Summary
What a night in Kogarah, which will hence forth only be known as Kogar-oh-ah.
Plenty of very happy Sky Blues mothers, who celebrated their day with one of the most emphatic wins their side has ever fashioned - and definitely the best against arch-enemies Melbourne Victory.
Spare a thought for Victory fans who made the long trip north for that. A tough trip home, via the bar you’d imagine, after Das Wunder von Kogarah.
Here’s the match report:
So with that, Sydney FC progress to the A-League grand final, away to Perth Glory next Sunday night, and that’s where we’ll leave a dramatic Sunday Sportwatch tonight.
Thanks for your company! We came for Cats v Roos drama in the AFL, injuries and late scares in the NRL, emphatic showings in the Super Netball, and we finished with one heck of a shellacking to close the evening. SPORTS.
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Clare Lawrence has written in via email:
Magical from Sydney on the sixth goal. Ninkovic had time to pull up a chair and admire the view before hitting that one. Here’s hoping for a repeat next week!
Indeed, he was puffing on a cigar like a former treasurer before he stroked that one home, the Serbian maestro, but in fairness, the Victory were well and truly demoralised by then.
Six again against a Tony Popovic coached side next week? Ooph. I don’t think I’d take your money on that.
Full-time: Sydney FC 6-1 Melbourne Victory
And would you believe it, with less than a minute to go, they should have had seven. De Silva fluffing his lines, when it appeared easier to have scored.
But, there’s the full-time whistle - and it draws to a close one of the most remarkable A-League semi-finals we’ve witnessed!
They put Adelaide United to the sword in an A-League final in 2006/07, smashing six past their opponents, Melbourne Victory. Now they’ve had the favour returned from their bitterest of rivals.
It’s a dish best served cold, and after the heroics of last season - finally, it’s Re-ven-gay, writ large, for Sydney FC.
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Goal! Sydney FC 6-1 Melbourne Victory (Toivonen)
90 + 1 min: Ach. It’s a goal to annoy the Sydney defensive staff. There was absolutely nothing doing there, but Honda shuffles away to find half a metre, and his cross deflects slightly to loop to an entirely unmarked Toivonen in the centre.
Goal! Sydney FC 6-0 Melbourne Victory (Ninkovic)
88 min: Cake. Meet cherry. And what a goal that was to cap this remarkable Sydney FC performance. It was clever from De Silva who squared up the Victory defence before rolling it out to Brillante, filling in at right back, who dinks it terrifically to the far post for the late-arriving Ninkovic to volley home.
Lovely team goal, and they want the ground to open up and swallow them whole, now, the Victory players.
86 min: A touch of concern as O’Neill goes down with a knock to the knee. Gee, they can’t afford him out next week in the final.
He receives a few minutes of attention off the pitch and to the relief of about everyone (minus the five Perth Glory coaching staff in attendance) he’s back on and moving freely.
82 min: So outside the Sydney FC home fans, who are enjoying this very, very much - as a contest this one has unsurprisingly ratcheted down a gear or two. Athiu with a half-look at goal, but that’s about the most of it.
75 min: There’s some glum faces on the Victory bench from the support staff, and as the ball rolls into touch a few on the pitch as well for those in the darker hue of the two blues.
And Corica runs his third change as De Silva comes on to replace Zullo (the earlier subs being Anthony Caceres on for De Jong in the 66th, and Paulo Retre on for Grant in the 71st).
In the interim, Muscat also emptied his bench bringing the skipper Valeri on for Baena after the Spaniard’s poor give away for Sydney’s fourth. Gate. Closed. Horse?
72 min: And here comes the white flag from Kevin Muscat - it’s Kamsoba, the wide forward, who makes way for Storm Roux, the right back.
They revert to a back four and the Fifa-mode ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK era (all 18 minutes of it) ends in ignominy.
Up in the stands, Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic looks on. What would he be making of this?
Goal! Sydney FC 5-0 Melbourne Victory (Le Fondre)
69 min: We have five!! It’s another potent transition, this time Ninkovic is the creator and he feeds Le Fondre, who opens his body expertly and rolls it home past an on-rushing Thomas. Calm finish, and they’re in all sorts now, the Victory.
67 min: An interesting replay of that swift transition attack shows that it was Baena getting caught by Brosque that led to Niedermeier having to attempt the reckless lunge in cover. And I’d love to tell you more, but...
Penalty! Sydney FC 4-0 Melbourne Victory (Le Fondre)
63 min: Cool as you like. He rolls it firmly along the floor and just inside Thomas’ left-hand post, and the Victory custodian goes the wrong way.
And that, surely has to be the end of the resistance, yes?
We’ve seen some football comebacks this week, but surely; SURELY, there will be no Liverpool v Barcelona or Tottenham v Ajax here tonight.
61 min: They’ve looked better since the attacking change, Victory, with a shift to three at the back, and more bodies pushing forward, but oh no, oh no - just as they look to be pushing here, Melbourne, disaster on the counter!
Niedermeier lunges in on Le Fondre, but the FC striker is there first and felled badly. Penalty!
58 min: A nice combination between Barbarouses and Baena, with the holder encouraged to attack from out wide, and he whips a terrific cross. No Victory strikers read it however.
Athiu then tumbles to ground in the box, is this a penalty shout?? VAR says no dice. He got in a tangle with Calver, and the Sydney FC defender did appear to apply some downward-pressure on the big striker as he fell to ground.
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54 min: And Muscat decides he’s seen enough - and it’s Kenny Athiu, the striker, on for Thomas Deng, the right back. Yessss. It’s ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK - full FIFA mode, from The Musk.
Ooph. And it’s Barbarouses in the book for a frankly filthy late sliding tackle on Zullo. He’s left the ground and come in very late. No choice but a card, and there’s concern about Sydney’s left back.
Pure frustration that, he’s not been in the game, Kosta.
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51 min: Another heart-in-mouth moment inside the Victory box once more, as Thomas comes, but doesn’t claim, to Zullo’s cross, before he saves face with a strong save from Grant. Then at the other end Barbarouses fails to make the most of a half-chance. He’s not been on, the former-Phoenix man.
47 min: Brosque drops the shoulder on Thomas Deng and gets round the Victory right back to whip in a fierce cross. He’s playing like the first rays of spring, isn’t he, the 35-year-old? But it’s dealt with well in the centre from the Victory big men.
A-League - second half!
Well, he’s resisted my suggestions, old K-Musc - no changes at the half - and we’re back for the second 45 with the XIs that started the match. They need to start with fire in their bellies, the Victory. What can they muster.
So. Now that we’ve caught our breath. What to make of this one? And what can Kevin Muscat do to turn his side’s fortunes around?
There’s not too much firepower on the bench, with a James Troisi-sized hole in his squad tonight. Perhaps Valeri comes in for Kamsoba to push Antonis further up field? I’m calling that - a half-time switch.
My, oh my. We were wondering what Football’s Week of Grand Madness (TM) would throw up next. But few would have suggested perhaps this.
Are we set up for a Wollongong Wolves circa 2000 style comeback in the second half? IMAGINE.
Half-time: Goal! Sydney FC 3-0 Melbourne Victory (Broxham, og)
45 + 2 min: No! Can you believe this! They’ve afforded De Jong far too much space out wide right and he fires a wicked, dipping ball into the “corridor of uncertainty” and it’s the Victory stand-in skipper Leigh Broxham who heads it past the despairing reach of his own ‘keeper!
Calamity! In the shadow of half-time! And there’s our whistle for the break.
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Goal! Sydney FC 2-0 Melbourne Victory (Brosque)
43 min: Ole!! What a strike from the skipper! Does he love it against the Victory or what?? It’s an innocuous half-chance - Grant lofts in a ball for De Jong whose mis-struck volley ricochets kindly to Brosque at the far post, and the retiring-Sky Blue legend shows the Dutchman how to do it. What a sweet strike! Thomas no chance.
It’s his 75th A-League goal. With finishes like that you have to wonder why he’s hanging up the boots!
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42 min: Sydney FC enjoying their first real spell of possession for seemingly some time, before De Jong’s ball for Le Fondre is intercepted. We’ve not seen too much of the former Championship sharp-shooter. We do know from experience though that he never really needs much to pounce.
39 min: He’s playing with almost a free role, Keisuke Honda, drifting to the right touchline, dropping between the holders. If they go out tonight, Victory, it won’t be due to a lack of effort from their star Japanese marquee. Both Toivonen and Barbarouses struggling to fashion clear chances though, for all the visitors’ industry.
36 min: A coming together between Niedermeier and Brosque, who appears to have caught the German twixt nethers with a trailing boot. Ouchies. You’d say accidental. But also, Alex Brosque.
34 min: Honda with another of his delicious pitching wedge deliveries. He’s scooping it up and over the Sydney FC backline looking to exploit the pace of Barbarouses, but so far Zullo and friends have the measure of the Kiwi flyer.
32 min: It’s a first yellow card of the evening, Grant in the book for a late tackle on Antonis. It didn’t look malicious, in fairness, but it was rather late. Unsurprisingly, it did draw the ire of the Victory coaching bench.
30 min: And with a third of the match gone, it is Victory shading possession 55-45, 180 completed passes to 140.
Honda lays a ball out to Ola Toivonen who fires a belting effort in the direction of Redmayne’s near post, but he’s scooted that badly wide. A warning shot across the bows.
26 min: It’s Victory enjoying the larger share of possession, as the boo-boys react every time former Sky Blue Terry Antonis is on it job.
Honda floats in a terrific ball, but the diminutive Elvis Kamsoba can’t get round Alex Wilkinson and connect inside the six yard box. He looks in the mood, though, Honda. Good to see.
23 min: It is interesting, Muscat did give Victory’s back-up ‘keeper, the talented Matt Acton, an extended run in the first team towards the end of the campaign, but the more experienced Lawrence Thomas was preferred come finals time. Has the hero of the 2017/18 grand final cost his side here tonight though?
19 min: A bit of a lull inside Kogarah Oval, before a clever flick from Honda invites Thomas Deng to attack from right back. They haven’t fashioned any real clear-cut chances, Victory, but with the attacking threat at their disposal you imagine that won’t be too far away.
14 min: Honda looks to fashion something from a set piece, but it comes to nought. Before at the other end Grant fires a fierce swerving effort towards Thomas’ near post. Gee, he’s started brightly, hasn’t he, the Socceroo?
12 min: Ninkovic now is urged to shoot by the crowd, but he cushions it out to Zullo. The fullback cuts it back for the Serbian, but the Victory defence scrambles well.
A nice cut and thrust to this - already it’s Sydney looking to spring on transition and Victory knowing they need to commit decent numbers going forward. Could be a few more goals in this one tonight.
9 min: Alex Brosque slides in from behind on Baena and is penalised. Before the unlikely figure of Georg Niedermeier tries a speculative effort from 50+m!
He must have thought if Calver can score, anyone’s a chance.
6 min: So if the plan from Victory was to contain the Sky Blues and to then look to hit on the transition, what now? Plenty to ponder for Kevin Muscat and his staff, but on the bright side, they’ve got plenty of time left to run in this one.
A first shot on target from Keisuke Honda, but it’s partially shutdown by Josh Brillante and trickles easily to Andrew Redmayne in the FC goal.
Goal! Sydney FC 1-0 Melbourne Victory (Calver)
3 min: Wowee! What a start. It’s a tight whipped delivery, there’s a mass of bodies surrounding Lawrence Thomas and the Victory ‘keeper doesn’t rise cleanly; does it come of Aaron Calver? Does Grant get a touch? Or is it off the ‘keeper himself? VAR checks for anyone impeding, but there’s no definitive foul to be picked out there.
And we’re away. He’s Western United-bound next year, Calver - but could he have handed his current club one heck of a leaving present?
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2 min: First corner, Sydney FC. It’s a marauding run from Rhyan Grant down the right, before Milos Ninkovic recycles out to the left to Michael Zullo, but the Victory defence block his cross.
They earn multiple corners, what can they fashion from this?
A-League semi-final - kickoff!
1 min: We’re underway! Sydney FC kick off, and Brandon O’Neill flicks it forward. Sydney caress it around the back - the Victory front three happy enough not to press frenetically.
We’re not too far away from kick-off - Chris Beath is our referee for this evening. I’ve just seen the stat that Kevin Muscat has won 8/11 finals clashes. Not too shabby a stat.
And it’s Kris Griffith Jones in the VAR room. Let’s hope he and his pals don’t feature too prominently tonight.
So, we’ve seen the teamlists (see earlier) - and once again Kevin Muscat has gone with the pair of Raul Baena and Terry Antonis ahead of captain Carl Valeri at the base of midfield, with James Troisi ruled out earlier in the week through injury.
Kenny Athiu and Storm Roux are the players from the bench you can expect to come on and make an impact.
For Sydney FC, it’s the XI you’d perhaps expect - with Siem De Jong preferred to Reza Ghoochannejhad, Anthony Caceres and Danny De Silva. No Jacob Tratt on the bench, which comes as perhaps a surprise - are they a little light on defensive cover?
Hi all! And thanks Jonathan for another sterling turn. We turn our focus to football, now - and they don’t come bigger than the Big Blue - especially a Big Blue with finals elimination on the line. Just look at last year’s remarkable clash - a night of football so remarkable it could make grown adults and nominal professionals lose themselves completely, run onto the field, and slap/choke a ginger-haired man.
But that’s the past, and while re-veng-ay may be the flavour of the evening - both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory know that looming ahead is a team that’s outperformed them both this season. But earning a ticket to test Perth in the A-League grand final is the first course of business - and standing in the way is the old enemy.
Bring. It. On.
Right, thank you for your company today. I’m going to pour myself a steaming hot mug of finals football and enjoy Richard Parkin steering the blog through what promises to be an epic A-League Big Blue.
Super Netball: 3QT: Giants 43-35 Magpies - The Giants have consolidated their half-time lead thanks tot he imperious Caitlin Bassett and look set to claim their first win of the season and climb off the foot of the ladder.
Richard will be with you imminently for this one. It’s going to be brilliant, isn’t it? If we get a night half as good as last year we’re in for a treat.
AFL: HT: Fremantle 5.3 (33) v 7.4 (46) Richmond - This one looks destined to go to the wire at a sunbathed Domain Stadium. The Tigers have a narrow lead at half-time after a late surge but they will have to cope with a lame Toby Nankervis in the second half. The big ruckman is still out competing but he’s unable to break into a gallop or jump with any purpose.
A ripper mark from Tom Lynch! #AFLFreoTigers pic.twitter.com/ygrglyQsh4
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
A-League: It’ll soon be time for me to handover to Richard Parkin and for this blog to become an A-League semi-final special. In anticipation the teamsheets have dropped and both teams have gone with attacking line-ups.
LINEUP | Here’s how we shape up for tonight’s massive @ALeague Semi-Final!
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) May 12, 2019
Full strength and with a very attacking bench, what do you make of the squad?#SydneyIsSkyBlue #ComeWithUs #FeelTheFinals #BigBlue pic.twitter.com/hhRGW4Dq3W
Our team is in for tonight's do-or-die semi-final, COYBIB 💙 #MVFC #ForTheFifth pic.twitter.com/zJcDRtgYYR
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) May 12, 2019
NRL: Rabbitohs 32-16 Cowboys
Souths too powerful in the end for North Queensland, resisting that challenge late in the first half and then surging to victory in the second. A match studded with glorious moments, whether all were intentional or not is another matter.
The Rabbitohs rejoin the Roosters on top of the ladder, one win ahead of the Storm and two above the Raiders with the field beginning to spread.
The @SSFCRABBITOHS round out #NRLMagicRound in style! #NRLSouthsCowboys pic.twitter.com/rRs6HweiqC
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
Super Netball: HT: Giants 26-23 Magpies - Still tight in the final Super Netball fixture of the day but the Giants now have their noses in front. Caitlin Bassett is still shooting at 100% but Shimona Nelson missed three, and that’s the difference between the two sides on the scoreboard.
Magpies need to get the game on their terms.
— Magpies Netball (@magpies_netball) May 12, 2019
Another tough half awaits. #SideBySide #GIAvMAG pic.twitter.com/yFNVKZ9l6m
AFL: QT: Fremantle 3.2 (20) v 4.3 (27) Richmond - The Tigers were quick out of the blocks but the Dockers pegged them back at Domain Stadium. Nat Fyfe was prominent early.
QT: @Richmond_FC 4.3 (27) leads @freodockers 3.2 (20).#AFLFreoTigers pic.twitter.com/eq85aoV7H2
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
Super Rugby: Brumbies 33-0 Sunwolves
Routine stuff for the Brumbies who took control of this one-sided contest early and never looked like relinquishing the ascendancy. It’s the first time in four years they’ve shutout their opponents. The win puts them back on top of the Australian Conference but they’ve played one game more than the Rebels with their bye to come next week.
AFL: Hawthorn 10.11 (71) v 5.8 (38) GWS
Another reality check for the Giants at the MCG with the Hawks pulling off an unlikely five-goal victory. Once again the moral of the story is never doubt Alastair Clarkson. The defeat stymies GWS’ early season momentum and keeps them in the pack of sides on five wins while Collingwood (six) and Geelong (seven) steal a march on their rivals.
Super Netball: QT: Giants 11-12 Magpies - The final Super Netball contest of the day is underway and there’s little to separate the Giants and Magpies at quarter time. Shooters Caitlin Bassett and Shimona Nelson are both going at 100% efficiency.
The Magpies got off to a great start early in the first. But the Giants fought back hard in those last couple of minutes.
— Magpies Netball (@magpies_netball) May 12, 2019
Let's do this Pies! #SideBySide #GoPies pic.twitter.com/J6zUgbFbas
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NRL: There have been some incredible tries this season and that’s another for the highlights reel from Cody Walker. The five-eighth all-but dropped the footy, recovering in the nick of time, then stepping inside to beat five Cowboys defenders then cross. Superb stuff. Souths back out to a 14-point lead early in the second half.
Some magic by Walker 👏#NRLSouthsCowboys#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/osB20fS7Ti
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
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AFL: 3QT: Hawthorn 7.9 (51) v 4.5 (29) GWS - The Hawks remain on course for an unlikely victory, one that would see Geelong and Collingwood establish a little breakaway at the top of the ladder.
What a wonderful kick from Mitch Lewis! 👏#AFLHawksGiants pic.twitter.com/WnhQSJYTze
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
NRL: So, what do we think? Magic or miskick?
Oh boy, Bunnies dominate for thirty-five minutes, before those late tries bring the Cowboys back into the match. There is no way Morgan meant to do what he did though.
Morgan magic 😱#NRLSouthsCowboys 18-10 at Half-Time. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/zh8NWq4w1W
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
NRL: HT: Rabbitohs 18-10 Cowboys. Well, well, well. After Souths dominated the opening 30 minutes and looked well worth their 18-point lead, North Queensland have fought back impressively.
Stay tuned for a belter of a clip coming up too. Michael Morgan’s try-assist kick for the Cowboys’ second is a moment worthy of Magic Round.
The @nthqldcowboys hit back through @Juz_e!#NRLSouthsCowboys 18-6 after 37 minutes. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/fDFJOZZsLD
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
Super Rugby: HT: Brumbies 19-0 Sunwolves. As expected the Brumbies are keeping the pressure on the Rebels near the top of the Australian conference with a routine first-half showing over the struggling Sunwolves.
A Henry Speight double gives the Plus500 Brumbies a good lead heading in to the second-half against the Sunwolves! #BRUvSUN #BrumbiesFamily pic.twitter.com/0ICtpUe300
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) May 12, 2019
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A quick round-up from the three footy matches underway this afternoon.
AFL: Hawthorn (35) and GWS (28) are underway in the second half of their arm-wrestle at the MCG.
NRL: The Rabbitohs (18) are hammering the Cowboys (0) late in the first half at Suncorp Stadium.
Super Rugby: And the Brumbies (19) are having no issues with the Sunwolves (0) as half-time approaches.
Super Netball: Lightning 71-56 Firebirds
Sunshine Coast Lightning’s Super Netball title defence has taken a ruthless turn in a 71-56 derby demolition of Queensland Firebirds.
An understrength Firebirds needed everything to go right at Boondall Entertainment Centre but they remain winless after the Lightning’s Laura Scherian and Peace Proscovia (53 goals) exposed some lopsided match-ups.
Firebirds shooter Gretel Tippett (40 goals from 40 attempts) fought all the way in front of 3,561 fans but couldn’t do enough to turn the tide against an opposition who have won their last two games by an average of 20 goals.
Simpson’s absence due to a groin injury made it difficult for coach Roselee Jencke to find the right match-ups.
“She’s a pivotal part of our team. She’s our captain, our fearless leader,” Tippett said. “We all felt for her and she’d do anything to be out there.
“It shows how much we missed her.”
The last sign of fight from the Firebirds came in the third quarter when Jencke swung prolific goal shooter Romelda Aiken into defence.
It was too little, too late though it worked, with Aiken grabbing a rebound, four gains and an intercept to frustrate the Lightning attackers.
From AAP.
AFL: Mother’s Day seems an appropriate opportunity to consider the visibility of women in AFL. Emma Race has explored the topic, ranging from the league’s role in combating domestic violence to the paucity of women in the AFL Hall of Fame.
It was a mic drop moment. Many men in football are supporters of gender equality as they know gender inequality is a key factor driving violence against women. Yet it is largely women who are on the front line promoting the need for cultural change. Footballers like Zach Merrett rarely choose to use their megaphone of male footballer privilege to draw attention to it.
Super Netball: Swifts 80-66 Fever
The NSW Swifts have kept their unbeaten start to the Super Netball season intact with an 80-66 victory over struggling West Coast Fever.
The Swifts overcame a slow start at Quaycentre on Sunday to ease to their third-straight win, joining the Melbourne Vixens as the only sides yet to taste defeat this season.
Sam Wallace backed up last week’s perfect 31-goal effort with 62 goals from 66 attempts while Helen Housby (18 goals, 14 assists) was pivotal in the Swifts’ strong finish as they outscored West Coast 43-29 after halftime.
Hard working duo Maddy Proud and Paige Hadley wore down the Fever in midcourt as they combined for 58 goal assists.
“It feels really good, I know that Fever is a great team ,” Wallace said after the Swifts equalled the single-game goal scoring record in the win.
“It’s really kudos to us for actually pushing on to get that score.”
Prolific shooter Jhaniele Fowler tallied her 1000th Super Netball goal late in the first quarter, the 198cm Jamaican reaching the milestone in just her second season with the Fever.
The Swifts will look to keep their unbeaten start going against the defending champion Lightning on Saturday while the Fever will host the in-form Vixens.
From AAP.
Cricket: England and Pakistan put on a show during their World Cup warm-up ODI in Southampton overnight where Jos Buttler served notice that this tournament looks set to feature new benchmarks in run-scoring with a 50-ball century to guide England to victory. Vic Marks looked on in awe.
The Ageas Bowl provides some of the longest boundaries in the game, one of the virtues of this venue. Buttler cleared them nine times with an array of awesome strokes. Some sailed over long-off with a hint of fade, others flew beyond square leg with a touch of draw. He launched into orbit deliveries that were almost perfect yorkers. But only absolute perfection would do. In this mood on this type of surface, which offered barely any encouragement to bowlers – apart from the distance to the rope – Buttler terrifies them. This was Buttler’s first innings on English soil since last September but it was as if he had never been away.
AFL: HT: Hawthorn 5.5 (35) v 4.4 (28) GWS - The Hawks have their noses in front at the main break but it’s still anyone’s game at the MCG.
HT: @HawthornFC 5.5 (35) leads @GWSGIANTS 4.4 (28).#AFLHawksGiants pic.twitter.com/oLMfi6Y6LR
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
NRL: And the Rabbitohs have an early lead over the Cowboys, Sam Burgess crossing after Souths dominated the opening exchanges.
There was no stopping @SamBurgess8!#NRLSouthsCowboys 4-0 after 12 minutes. #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/kjsBLMrfzN
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
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Super Rugby: The Brumbies are already well in front of the Sunwolves...
16' BRUMBIES TRY | Joe Powell finishes another long rang try set up by Tevita Kuridrani. Lealiifano converts.
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) May 12, 2019
Score now 14-0#BRUvSUN
13' BRUMBIES TRY | Henry Speight finishes a sensational 50 metre try! A break by Tevita Kuridrani sets up the flying winger to score. Lealiifano converts.
— Plus500 Brumbies (@BrumbiesRugby) May 12, 2019
Score now 7-0#BRUvSUN
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Tennis: Meanwhile on the WTA Tour Kiki Bertens denied Simona Halep a return to the world number one ranking with victory in the Madrid Open final. Naomi Osaka will continue in top spot but the pack is bunching at the head of the women’s game with Roland Garros on the horizon.
‘Safety car’ action from the China Touring Car Championship pic.twitter.com/h1jUDs8dYq
— James Dart (@James_Dart) May 12, 2019
AFL: Q2 4 mins remaining - Hawthorn 4.5 (29) v 4.3 (27) GWS - Plenty has been written about Hawthorn’s line-up for today’s contest but despite lacking a host of senior bodies the Hawks have begun brightly against the Giants at the MCG.
Brian Taylor is on commentary for Seven. Can anyone let me know if he has been asked on air about his embarrassing decision to continue to fail to do the core requirement of his job when Orazio Fantasia’s playing?
A few sweet nothings from Clarko.#AFLHawksGiants pic.twitter.com/2JPeaQjeMb
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
NRL: Roosters 30-24 Raiders
What a game! What a finish! The injury-hit Roosters hang on at the death to reclaim top spot on the ladder. The Raiders deserve credit for their fightback but Ricky Stuart will be filthy after watching that final attack breakdown with Golden Point on the horizon.
NRL: Oof! The Roosters have just crossed after some sharp hands on the left wing but Mitchell (who is back on and moving freely) is called for a marginal forward pass after flicking the ball wide on the run.
The Raiders go down the other end and have a try at their mercy in the left corner but the overlap is butchered! Incredible drama!
Tennis: The guard may finally be changing at the top of men’s tennis. After Roger Federer fell to Dominic Thiem earlier this week, Rafael Nadal became the latest big name to suffer at the Madrid Open, going down in three sets to Stefanos Tsitsipas. Another legend awaits Tsitsipas in the final of the Masters 1000 event later tonight, in the form of Novak Djokovic.
Nadal is always the focus of the clay court portion of the calendar because of his record breaking achievements, but this year is different. This is only the second occasion since 2004 that the Spaniard has ventured this far into the European clay swing without collecting a title. Battling injuries and a growing band of younger rivals at home on the red dirt Nadal is facing one of the most difficult passages of his career.
Kevin Mitchell is in Madrid with more.
Defeat here, after earlier struggles on his favoured clay, have suddenly cast doubt on 32-year-old Nadal’s chances of winning the French Open – previously considered a heresy. Djokovic, bidding to hold all four majors concurrently for a second time, will go to Roland Garros with a spring in his step if he can beat Tsitsipas, who must be exhausted after a hectic week.
NRL: 72 mins: Roosters 30-24 Raiders. The Raiders are coming! 6/6 completions in the last ten minutes - just one for the Roosters.
GAME ON! 👊
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
Michael Oldfield crosses for the Green Machine. 30-24 with 8 minutes left 😬#NRLRoostersRaiders #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/igqNTJ3c4A
Jack Wighton kicks and regathers 👌
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
30-18 with 15 minutes remaining! ⏰#NRLRoostersRaiders #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/HqVPkOMDlA
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Cycling: Slovenia’s Primoz Roglic has a 19-second lead after the opening time trial at the Giro d’Italia. Jeremy Whittle was in Bologna to catch all the action.
Roglic, who came into cycling in 2012, made light of the cruelly steep gradients to the hilltop finish in Bologna to become the first wearer of the leader’s pink jersey in this year’s race. It was hardly a surprise as he has been the dominant stage race rider and time triallist of the spring, winning the UAE Tour, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Tour of Romandie this season.
AFL: North Melbourne 11.14 (80) v 16.8 (104) Geelong
The Cats preserved their lead on top of the ladder but they were pushed to the limit by North Melbourne. Geelong suffered a number of injuries during the afternoon, including a nasty concussion to Gary Rohan, leaving them depleted in a final quarter that saw the Kangaroos threaten to storm home. The lead narrowed as tightly as 12 points with five minutes remaining but some poor finishing stalled the momentum before Gary Ablett popped up with two quickfire goals to seal the deal.
Gary Ablett appreciation tweet.#AFLNorthCats pic.twitter.com/GRF9seySQ4
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
AFL: Gary Ablett has just iced the game with a delicate grubber from the right forward pocket in heavy traffic.
Earlier he executed a forearm to the face of a Kangaroo that drew comparison to the controversial hit on Dylan Shiel that dominated last week’s agenda. Over to you Michael Christian...
I'm not sure why the @FOXFOOTY commentators think there's nothing in this.
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoRCC) May 12, 2019
Gary Abblet Jr with another unnecessary elbow to the head 2x weeks in a row.#AFLNorthCats
cc @rohan_connolly @Nick_Bowen pic.twitter.com/dVgLnICNhR
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NRL: 60 mins: Roosters 30-12 Raiders. The Raiders haven’t given up at Suncorp Stadium but the depleted Roosters remain in control.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad pin-balls his way over the line!
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
Raiders reduce their deficit to 30-12 with 25 minutes left ⏰#NRLRoostersRaiders #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/CGEc25BAAJ
AFL: 5.30 remaining: North Melbourne 11.13 (79) v 14.7 (91) Geelong. The final quarter has been all North Melbourne but they have so-far failed to convert their dominance on the scoreboard. Chance after chance have been butchered with the Cats clinging on by the skin of their teeth.
Oh dear Ben Brown!#AFLNorthCats pic.twitter.com/3gKZUMaJCy
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
Super Rugby: The NSW Waratahs are adamant they can still challenge for the Super Rugby title despite slumping to 13th on the table with just four wins from 11 outings.
The Waratahs’ finals hopes are hanging by a thread following a gut-wrenching 29-28 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
Losing coach Daryl Gibson rued an 11-2 penalty against the Waratahs, whose sixth bonus-point defeat in a 2019 campaign of near misses leaves the last year’s semi-finalists six points adrift of Australian conference leaders the Melbourne Rebels.
“There were a couple of calls late in the game that I felt were harsh on us,” Gibson said.
“And that was the turning point, particularly the (offside) penalty for the Lions to go up ... That was tough.”
Runners-up for the past three seasons, the free-running South Africans hit the front for the first time four minutes into a frenetic second half with their third try, through Springboks winger Courtnall Skosan.
Despite slipping further behind the Rebels, who stretched their lead atop the Australian conference with a 30-24 win over the Queensland Reds on Friday night, captain Michael Hooper wasn’t giving up hope of making the playoffs.
The Waratahs won’t return to Australia empty-handed, having picked up two bonus points in narrow losses on the Highveld to the Lions and Bulls.
“Every point counts. We managed to walk away with another one, just short of a win, which is what we desperately wanted today,” Hooper said.
The Waratahs take on the Reds next Saturday in Brisbane in a must-win encounter for both teams and still play the Rebels in a huge derby in three weeks in Melbourne.
From AAP.
F1: Valtteri Bottas will line up on pole for the Spanish GP later tonight after Mercedes continued their dominance of the Formula 1 season. Giles Richards is trackside in Barcelona.
After a lacklustre 2018, with which he was very disappointed, the Finn is a driver seemingly reborn this season. He leads Hamilton by one point in the championship and this is his third pole in a row. With a time of 1min 15.406sec, he was six-tenths clear of Hamilton and eight-tenths in front of Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari in third.
NRL: 47 mins: Roosters 30-6 Raiders. The news is improving for Roosters and Blues fans with Latrell Mitchell up and moving on the sideline and preparing to re-enter the fray. Phew!
Roosters hoping to get Latrell Mitchell warmed up on the bike, may even attempt to return with what they expect to be a groin/hip strain (would expect low grade). Looks like reaction from Mitchell after injury more from shock than anything, great news #NRLMagicRound
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 12, 2019
NRL: 45 mins: Roosters 30-6 Raiders. The Roosters are in control on the scoreboard in this top-of-the-table clash but the big news is off the field with the Suncorp Stadium casualty ward filling up fast. The most newsworthy of the injuries is to superstar Latrell Mitchell who left the pitch limping shortly after crossing for a first-half brace.
Latrell bags a double ✌️#NRLRoostersRaiders#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/XAma28ZBFh
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2019
AFL: 3QT: North Melbourne 9.8 (62) v 14.6 (90) Geelong. Fun and games at Marvel Stadium with both sides enjoying long runs of scoring to turn what was an arm-wrestle of an opening quarter into a free-flowing goalathon. Key forwards Ben Brown and Tom Hawkins are both 4.0 for the afternoon while Tim Kelly has two straight to go with his game-high 28 disposals and game-high six tackles.
Jordan Clark kicks one from the centre square!#AFLNorthCats pic.twitter.com/DQTTqdTo0W
— AFL (@AFL) May 12, 2019
Super Netball: Let’s start catching up on some results, beginning with the two early Super Netball matches.
NSW Swifts 80-66 West Coast Fever - The Swifts maintained their 100% start to the season and tied the single-game goals record with victory over the winless Fever. Jhaniele Fowler netted her 1,000th goal for West Coast but it proved a consolation milestone.
Swifts too strong #GotGrit #SWIvFEV pic.twitter.com/hGHUfV3qT7
— West Coast Fever (@WestCoastFever) May 12, 2019
Sunshine Coast Lightning 71-56 Queensland Firebirds - Meanwhile the Lightning won the Queensland derby to move up to third on the ladder.
The Lightning win the Queensland Derby! 👏⚡ #9WWOS #SuncorpSuperNetball#SSNLightningFirebirds pic.twitter.com/UJjSp5sYgX
— 9Netball (@9Netball) May 12, 2019
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Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to a jam packed Mother’s Day of sporting action. I’ll be with you for the next three or so hours, keeping you abreast of all the sport from across Australia and around the world. And then when I log off it’s time for Richard Parkin to chaperone you through the day’s main event, the A-League semi-final Big Blue between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory at 7pm.
So, what else are we keeping an eye on today?
In the AFL the Scott family are having their own Mother’s Day get together at Marvel Stadium with Brad’s North Melbourne side starting as underdogs against Chris’s Geelong. That began at 1.10pm so we’ll be wrapping that up shortly. A rebooted Hawthorn then host GWS from 3.20pm before Fremantle welcome Richmond at 5.20pm.
The NRL is deep into its Magic Round residency at Suncorp Stadium and the pick of the weekend’s matches got underway at 2pm with the high flying Roosters and Raiders doing battle. The rugby league concludes with the Rabbitohs taking on the Cowboys at 4.05pm.
In Super Rugby the Brumbies will be expecting a routine victory over the Sunwolves from 4.05pm.
While in Super Netball a busy day of action takes in Swifts v Fever (1pm), Lightning v Firebirds (1pm), and Giants v Magpies (5pm).
There’s the usual round-up of all the major sporting topics scattered throughout the blog and a glance at the overnight news as well.
You can of course join in the fun by sending a tweet to @JPHowcroft or an email to jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
And now that the Bunnies have won, it's on to the A-League. Come on Sydney, make my day.