly, lost two starters to injury, and now they’re finally being punished on the scoreboard. Geelong look set to end the round with their two-game buffer at the top of the ladder restored.
Step up, skipper!
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Jack Ziebell nails one.#AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/uwBgPPwrni
Tennis: Before the footy forces me to stop getting distracted by Wimbledon, I want to share this entertaining listicle of All England Club curios.
NRL: 64 mins: Eels 18-16 Raiders - Would you believe it? From 0-16 down after half-an-hour, Parramatta have stormed into the lead at TIO Stadium.
FLYING FERGO! ✈️#NRLEelsRaiders Parramatta hits the lead 18-16#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/Q993NTyYae
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2019
Tennis: The women’s singles has also thrown up an amazing draw with the youngest player in the field facing the oldest in the opening round.
Tennis: Wimbledon begins in a matter of hours and it promises to be the most interesting in over a decade for Australian tennis fans with Ash Barty heading to SW19 the no.1 seed in the women’s singles. The French Open champion sat down with Kevin Mitchell recently to share the story of her extraordinary rise to the top.
“The most important thing is all the people around me I trust,” she says. “They are genuine, real human beings. So, besides the tennis, we have relationships off the court first and foremost – and then the tennis comes second. Every single member of my team is like family to me.”
I clicked on that link and immediately made the of noise a satisfied house cat. This is exactly the content I logged on for.
Yay, BTL comments are open - cheers, Jonathan!
Feeling for Jude, who is no doubt freezing, faithfully following her beloved Port boys in that pelting rain...
Loved that mad song celebrating Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. But of course if you want tributes to aussie rules footballers, you can’t go past James Freud and the Reserves...
AFL: More bad news for the Pies. They’re down to two on the bench for the second half.
Brayden Sier won't return in the second half 😩
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 29, 2019
He's out with concussion.#AFLPiesNorth #GoPies pic.twitter.com/rYwlXadN63
AFL: HT: Port Adelaide 2.5 (17) v 5.2 (32) Western Bulldogs - When I picture Adelaide Oval in my mind I see warm South Australian sunlight glinting off the lettering on the Chappell Stand, hazy wide shots of a sleepy cathedral spire, and a batsman - any batsman / all batsmen - accumulating runs in short sleeves. Tonight could not be further from that summertime fantasy. Somewhere amongst the deluge a game of footy is taking place, and the Bulldogs are winning it.
Not a real highlight and no, there's not a problem with the sound here - it's just absolutely pouring down!#AFLPowerDogs pic.twitter.com/llZ6bXS51I
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Cricket: And if riffing on England’s pain is your weekend pick-me-up, Barney Ronay is also in fine form.
What system is being exemplified here? What message would it send out if England were to become world champions? Neglect the grassroots. Retreat from state schools and inner cities. Give up on the poor. Hurl the carved wooden chairs into the fire, gurgle down the last of the claret from the cellar. Enrich yourself, while making the one thing you have to give invisible. And yes, you still get to win the World Cup.
Cricket: If you only do one thing this weekend set aside ten minutes in a comfy chair and luxuriate in this wonderful piece of writing by Geoff Lemon on the glory that is Mitchell Starc dismissing Ben Stokes in the Cricket World Cup.
Starc is long and lean, a figure stretched out like a Quentin Blake drawing. He lopes to the crease before slinging his arm over with what seems complete ease. Often the ball curves through the air. It may not need to pitch, with plenty of Starc full tosses swerving past a groping shot to strike halfway up a stump. In the 2015 World Cup he bowled a dozen batsmen, including New Zealand’s captain to seal the final. The summer afterwards he warmed up with half a dozen matches up in the 50-over domestic competition for 26 wickets, 17 of them bowled.
AFL: HT: Collingwood 3.3 (21) v 4.8 (32) North Melbourne - The Pies still haven’t got their heads properly in this contest but the Roos remain unable to put them to the sword. Despite almost 70% game time in attacking territory and dominating inside-50s 33-16, North Melbourne only have a modest lead at the main break.
🙌🏼🚗❌😞 #AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/DTSeYVYI82
— Michael Willson (@MichaelCWillson) June 29, 2019
NRL: HT: Eels 12-16 Raiders - That was a half of two halves up in Darwin with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jack Wighton, and Sebastian Kris all crossing early to put Canberra on course for second spot on the NRL ladder but tries to Manu Ma’u and Blake Ferguson in the shadow of half-time have set up the second term beautifully.
Jack Wighton powers over 💪#NRLEelsRaiders 12-0#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/jQyyAX1wyq
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2019
Updated
AFL: Bad news for Collingwood.
Ben Reid's night is done.
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) June 29, 2019
Calf injury.#AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/K7LpaLDD4s
AFL: QT: Port Adelaide 1.2 (8) v 3.2 (20) Western Bulldogs
and more – live!
That would be #AFLPowerDogs.
I confess - I have opted for warm, dry and free FTA coverage rather than venture to Adelaide Oval.
The local vet has been gathering two of every animal.
To continue the theme, Port Adelaide could do with Noah stopping by the city of churches to round up a couple of pedigree Bulldogs because the visitors are building a handy lead in the first quarter. The extravagantly talented Marcus Bontempelli needs pairing up at the very least, he already has 12 disposals, ten of them contested, not to mention a game-high four tackles.
Cricket World Cup: If you’re in the Anyone But England camp you can raise a wry smile because Pakistan have just snagged two quick Afghanistan wickets at Headingley. Follow all that in detail here:
AFL: QT: Collingwood 1.3 (9) v 2.7 (19) North Melbourne - Not the start Collingwood fans were hoping for against the Kangaroos but it could have been much worse had North kicked straight in that opening quarter. Ben Brown in particular was guilty of some poor finishing with a ten point margin scant reward for double the Pies’ total of inside-50s.
QT: @NMFCOfficial 2.7 (19) lead @CollingwoodFC 1.3 (9).#AFLPiesNorth pic.twitter.com/l0EUXYDU6D
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
AFL: Q1: 15 mins remaining: Port Adelaide 1.1 (7) v 0.1 (1) Western Bulldogs - And while we’re zipping around the grounds a quick check on the situation at Adelaide Oval where it is absolutely bucketing it down. The rain is so fat in the floodlights it looks like golf balls firing out of a driving range bucket-filling machine. Do not hold your breath for a skills clinic.
NRL: 5 mins: Eels 0-6 Raiders - Our first stopover at TIO Stadium in Darwin is to report an early score for the Raiders. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has already crossed for the Canberrans as they search for the two points that will likely send them second on the NRL ladder.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad posts first points in Darwin! 🔥#NRLEelsRaiders 6-0 to the Green Machine.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/JLY5PNaalo
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2019
Netball: Australia’s Diamonds were farewelled at a lunch in Sydney earlier this week before flying to the UK for the 2019 World Cup.
Meanwhile, arch rivals New Zealand wound up their preparations with a loss to the New Zealand men’s team in the final of a four-team tournament in Auckland. In netball’s version of the battle of the sexes, the men pulled clear in the second half to prevail 66-54, two days after they’d won their first meeting 54-50.
The tournament gave coach Noeline Taurua’s team the tough workout she was after, with the Silver Ferns having success in games against Fiji and a Kiwi All Stars side. The two men’s matches were challenging, against opponents who were bigger and more athletic than the leading women.
Maria Folau landed 40 from 43 shots in what was potentially her last big game on New Zealand soil. Veteran shooter Folau, captain Laura Langman and former skipper Casey Kopua are all likely to retire following next month’s World Cup in Liverpool.
New Zealand and Australia have contested the last five World Cup finals, with the Diamonds winning four of them. However, the Silver Ferns’ recent struggles have dropped them to fourth in the world rankings, behind Australia, Commonwealth Games champions England and Jamaica.
With AAP.
A massive congratulations and thank you to the NZ Men's Invitational team for taking out the Cadbury Netball Series, and providing us the best preparation for the Vitality Netball World Cup 🙌
— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) June 29, 2019
MVP: Maria Folau
📷 @mbphotonz pic.twitter.com/LjL4rXvxgq
Cricket World Cup: The first of the day’s two matches is underway with Pakistan aiming to ramp up the pressure on England when they take on Afghanistan at what is sure to be a partisan Headingley. Follow all the action on the dedicated liveblog right here:
AFL: Collingwood v North Melbourne is underway at Marvel Stadium with the Magpies bidding to keep pace with Geelong at the top of the ladder. The Cats’ hard-fought victory over the Crows last night sent them two games clear in top spot but the Pies can bring that back to one with a result tonight.
Collingwood begin the night level on points with West Coast after the Eagles secured a stunning late victory over Hawthorn at the MCG earlier in the day. The Hawks were ahead for a large chunk of the final quarter but a Jamie Cripps goal with just 69 seconds remaining sealed the deal for the premiers.
Jamie Cripps with the Paul Chapman-esque go-ahead goal! #AFLHawksEagles pic.twitter.com/HkrqNQGdfB
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Super Rugby: Crusaders 30-26 Hurricanes
The Crusaders have done it - again - holding off a spirited fightback from the Hurricanes in a superb exhibition of Super Rugby in Canterbury. The dominant force in Super Rugby are through to their 14th final and will be hot favourites to defend their title on home soil against the Jaguares.
NRL: Knights 26-12 Broncos
The scoreline looks comfortable for the hosts but Newcastle made heavy weather of seeing off Brisbane at McDonald Jones Stadium. An 18-point half-time lead looked to have the game sewn up but a James Gavet sin-binning and a couple of Broncos tries put the game in the balance late on before Mason Lino put the result beyond doubt. A few fisticuffs at the final siren livened up the home crowd as the Knights returned to fifth spot on the ladder. The Broncos remain two wins outside the playoffs.
RAMPAGING RAMIEN! 💪#NRLKnightsBroncos 26-12 - Nine minutes left on the clock ⏰#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/946zuM9VyK
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2019
AFL: Sydney 14.9 (93) v 7.9 (51) Gold Coast
Sydney’s slim finals hopes remain alive after they ground out a victory over Gold Coast at the SCG. After an even opening couple of quarters the Swans broke clear in the third and never looked like relinquishing control.
He's pretty good, Tom Papley!#AFLSwansSuns pic.twitter.com/Lk6kOSsdQE
— AFL (@AFL) June 29, 2019
Super Rugby: 70 mins: Crusaders 27-26 Hurricanes - The second semi-final in this year’s Super Rugby is destined to go down as one of the all-time great club matches. The two Kiwi heavyweights have traded blows all night long in Christchurch, scoring some thrilling tries along the way - and it isn’t over yet. Edge of the seat stuff for the right to host the Jaguares in the decider.
Preamble
Good evening everybody and welcome to Saturday sportwatch.
It’s a feast of footy tonight headlined by the AFL. We’ll wrap up Sydney v Gold Coast shortly before Collingwood take on North Melbourne from 7.25pm and Port Adelaide host Western Bulldogs at 7.40pm.
Over in the NRL we’ll tick off the Knights v Broncos then switch our attention to a pair of finals contenders when the Raiders visit the Eels around 7.35pm.
In amongst all that we’ve got some scintillating Super Rugby semi-final action to get our heads around as well all the latest from the Cricket World Cup, including build-up to Australia v New Zealand at 10.30pm
Then there’s F1, Wimbledon, the FIFA Women’s World Cup and whatever else catches your eye over the course of the night.
If you want to join in please find me on Twitter @JPHowcroft, or drop an email to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com. We are also open for business BTL so get chatting in the comments section and I’ll do my best to keep an eye on what’s going down.
Wondering what to contribute? Well, I encourage links to content like this head-meltingly awesome paean to Essendon cult hero Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti. Is there a genre of songs dedicated to sportspeople we should be mining tonight?
My second confession for the evening. (It's like being a murder suspect confronted by Father Brown. And I am not of the faith).
I own that single.