Summary
That is all, folks. BOG goes to John Millman for his come-from-behind heroics to send Australia into the Davis Cup finals. Not far behind were North Melbourne in the AFLW. They are so good they’re scary. And one vote goes to Sydney FC, who proved against Melbourne Victory that you just can’t keep a good team down. You guys were great as always - I’ll try to find a spot in the votes for you next time - and I think I’ll give myself the Encouragement Award. Until next time. Be good.
A-League: Melbourne Victory 1-4 Sydney FC
A scare for Sydney FC after going a goal down but class kicked in as the game wore on and the premiers are now 13 points clear. A bit of controversy late in the game, with Sydney FC’s fourth goal, a penalty, coming after Tim Hoogland was shown a straight red for what looked a 50-50 coming together in the box with Trent Buhagiar. But that incident didn’t go close to deciding this fixture. That’s 15 wins from 18 games this season for Sydney FC. Too big, too strong.
Full-time at @marvelstadiumau 😡#MVCvSYD #ALeague pic.twitter.com/h4uNpRT5us
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 7, 2020
Super Rugby: Rebels 37-17 Lions
Melbourne continue to break new Super Rugby ground, collecting their maiden win over the Lions with an impressive 37-17 victory at AAMI Park on Saturday night. Coming off the back of their maiden win in Dunedin last round, the Rebels took the spoils against the Johannesburg-based Lions at their sixth attempt.
They did it with only 14 men for 20 minutes, after Test winger Marika Koroibete yellow-carded for a high-tackle before centre Tom English missed the first nine minutes of the second half for a professional foul just before the hooter.
The win was sweet revenge after last year’s meeting in South Africa when the Rebels blew a 28-point lead to go down 36-33, with a remarkable 20-1 penalty count proving costly.
Winger Andrew Kellaway continued his Super Rugby resurgence with a double to notch seven tries for the season after only scoring three tries in 22 games with the Waratahs. Kellaway opened with a 50-metre effort and then a break by the 24-year-old set up Melbourne’s second try, with flanker Richard Hardwick crossing between the uprights.
The Lions kept in touch when with halfback Andre Warner finding winger Jamba Ulengo off the back of a five-metre line-out. A 40th-minute penalty by Elton Jantjies, after English knocked Andre Warner off the ball at the back of the ruck, closed the gap to 15-10 at the break.
Despite being down a man, the Rebels started the second half with a bang, with forwards in Matt Philip and Angus Cottrell combining to put Wallabies backrower Isi Naisarani over the line.
Skipper Dane Haylett-Petty then scored in the 53rd minute after halfback Ryan Louwrens wrong-footed the defence. Reserve prop Sti Sithole crossed late after a Lions maul before Kellaway dived across in the corner for his second of the night to secure an important bonus point.
- with thanks to AAP
Bad, bad news. It looks like Ellyse Perry will be spending an extended spell on the sidelines with that nasty hamstring injury.
Australia star Ellyse Perry will have surgery on her torn hamstring and miss up to six months of cricket. Not only does the all-rounder have to deal with missing Sunday’s record-breaking Women’s Twenty20 World Cup final, but she’s unlikely to play again until late this year.
The 29-year-old bravely lined up in Australia’s final group game against New Zealand on Monday despite carrying a hip injury. While attempting a diving throw in the field against the White Ferns at the Junction Oval, Perry tore her hamstring off the bone.
She has remained with the Australia team as they prepare to face India at the MCG and will have surgery next week.
“I’ve had the most incredible run; I’ve been very fortunate with injury for a long period of time,” Perry said. “First and foremost, (the final) is the most-important thing and what it presents for the group and for the sport.
“On a personal note, it’s a challenge, but I’m sort of looking forward to it in a roundabout way. I wish it wasn’t the case but, at the same time, I’m sure there’s lots of things I can take from it and learn from it as well.”
Up until Thursday’s thrilling semi-final win against South Africa, Perry had played in every T20 World Cup game for Australia since the first edition of the tournament in 2009.
- with thanks to AAP
A-League: 75 mins Melbourne Victory 1-3 Sydney FC For all of Melbourne Victory’s fire and bluster, this won’t be their night. Ninkovic’s goal just before half-time planted the seed of doubt, and now two goals in two minutes - to Anthony Caceres and Adam Le Fondre - will see Sydney FC enter the final stages of this match happy to possess the ball and safeguard their buffer. Nice try, Victory, but no dice.
AFLW: Carlton 8.2 (50) beat St Kilda 4.5 (29)
That was better from St Kilda in the last quarter but in truth the result was never in doubt. The Blues used the ball better, kicked straighter and were deserved winners. The Saints had eight more inside-50s, only nine fewer disposals but went at 42% kicking efficiency compared to Carlton’s 62%. Madison Prespakis ended the night with 26 touches, while there were two goals apiece for Sarah Hosking and St Kilda’s Caitlin Greiser.
Gee whiz 🎩#AFLWBluesSaints pic.twitter.com/Ab84ScKbCI
— AFL Women's (@aflwomens) March 7, 2020
Did I mention that Australia were into the Davis Cup finals? Pretty sure I did ...
AFLW: 3QT: Carlton 7.2 (44) v St Kilda 3.2 (20) The Blues were threatening to cut loose and they did just that in the third term. Three goals to zip in the premiership quarter will do Carlton nicely. Madison Prespakis is now in excess of 20 disposals and is having a night out.
Bit of work to do. #AFLWBluesSaints pic.twitter.com/EVftbVx29g
— St Kilda FCW (@stkildafcw) March 7, 2020
A-League: HT: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Sydney FC It’s a big stalemate at half-time in the Big Blue. Marco Rohas put the wind up the table toppers with his strike after five minutes, but an equaliser from Milos Ninkovic just before the whistle will do Sydney FC’s morale the world of good. They were outplayed by Melbourne Victory for parts of the first half but will start the second stanza on level footing.
A big 45 minutes coming up #MVCvSYD #ALeague pic.twitter.com/o9w4BPTqOr
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 7, 2020
Cricket: 3rd ODI: 16 overs: Australia 59-3 v South Africa Yes, this was a good toss to win. Looks to be hard going for Australia in Potchefstroom, with David Warner, Aaron Finch and Steve Smith all back in the dressing room. Marnus Labuschagne and D’Arcy Short are the men in the middle, charged with the weighty task of getting their country out of this mess. A big swing and a miss from the latter just now. Not sure how that didn’t hit off stump.
Super Rugby: HT: Rebels 15-10 Lions A good defensive effort from the Rebels, but they will be down to 14 men for the first nine minutes of the second half after Tom English was shown a yellow card. The Lions, shooting for their sixth straight win over the Rebels, are right in this.
TRY | Jamba Ulengo scores the first try of the night for the Lions.
— FOX SPORTS Rugby (@FOXRUGBY) March 7, 2020
📺 Stream #SuperRugby: https://t.co/Z5prdPJljv
📝 Live blog: https://t.co/t4AUUCg2BY
📱Match Centre: https://t.co/rx7H6xaXJy pic.twitter.com/vklgF2vgvc
AFLW: HT: Carlton 4.1 (25) v St Kilda 3.0 (18) No quarters given or taken at Ikon Park. Two majors for Sarah Hosking and 15 touches for her Carlton teammate, Madison Prespakis. Anyone’s game.
The *almost* play of the season! #BoundByBlue #AFLW #AFLWBluesSaints pic.twitter.com/TMjNAINZDL
— Carlton Blues Fans (@CarltonFCBlues) March 7, 2020
A-League: GOAL! Melbourne Victory 1-0 Sydney FC (Rohas 5’) An early goal at Marvel Stadium and a pearler at that. They call Marco Rojas the ‘Kiwi Messi’ and this is why. A shimmy here, a shake there, a nutmeg somewhere else, all in traffic, and a clinical finish puts lowly Melbourne Victory 1-nil up against the ladder leaders. Tasty.
What a goal! Individual brilliance by Marco Rojas #MVCvSYD #ALeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/ET2q6dcwB4
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 7, 2020
AFLW: QT: Carlton 3.0 (18) v St Kilda 2.0 (12) Straight kicking is the order of the day here, unlike earlier today in Wagga Wagga, with the Blues holding away by one goal.
Key takeaways from the first term...
— Carlton Womens (@carltonfc_w) March 7, 2020
Maddy P: A lot of disposals.
Kez: A lot of marks.
Chloe: A lot of run.
Business as usual, then. 😅 #BoundByBlue #AFLWBluesSaints pic.twitter.com/hjSskukdzD
Davis Cup: Australia beat Brazil
John Millman has done his country proud, coming from a set down to beat Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro and handing Australia an unassailable 3-1 lead in this qualifying tie. So it’s official: Australia will compete in the Davis Cup finals in Spain in November. Maravilloso!
Book your tickets, Australia 🎟
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) March 7, 2020
They're off to the @DavisCupFinals after John Millman defeated Thiago Monteiro 6-7(6) 7-6(3) 7-6(3) 🇦🇺#DavisCupQualifiers #AUSBRA pic.twitter.com/ZkHLUty59y
Cricket: 3rd ODI: 5th over: Australia 13-1 v South Africa The hosts won the toss in Potchefstroom, electing to put Australia in. So far, it looks the right call. Plenty of seam movement on what looks a greenish deck and Anrich Nortje got the early breakthrough, getting one to go away from David Warner who edged behind. Aaron Finch, who has a crunching boundary to his name off said paceman, is now joined in the middle by Steve Smith.
A-League: Adelaide United 1-5 Western United
Yesiree, that was a good old-fashioned spanking. Western United now leapfrog Adelaide into sixth spot on the ladder and, who knows, might be on some sort of roll. That was poor from the Reds, who had plenty of ball and their share of shots but couldn’t make it count. Besart Berishsa. He just doesn’t know how not to score against Adelaide. Two today to make it 21 in all games against them. Not bad.
Big Bes' Brace for @wufcofficial's goal number 5️⃣
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) March 7, 2020
🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL
#ADLvWUN #ALeague pic.twitter.com/04sZYNtzm3
AFLW: GWS Giants 7.14 (56) beat Richmond 1.5 (11)
Big win, not to mention a big score that should have been even bigger, for the Giants. And a big day out for Cora Staunton, who booted a career-high four goals and plucked six grabs. This will do GWS’s finals hopes no harm at all - they’re now third in Conference A - but Richmond slump to zip-and-five. Great for Alyce Parker to celebrate a win in her home town of Wagga Wagga. There’s a big, big sound ...
What a day in Wagga!
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) March 7, 2020
Back on the winners list with the biggest win in the GIANTS AFLW history.#NeverSurrender #AFLWGIANTSTigers pic.twitter.com/QOxxuz0gac
Davis Cup-date: John Millman - and let me say right now, onya Johnny - has made it one set apiece in his reverse-singles rubber against Brazil’s Thiago Monteiro. Both sets have gone to tiebreaks. Australia lead the five-rubber tie 2-1, so if Millman wins the deciding set Australia are off to Spain.
Another tiebreak...
— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) March 7, 2020
... and this time John Millman comes out on top in the second set 7-6(3) 🇦🇺👏#DavisCupQualifiers #AUSBRA pic.twitter.com/eWMFycMw3A
A-League: 68 mins Adelaide United 1-5 Western United Yikes. Adelaide are shipping goals like tomorrow won’t come. Two goals to the good at the break, it took Western United just three minutes of the second half to make it three when Connor Pain scored. Besart Berisha, who wishes he could play the Reds every day of the week and twice on Sundays, then scored his second of the game - and 21st of his career against Adelaide - after 56 minutes to make it 5-1. It’s been a thoroughly good dismantling at Coopers. Might be some teams a rung or two above Western United looking nervously over their shoulders.
Connor Pain loves a goal at Coopers. #WUFC #ADLvWUN pic.twitter.com/iKoAkbyayU
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) March 7, 2020
AFLW: 3QT: GWS Giants 4.13 (37) v Richmond 1.3 (9) More of the same in the third quarter: the Giants dominating but kicking poorly, the Tigers on the back foot and not able to score against the run of play.
A big final quarter needed, let's #gotiges#AFLWGiantsTigers pic.twitter.com/Aws8KOD9vy
— RichmondW (@RichmondWomens) March 7, 2020
Super W: Reds 10-13 Waratahs
A bit of a thriller at Ballymore with the Tahs coming out on top to give themselves a bit of breathing space at the head of affairs. Emily Chancellor scored the first try of the match after seven minutes before Shannon Mato responded in kind for the Reds eight minutes later. But the Waratahs finished the stronger, with a try to Maya Stewart (55 mins) and, crucially, a penalty goal from Bella McKenzie after 68 minutes sealing the deal.
How good were the Matildas against Vietnam? Diff’rent gravy. I could waffle on forever. But why would I when Samantha Lewis has filed this ripping piece?
AFLW: HT: GWS Giants 3.8 (26) v Richmond 1.2 (8) The Tigers are within three straight kicks of the Giants, but if GWS had kicked straight in the first half this match might be as good as over by now. But enough from me. Over to RoyceHart.
A good defensive second quarter restricts the Tigers to just the 1 behind as the GIANTS extend their lead to 18-points.
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) March 7, 2020
Goal Scorers: Staunton, Privitelli, Halvorsen#NeverSurrender #AFLWGIANTSTigers pic.twitter.com/iVY88TDbfg
A-League: HT: Adelaide United 1-3 Western United The good news for United fans is you’re winning. The bad news for United fans is you’re losing. The Adelaide version started the game brightly enough, with Riley McGree’s 25th-minute strike cancelling out Besart Berisha’s opener for the Western edition, but goals to Alessandro Diamanti and Max Burgess in the space of six minutes blew the game wide open. And they’ve also had a goal disallowed. Work to be done by Adelaide here.
Diamanti ➡️ Risdon ➡️ Berisha ➡️ Back of the net 😍 #WUFC #ADLvWUN pic.twitter.com/t3WLNJEK1m
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) March 7, 2020
Davis Cup-date II: In news just in, John Millman has dropped the first set in his reverse-singles rubber against Thiago Monteiro.
Brazil's Thiago Monteiro takes the opening set 7-6(6) over Australia's John Millman.
— TennisAustralia (@TennisAustralia) March 7, 2020
Keep fighting, John 💪#AUSBRA | #DavisCup | #GoAussies pic.twitter.com/B7ltn76d6I
Davis Cup-date I: Australia could have booked their ticket to Spain for November’s finals, but a loss to Brazil in this afternoon’s doubles rubber has this tie alive and kicking. Over to AAP ...
Brazil have beaten Australia in the doubles rubber to keep their Davis Cup qualifying tie alive in Adelaide. Australia hold a two-one lead ahead of Saturday’s reverse singles at Memorial Drive.
Brazil’s Marcelo Demoliner and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves came from a set down on Saturday to pip Australia’s James Duckworth and John Peers in a tense encounter, prevailing 5-7 7-5 7-6 (8-6).
Australia’s John Millman and Jordan Thompson won Friday’s singles rubbers, with Millman to meet Thiago Monteiro in the first reverse singles fixture.
AFLW: North Melbourne 9.9 (63) beat Adelaide 3.3 (21)
Let’s get an early result out of the way. And what a result it is. North Melbourne have been most people’s idea of this season’s AFLW champions and the Kangas are doing nothing to dissuade anyone from that opinion. The Crows might be slightly understaffed at the moment but they are still a very good side even without one or two of their stars. Today, however, they were made to look pedestrian by comfortably the best team in the AFLW.
FOUR IN A ROW!
— North Melbourne AFLW (@NorthAFLW) March 7, 2020
A dominant win, with plenty of dominant performers.
Ashmore kicked 4, Abbatangelo 2, while Garner (24 disposals, 2 goals), Kearney (26) and Bruton (25) were all brilliant.#AFLWRoosCrows #OurTimeIsNow pic.twitter.com/GE93Ctfx0v
Preamble
Good afternoon and welcome to Sportwatch on this fine Saturday. Plenty happening today. If there’s nothing on that turns your noodle, you are one tough individual to please. Australia and Brazil are going at it in the Davis Cup, with the winner to advance to the finals in Spain in November, Richmond and GWS face each other in the first AFLW game to be played in Wagga Wagga, we have two A-League games, the Super Rugby and Super W seasons roll on and Australia’s men’s ODI cricketers are in action again in South Africa. It’s a dead-set smorgasbord. If you’d like to dine with me - figuratively speaking; I’m not sharing my butter chicken with anyone - you can do so by email or Twitter - @scott_heinrich.
Am at Wagga. Far out the sun is hot. Tiger men and the Cup are here too.
Giants have more run and spread in the sun. 11 shots to 3 says it all. Could get ugly unless we have the usual 3rd quarter rebound