South Sydney 28-20 Gold Coast
The Gold Coast’s other football team couldn’t complete the double tonight. A stronger second half wasn’t enough to claw the lead from the Rabbitohs and the team from Redfern came out on top. The Rabbitohs are now one of only two undefeated teams in the NRL after three rounds, along with the Melbourne Storm.
The @SSFCRABBITOHS make it 3 from 3 with their win over the @GCTitans!#NRLSouthsTitans#NRL pic.twitter.com/kryngiIVx4
— NRL (@NRL) March 31, 2019
Tennis: These are some pretty incredible stats surrounding Ash Barty’s win at the Miami Open overnight. An absolute star of the game right now, I can only imagine what she’s going to achieve next.
Some great @ashbar96 stats:
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) March 31, 2019
> wins US$1.35 million for @MiamiOpen title
> beat 3 top-10 players to win
> improves win-loss record in 2019 to 18-3
> 5-3 against top 10, 2-0 against top 5 in 2019
> QF or better at five of her past six events
> has won 25 of her last 30 matches pic.twitter.com/zlrSOUqEZQ
If you aren’t all cried out after that emotional AFLW grand final this afternoon, this should draw the final few tears out of your eyes. Also keep an eye out for some great analysis on the match from Kasey Symons tomorrow morning. She has some brilliant insights to share.
WHAT A FEELING 😍😍 #weflyasone #crowsaflw pic.twitter.com/iwROhBDv6A
— Adelaide Crows AFLW (@CrowsAFLW) March 31, 2019
Gold Coast beat Fremantle 7.19 (61) to 8.10 (58)
An emotional win for the Suns at home, managing to hold off the Dockers in a tight final few minutes. Co-captain David Swallow couldn’t wipe the smile from his face after the match. “I’m just happy for everyone involved in the footy club,” he said. “We’ve had our doubters all pre-season, but I’m so glad to get the win.”
FT: SUNS WIN!! A huge last quarter from the boys has seen us come away with a 3-point win over the Dockers.
— Gold Coast Suns (@GoldCoastSUNS) March 31, 2019
☀️61
⚓️58#AFLSunsFreo #ChallengeAccepted
Updated
Central Coast Mariners 0-1 Adelaide United
A goal to Isaias in the 35th minute was all that troubled the scorers in Gosford. The Mariners remain at the bottom of the ladder with four rounds remaining.
FT | @AdelaideUnited claim three points and move into fifth place on the @ALeague ladder. #ALeague #CCMvADL pic.twitter.com/hH8qDwmvbQ
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 31, 2019
Updated
NRL: The Rabbitohs are in control in Sydney, leading the Titans 18-8 at half-time. An exciting try right on the siren makes the score a little more respectable for the Gold Coast team, but they have a mountain of work in front of them in the second half to close the gap.
Intercept!@dalecopley scores just before the break!#NRLSouthsTitans 18-8 at Half-Time. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/rgiDBd1rzm
— NRL (@NRL) March 31, 2019
Speaking of men, one of my favourites wrote a great article on the state of Australian men’s cricket a year on from the ball tampering scandal. This was a really thoughtful piece from Geoff Lemon, who gets to the heart of the issues that have plagued the team and the way they’re moving on.
I also recommend picking up a copy of Geoff’s book Steve Smith’s Men if you haven’t done so already. It’s an incredibly insightful and well-written examination of the downfall of the Australian men’s cricket team.
AFL: Apparently some men are also playing sport today, so time to check in with them I suppose. It’s a tight one on the Gold Coast with the Dockers leading the Suns 7.7 (49) to 4.16 (40) at three-quarter time.
Elsewhere in the sporting world, we had a couple of preseason Super Netball matches in Bendigo today. West Coast Fever beat Queensland Firebirds 76-61 and Melbourne Vixens beat Collingwood Magpies 61-56. Some injury concerns for the Magpies with sisters Madi and Kelsey Browne sidelined during the match - no news yet on how serious those injuries are.
This weekend was also the first time Collingwood shooter Nat Medhurst took the court against her old club, West Coast Fever, playing a huge part in their win over the Western Australians on Saturday.
Full time: Vixens win.
— Melbourne Vixens (@MelbourneVixens) March 31, 2019
Vixens 61 - 56 Magpies.
A great last quarter from the team to get the win over our arch rivals!
Hi and welcome everyone! I’m here to see you through the last couple of hours of Sunday sport. If you’re just catching up, here’s a report on the Super W final to start you off.
That’s all from me for the time being. Thanks for your company today on what’s been another busy afternoon of sport. Over to Megan Maurice to see you through the rest of the day’s action.
AFL: Western Bulldogs 16.10 (106) beat Hawthorn 13.9 (87). What a comeback.
MACRAE!!! 🔥
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
Five straight for the Dogs! pic.twitter.com/gz44WN13Te
NRL: The Bulldogs are biting in both the big footy codes this afternoon. In the NRL a first-half blitz has proven enough for Canterbury-Bankstown to see off the Tigers and register their first two points of the NRL season.
Nearing the end of round three only two sides are now still unbeaten, Melbourne and South Sydney, and the Rabbitohs put that record on the line shortly against Gold Coast.
The @NRL_Bulldogs record the first win of their season against the @WestsTigers! #NRLTigersBulldogs #NRL pic.twitter.com/xwQo2jvlrJ
— NRL (@NRL) March 31, 2019
Updated
AFL: The Western Bulldogs are going to complete the most remarkable fourth-quarter turnaround. From 30 points behind they’re now 18-points ahead!
This is nuts! #AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/NhDgtgf7If
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
AFL: Little between the Suns and Dockers at the main break. Alex Sexton has three of the Suns’ four goals. Nat Fyfe has seen more of the Sherrin than anyone else.
HT: @GoldCoastSUNS 4.8 (32) leads @freodockers 4.5 (29).#AFLSunsFreo pic.twitter.com/lZ7JNjGHSa
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
AFL: Here we go! The Bulldogs have kicked three in a minute, six in a row and that 30-point deficit is now a six-point lead! Four minutes remaining...
AFL: Hawthorn looked in cruise control at the start of the final quarter but with key players struggling on the pine and the Bulldogs roaring this one is still up for grabs with six minutes remaining.
What do we have here... 👀
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) March 31, 2019
Tory Dickson does his dead eye things & we get our third straight. Back to 13 points. Keep going!#AFLHawksDogs #MightyWest
NRL: The Tigers aren’t giving up, reducing the margin to the Bulldogs to 14 with just over ten minutes remaining.
The @WestsTigers are on the comeback!#NRLTigersBulldogs 8-22 with 14 minutes to go. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/CQzfVgDSH1
— NRL (@NRL) March 31, 2019
A-League: A quarter of the way through this somnolent Mariners vs. United encounter and there’s not a whole heap to report. Aiden O’Neill has come as close as anyone to breaking the deadlock, while Ryan Strain has been forced off with a nasty looking injury.
RECAP | @Jmuzza23 and @aidenoneill98 combine but O’Neill’s shot finds the crossbar. best chance of the half so far. 🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL #CCMvADL #CCMFC #ALeague pic.twitter.com/y5tygTWBoR
— Central Coast Mariners (@CCMariners) March 31, 2019
Cricket: Here’s your match report from Junction Oval where James Pattinson inspired Victoria to another Sheffield Shield title. After a difficult summer for Australia’s male cricketers the tide is turning handily with the World Cup and Ashes approaching.
NRL: It was an 18-point margin in favour of the Bulldogs at half-time and it remains that with 20 minutes to go at Campbelltown Stadium but at least the Tigers are on the board.
Through the hands, Fonua is over in the corner! #NRLTigersBulldogs 4-22 after 56 minutes. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/fxBHRmlkUq
— NRL (@NRL) March 31, 2019
Super W: Queensland set grand final date with NSW
Queensland 39-10 Brumbies. An even first half gave way to a one-sided second term to send the Reds into a Super W final against NSW next weekend.
AFL: The Hawks kicked five in a row during a dominant third quarter to establish a handy lead over the Bulldogs.
What a fight back from the boys!
— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) March 31, 2019
A 4-point half time deficit, turned into a 30-point buffer.
One term to finish things off. 👊#TheMightyFighting #AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/y2IPXv7N4h
AFL: The Suns fought back to poke their noses in front of the Dockers at quarter time.
QT: @GoldCoastSUNS 2.4 (16) leads @freodockers 2.3 (15).#AFLSunsFreo pic.twitter.com/QOfVobJSNs
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
Super Rugby: In case you missed the scores from earlier today the Bulls squeezed past the Sharks and the Chiefs edged past the Jaguares.
It’s been a newsworthy round, what with the Sunwolves embarrassing the Waratahs, and another story was added last night with Quade Cooper relishing his return to Suncorp Stadium, leading the Rebels to a 32-13 victory over the Reds. The win puts the Rebels on top of the Australian conference and with Cooper and Will Genia reestablishing their rapport in the halves the Melburnians look as close to competing for silverware as they have in their existence.
AFL: The final match of the day in the AFL has just begun with Fremantle establishing a slender early lead away to Gold Coast.
There was plenty of incident yesterday, most notably defeats to Melbourne and Essendon leaving both clubs winless after two rounds despite both being heavily backed to be among this season’s premiership contenders. Wins for Geelong, Port Adelaide and St Kilda mean that trio are the unlikely pacesetters, a group now an even unlikelier quartet after being joined by Brisbane this afternoon.
Updated
Test opener Marcus Harris man of the match in #SheffieldShield final, the only centurion on a challenging pitch. James Pattinson's match figures of 7 for 71 gave him 26 wickets at 18.92 for the competition at a remarkable strike rate of 34.2. Victoria 4 titles in 5 years, 6 in 10
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) March 31, 2019
A-League: The only A-League match of the day kicks of shortly with Central Coast looking to back-up their F3 Derby victory against Adelaide United.
There was plenty of action yesterday with wins for Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers during prime time but the big story arrived a little later in the day with Perth Glory losing for only the second time all season, at home to Melbourne Victory. It was Victory’s superstar imports who did the business with goals to Ola Toivonen (his being number 5,000 in A-League history) and Keisuke Honda. Following Glory’s regal procession to the premiers plate this result shakes up the competition with the finals just around the corner.
OHHHHHLALA! @OlaToivonen20 scores the #ALeague's 5,000th goal in style! #PERvMVC #ALeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/iARoC17URE
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 30, 2019
Super W: Queensland 20-10 Brumbies. An exchange of penalties sees the Reds defending a ten point advantage with 20 minutes remaining.
The 2019 AFLW season was attended by 226,822 people across 38 matches at an average of 5,969. Total attendance was up 24% on 2018 (+14% on 2017), while average attendance was down 6% (-14% on 2017). IN a nutshell, more people are going, but less are going per game.
— sportsindustry (@footyindustryAU) March 31, 2019
NRL: Tigers 0-18 Bulldogs. It’s not going according to script at Campbelltown Stadium where the winless Bulldogs are leading the unbeaten Tigers. Converted tries to Reimis Smith, Kieran Foran and Dylan Napa have done the damage.
😎 Coast to coast!#proudtobeabulldog pic.twitter.com/XojgUgxjTV
— NRL Bulldogs (@NRL_Bulldogs) March 31, 2019
Updated
Super W: Queensland 17-7 Brumbies. The Reds have given themselves some breathing space early in the second half with Alana Elisaia diving over in the corner after some slick hands from the Queensland backs.
Football: Disappointment overnight for Australia’s Aaron Mooy with his Huddersfield side’s relegation from England’s Premier League confirmed. It remains to be seen what the future holds for the talented midfielder who has more than held his own in elite company. Offers are sure to come during the English summer and he may yet not be forced to ply his trade in The Championship next year.
Cricket: Victoria win the 2018-19 Sheffield Shield
The bold decision to pick a five-man attack paid off for Victoria who triumphed handsomely over NSW by 177 runs to collect their fourth title in five years.
The Blues could only muster 331 runs combined across both innings at a wet Junction Oval with the Vics sealing victory late on day four.
In the context of such dominance by the quick bowlers from both sides Marcus Harris’ 141 on day one will surely earn him man of the match honours and make it hard for Australia’s Test selectors to ignore him for the upcoming Ashes tour.
There it is! Sheffield Shield title number 32! 💪 #ShieldFinal #vicsdoitbetter pic.twitter.com/MZ8iNNYMZZ
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) March 31, 2019
AFL: Half-Time: Western Bulldogs 5.7 (37) lead Hawthorn 5.3 (33)
Good signs at main break.
— Western Bulldogs (@westernbulldogs) March 31, 2019
We'll take a four-point lead into half time. 💪#AFLHawksDogs #MightyWest pic.twitter.com/3gbm2EDKyf
Super W: Half-Time: Queensland 12-7 Brumbies. Despite an even contest around the ground the Reds extended their lead to 12-0 and looked set to take that margin into the break but with the siren imminent Biola Dawa crossed for the Brumbies to earn them a deserved try and set up an enthralling second half.
F1: Sticking with F1, hosting a major event in Bahrain inevitably comes with charges that the sport involved is complicit in sportswashing.
Amnesty International’s Middle East director of campaigns, Samah Hadid, said: “Beneath the glamour of F1, there is a far more sinister side to Bahrain, revealing the country as a deeply repressive state where anyone critical of the government can be jailed merely for posting a tweet.”
F1: Qualifying for the Bahrain grand prix went Ferrari’s way as expected, but pole belongs to Charles Leclerc who laid down a marker to senior teammate Sebastien Vettel. Lewis Hamilton starts in third while Daniel Ricciardo is down in 11th.
Cricket: Just one more dismissal to go for the Vics!
#WICKET | Boland gets his second wicket and Nevill is gone LBW!
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) March 31, 2019
One more to go!
Come on Vics! 😍 #vicsdoitbetter
NRL: The first of two NRL matches today has just begun with Wests Tigers looking to make it three from three at home to the winless Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.
Cricket: NSW 196-8 chasing 387. The end is nigh at Junction Oval. Following more rain Scott Boland cleaned up Trent Copeland to leave Victoria just two wickets away from the Sheffield Shield title.
And because I enjoyed the similarity of shot in the excellent photography, here’s the previous dismissal too, Steve O’Keefe bowled by Chris Tremain.
AFLW: Here’s some more detail on that emotional rollercoaster of an AFLW grand final, complete with record crowds, exceptional football and shattering injuries.
Super W: Queensland 7-0 Brumbies: The hosts have opened the scoring in their Super W knockout final against the Brumbies, Lori Cramer crossing in style after the Reds’ defence held firm under intense pressure.
AFL: QT: Hawthorn 4.2 (26) lead Western Bulldogs 3.4 (22). Breust, Gunston, Roughead and Puopolo all slotted majors for the Hawks but the Bulldogs kept in touch courtesy of six-pointers from Schache, McLean and Dickson.
Apply the pressure, force the turnover, kick a long ball and put it in front of the quick forwards.
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
Hawks football clinic.#AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/tYwIzo2P4F
AFL: Brisbane Lions 16.11 (107) beat North Melbourne 13.9 (87) It was nip and tuck throughout and there was less than a goal in it deep into the final quarter but Brisbane found a little extra when it mattered, kicking clear in the shadow of the final siren for their second win of the season. It means back-to-back defeats to start the year for the Roos.
Tennis: Ash Barty wins Miami Open. Slipping in some overnight news now, and why not, because it features Ash Barty lifting the biggest title of her career at the Miami Open. Her victory at the premier mandatory event will see her ranked ninth in the world on the next WTA rankings and confirm her status as a Grand Slam contender. Women’s tennis is wide open at the moment (all 14 events this season have been won by 14 different players) meaning Barty is right in the mix for the biggest prizes and further ranking gains over the coming months.
Super W: We’re all set for kick-off in the Super W knockout final at Ballymore where Queensland are hosting the Brumbies for the right to take on NSW next weekend in the premiership decider.
Here’s something to whet your appetite, England star Leanne Riley on the growth of women’s rugby union.
You are always going to get some people like that but I focus instead on inspiring people to come and see what we can do. We love what we do. I think those who say negative things about women’s rugby, you will find they often haven’t watched a game. We like to play unpredictable rugby; we want to be exciting and get people on the edge of their seats.
AFL: The second of three AFL matches this afternoon has just got underway with Hawthorn executing some vintage skills to hit the scoreboard early against the Western Bulldogs.
The Hawks are just incredible in transition!#AFLHawksDogs pic.twitter.com/ClhPUx0K1B
— AFL (@AFL) March 31, 2019
Cricket: Victoria have one hand on the Sheffield Shield trophy.* They might have to wait to crack open the VBs though because they’ve gone off for another weather-related break.
#WICKET | Tremain bowls O’Keefe for 1!
— Victorian Cricket Team (@VicStateCricket) March 31, 2019
NSW 7-182
Three to go!! #ShieldFinal #vicsdoitbetter
*But they’ll need at least two to lift it because it’s bloody huge.
Updated
AFL: 3Q-Time: Brisbane 9.10 (64) lead North Melbourne 9.8 (62)
Two of the upwardly mobile sides in this year’s AFL are scrapping hard at Marvel Stadium with little to separate them heading into the final term. Lachie Neale has made an immediate impact at the Lions and is best on ground so far today.
Cricket: NSW 181-6 chasing 387
At a soggy Junction Oval Victoria remain on course to continue their dominance of the Sheffield Shield. On a rain-interrupted fourth day the home side’s second innings didn’t last long, but the target of 387 looked more than enough on a track offering plenty of assistance to seam bowlers and the Vics boasting a near-Test quality pace attack.
At 132-1 the chase was going well for the Blues but breaks for rain and lunch allowed Victoria to snag the vital wicket of Kurtis Patterson (76) and then take wickets at regular intervals.
Adelaide claim second AFLW premiership
AFLW: Adelaide 10.3 (63) defeated Carlton 2.6 (18)
At a packed Adelaide Oval the Crows proved once again they are the dominant force in AFLW. The most impressive side all season obliterated their closest rivals in a one-sided showpiece that was effectively over by quarter-time. The joyous atmosphere was somewhat tempered by a number of injuries throughout the match, including the gut-wrenching sight of Erin Phillips leaving the field on a cart following what looked like serious damage to her knee.
For all the latest on this tune into Geoff Lemon’s dedicated AFLW blog right here:
Preamble
Good afternoon sports fans, I hope you’re all in fine fettle and enjoying another bumper weekend of sport.
Like an episode of Top of The Pops from the 1970s today’s Sportwatch is crammed full of goodies. We’ve got all the overnight action to catch up on, the grand finals of AFLW and the Sheffield Shield which are both in-play, and then a cavalcade of contests to keep you abreast of as the afternoon turns into evening and my keystrokes turn into those of Megan Maurice.
With the overnight action scattered in throughout, a rough agenda of the afternoon looks like this:
- AFLW grand final
- Cricket: Sheffield Shield final day four
- Super W: Reds v Brumbies from 3:00pm
- AFL: Hawks v Bulldogs from 3:20pm
- NRL: Tigers v Bulldogs from 4:05pm
- AFL: Suns v Dockers from 4:40pm
- A-League: CCM v Adelaide from 5:00pm
- NRL: Rabbitohs v Titans from 6:10pm
Most of you must know by now that this is much more fun if I’m not the only voice in the room so please keep me company, either on Twitter - @JPHowcroft- or by email - jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
