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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft & Geoff Lemon

Sportwatch: Demons' AFL season ignites and Roosters overpower Tigers in NRL

Boyd Cordner of the Roosters scores and Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters leaps in the air against Wests Tigers at the SCG in Sydney.
Boyd Cordner of the Roosters scores and Latrell Mitchell of the Roosters leaps in the air against Wests Tigers at the SCG in Sydney. Photograph: Craig Golding/AAP

Summary

Thanks for your company on today’s Sportwatch, perhaps the day that ignites the slow-starting AFL seasons of Melbourne and the Bulldogs. In the NRL the awesome scoring power of the Roosters was on full display while over in Super Rugby a round of nail-biters produced another draw in NZ and a narrow victory for the Brumbies.

We’ll be back to do this all again tomorrow, so please join us for more, including a couple of mouthwatering footy match-ups (Geelong vs Essendon and Eels vs Dragons).

AFL: Q3: West Coast 9.10 (64) v Gold Coast 3.5 (23). Still plain sailing for the premiers on home turf.

AFL: Q4: 11.00: Western Bulldogs 15.9 (99) v Richmond 7.9 (51). We’re going to start winding this blog down so this might be the last update from Marvel Stadium where the Bulldogs have turned in a season-saving performance. The Dogs have dominated all around the ground but Aaron Naughton deserves special mention for his 14 mark 5.3 show.

Super Rugby: Brumbies 26-21 Blues.

Gritty come from behind win for the Brumbies tonight. Folau is the name on everybody’s lips in the rugby world but it was Folau Fainga’a who stole the headlines tonight with a superb hat-trick.

Brumbies fans during the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium.
Brumbies fans during the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

NRL: Roosters 42-12 Tigers

Comprehensive from the Roosters to make it seven in a row. They are a serious force and in Latrell Mitchell they may well have the most exciting player in the competition.

Supercars: Halfway through the Perth SuperNight and championship leader Scott McLaughlin has reclaimed the lead from Jamie Whincup after 13 of the 83 laps under lights. Outside the top two the big news is Chaz Mostert’s retirement with engine trouble.

Super Rugby: 72 min: Brumbies 26-21 Blues. Folau Fainga’a hat-trick! The Brumbies have been dominant up front tonight and more strong play from the pack allows Fainga’a to put the home side’s noses back in front in a topsy-turvy encounter. Super Rugby providing the thrills this weekend!

AFL: 3QT: Western Bulldogs 12.8 (80) v Richmond 7.7 (49). The Bulldogs were behind at quarter time but they’ve left the Tigers for dust ever since, dominating especially in the air where they have almost double Richmond’s marks and more than double contested marks.

Updated

AFL: HT: West Coast 8.8 (56) v Gold Coast 2.5 (17). All going according to script over in the west. Jack Darling has three goals.

Super Rugby: 60 min: Brumbies 19-18 Blues. The situation is much more interesting in Canberra where the Brumbies have overturned a 12 point early deficit to take the lead over the Blues. After dominating possession in the second half Folau Fainga’a touched down for his second try of the night.

James Slipper of the Brumbies scores a tryd uring the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium.
James Slipper of the Brumbies scores a tryd uring the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

AFL: Q3: 11:00 Western Bulldogs 10.8 (68) v Richmond 5.7 (37). While the Bulldogs are unrelenting, taking the game to the Tigers at Marvel Stadium. Naughton is up to 4.3 from ten marks on a breakout night.

NRL: 62.00 - Roosters 30-12 Tigers. The Roosters have crossed again to put their contest beyond reasonable doubt.

Our feature matches in the two big footy codes are beginning to look like one-way traffic...

Supercars: Championship leader Scott McLaughlin claimed his eighth pole of the 2019 season for Saturday’s Perth SuperNight race but he’s conceded the lead to Jamie Whincup after 13 of the 83 laps under lights.

NRL: 53.00 - Roosters 24-12 Tigers. The highlights reel for this match is going to be pretty fun and the Roosters have added to it again with a super kick chase setting up another try for Mitchell. He then swings over the conversion to restore the 12-point advantage.

NRL: 45.00 - Roosters 18-12 Tigers. Vintage Robbie Farah, catching the Roosters unaware from dummy half right on the try line to casually place the ball over for four crucial points. The extras brings the scores back to one converted try.

Updated

AFL: QT: West Coast 3.6 (24) v Gold Coast 1.3 (9). Not the greatest spectacle over in Perth but a routine win for the premiers is on the cards at quarter-time.

Updated

AFL: HT: Western Bulldogs 6.7 (43) v Richmond 4.6 (30). Richmond steadied after that Bulldogs blitz to start the second quarter but they still find themselves behind on the scoreboard and beaten in all the statistical yardsticks. Aaron Naughton has been the star so far, kicking 3.3 and taking seven marks.

Super Rugby: HT: Brumbies 12-15 Blues. The Blues crossed twice inside the opening ten minutes to take control of their trip to Australia’s capital but tries to Fainga’a and Slipper kept the Brumbies in the contest at the break.

Caleb Clarke of the Blues steals the ball to score a try during the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium.
Caleb Clarke of the Blues steals the ball to score a try during the round 12 Canberra Brumbies and Auckland Blues Rugby Union match at GIO Stadium. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

NRL: HT - Roosters 18-6 Tigers. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the amount of ball the Tigers had in that first half but the Roosters were just clinical, especially down the left hand side and Wests have it all to do after the break.

Tennis: Barty beats Gavrilova 6-1 6-2

Routine stuff from one of the most impressive athletes in Australia right now. Ash Barty is a superstar and her Madrid Open campaign has begun in imperious fashion. If you’re not on board the Barty bandwagon yet, hop on soon because it is going places fast.

NRL: 35.00 - Roosters 12-6 Tigers. That left side of the Roosters attack is at it again, this time Mitchell feeding Daniel Tupou to restore the lead against the run of play.

AFL: 2Q - 06:00 Western Bulldogs 6.5 (41) v Richmond 3.2 (20). The Bulldogs looked better value than the scoreboard indicated in the first quarter but they’ve exploded in the second, kicking four straight from marks inside 50, Aaron Naughton in particular lighting up Marvel Stadium with three goals, two converting superb contested marks.

Updated

NRL: 25.00 - Roosters 6-6 Tigers. Ryan Matterson has levelled things up for Wests, bulldozing under the posts after a superb step inside Waerea-Hargeaves off the back of a scrum 10m from the line.

Updated

AFL: QT: Western Bulldogs 2.5 (17) v Richmond 3.2 (20). The Tigers have a scrap on their hands tonight and although they’ve snuck a narrow lead at quarter-time it’s come at a cost with injuries to Rioli and Vlastuin. This one has the sniff of an upset about it.

NRL: 15.00 - Roosters 6-0 Tigers. Cooper Cronk’s milestone game has begun according to plan thanks to the blistering pace of Latrell Mitchell. The Roosters star slotted an early penalty then dashed 60m down the left wing, hurdling one despairing challenge then diving full length in the corner to extend the lead. That was thrilling, and with such control, what a star.

Updated

AFL: 1Q - 15.00 mins: Western Bulldogs 1.4 (10) v Richmond 2.2 (14). On paper this looked like a walkover for the Tigers but the Bulldogs have given as good as they’ve got in the early stages and should probably be ahead but some errant goalkicking has let them down.

Tennis: One of the biggest clay court events of the season is underway in Madrid and the draw has paired Fed Cup teammates Ash Barty and Daria Gavrilova in the first round.

Barty is out of the blocks early, the number nine seed taking the opening set 6-1.

Actually, there’s so much going on right now I might just smash cut back to the action...

Before we immerse ourselves in the evening matches, let’s take a look at some of the stories making the headlines this week, starting with one of the most contentious and complex issues, the decision by CAS to uphold the IAAF’s restrictions on the participation of Caster Semenya.

AFL: Brisbane 14.19 (103) v Sydney 12.9 (81)

It was nip and tuck in the middle third of this one but Brisbane always looked to have the edge on the Swans and so it proved, the Lions moving up to fourth on the ladder, Sydney remaining among the stragglers a third of the way through this AFL season.

Super Rugby: Highlanders 31-31 Chiefs

What a finish! That was crazy. The second draw of an incredible round of Super Rugby. The Highlanders will be kicking themselves after holding such a commanding lead, but the fortitude of the Chiefs was inspiring, especially the desperation to push for a win in the closing seconds. Superb sport.

Super Rugby - 79 mins: Highlanders 31-31 Chiefs. Oh my! Incredible stuff across the ditch. The Chiefs just refuse to be beaten, levelling the score following a reclaimed kick-off after the Highlanders thought they’d iced things with a late penalty. Breathless and brilliant.

NRL: Manly 18-10 Canterbury Bankstown

All over at Brookvale where the Sea Eagles have ground out their fifth win in six matches to continue their rise up the ladder.

Super Rugby - 75 mins: Highlanders 28-24 Chiefs. I might have written off the Chiefs a little early. They have staged a heroic second-half fightback to send a massive scare through the Highlanders. There’s a long break in play late on though with Ben Smith in agony on the turf after twisting awkwardly.

NRL - 77 mins: Manly 18-10 Canterbury Bankstown. That’ll be it at Brookvale. An attempted short drop-out from the Bulldogs failed to make the journey and Garrick popped over the two points to ice a very very hard fought victory.

AFL - 10:00 4th Quarter: Brisbane 12.16 (88) v Sydney 10.7 (67). Fatigue, injuries, and a slippery Gabba have restricted scoring in the final quarter but the only goal of the term to Hugh McCluggage has handed the Lions a very handy 21 point lead.

NRL - 70 mins: Manly 16-10 Canterbury Bankstown. - Reuben Garrick now has two penalty goals to go with his two tries and two conversions to give the Sea Eagles a six point lead with just ten minutes remaining against the Bulldogs.

Updated

Here’s Erik Denison on Folau’s hearing from earlier this week.

No doubt, Folau’s post has broken the spirits of many girls and boys who idolised him, while at the same time emboldened the homophobic bullies who target these young people.

Staying with Super Rugby, the big sports news in Australia today involves the disciplinary hearing of Israel Folau beginning in Sydney. No decision is expected this weekend with tomorrow reserved for further deliberations. Thereafter the prospect remains of the issue being pushed through courts and remaining unresolved for months.

Super Rugby - 57 mins: Highlanders 28-12 Chiefs. Meanwhile in Super Rugby the Highlanders look set to consign the Chiefs to bottom place in the NZ conference.

NRL - 61 mins: Manly 14-10 Canterbury Bankstown. The final quarter of the NRL at Brookvale also promises fireworks with the Bulldogs crossing for their second try of the night to bring the deficit to just four points. Reimis Smith has a brace.

AFL - 3Q Time: Brisbane 11.15 (81) v Sydney 10.6 (66). Brisbane and Sydney are turning on the style in a fair old ding-dong up at the Gabba. I’ll be paying close attention to the final quarter of that one shortly.

Thank you very much the AWARD WINNING Geoff Lemon. Seriously folks, buy his book.

A change of blogger means a change of contact details. You can reach me on Twitter - @JPHowcroft- or by email -jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com as a busy day of sport bleeds inkily into an action-packed evening of entertainment.

Time for a changeover. It’ll be Jonathan Howcroft from here on.

AFL: PAPLEY! That is one of the best solo goals you will ever see! I’ll find a clip of it as soon as I can. Papley is leading out to a ground ball near 50. He’s being worn like a glove by his defender Answerth. But he scraps and fights at ground level, tapping the ball away once, twice, tunnel-balling it back the other way, changing direction about three different times. His teammate Nick Blakey just stands around watching, not coming to get the ball and let Papley shepherd. So Papley decides to do it all himself, changing direction one more time, grabbing the ground ball as he shakes his tag, then runs laterally to the goalface and snaps hard from over 40 metres out. The ball bounces in front of the goals and clears a diving Lions defender! The score narrows to 68-60.

Updated

AFL: Suddenly the game has opened up for Brisbane. McStay gives them another goal, then Cam Rayner gets forward after a spell in the midfield and roves a pack well to snap and put Brisbane three goals clear. But Sydney respond immediately, with Papley running onto a loose ball in the pocket and snapping a brilliant side-spinning drop punt that curls enough to split the tiny gap available. It’s 67-54 now, 13 points the difference.

Super Rugby: And the Chiefs respond once again. Luke Jacobson from a dangerous position zips down the blindside and over to score. But McKenzie misses the conversion, so it’s 14-12 to the Highlanders.

NRL: Half time between the Dogs and Eagles and it’s still Manly by 14-6.

AFL: Just arm-wrestling away for the first five minutes of the third quarter between the Lions and Swans. It’s raining in Brisbane now, pretty fat sort of rain too, and this game is going to be all hustle and low skill from now on you feel. A lot of players slipping and mishandling as they adjust to the wet. Or as they try to. Finally, after a good six minutes, Charlie Cameron manages a clean mark, and he does so charging out from full forward. But he misses. It’s 54-48 to the Lions.

NRL: Garrick kicks a penalty goal in the 33rd for the Eagles, and they’re up 14-6 over the Bulldogs.

Super Rugby: Franklin and Coltman bash away close to the line, and eventually Ben Smith is able to plough over thanks to a quick pass. Ioane kicks the conversion for the Highlanders, and it’s 14-7.

NRL: Kane Elgey nearly sets up a brilliant try. Dived after the ball as it’s about to go dead and taps it back into play, but the replays show he’s put a sliver of boot on the paint of the dead-ball line, so he’s out of play for the Eagles. Manly follow up by winning a 20-metre restart.

NRL: Reimis Smith strikes back with a try for the Dogs, and Martin converts. It’s back to 12-6 within the first 20 minutes of play. Both sides very busy so far, and a couple of interchanges having been made already by the Dogs.

Super Rugby: Cracking start in Dunedin. Josh Ioane converts his own try after the Highlanders break away from a lineout. But in reply Adron draws space and then passes to Weber, who puts in a long run to score for the Chiefs, before McKenzie converts. It’s 7-7.

AFL: Half time at the Gabba, and the Lions have taken back the lead thanks to a curling snap from Daniel McStay, who marked in the forward pocket despite being covered in so much medical tape that it’s a miracle he could move. It’s 50-48 in favour of the Lions, who’ve scragged a couple more behinds. Seven goals apiece.

NRL: Great start for the Sea Eagles! And a great start for Reuben Garrick. He goes over for Manly in the 6th minute, kicks the conversion, then is back over the try line seven minutes later. At this rate he’ll have 12 for the match. He pops over his second conversion as well. He’s got his team 12-0 over the Bulldogs.

AFL: Swans take the lead! Sharp work by Papley from the stoppage. A throw-in near the behind post, the ball is forced to the front of the pack, and Tom Papley passing by doesn’t bother to pick it up, but just kicks off the ground and through the middle from about 15 metres out. They’re up 44-47.

AFL: Goal for goal at the Gabba, as Daniel Rich kicks a beauty on the run, collecting a pass after Eric Hipwood led up hard from the forward line to provide a contest in the centre square. Rich was running by, and flat hard kick through the goals. But coming the other way, Florent uses good body work in the forward 50 and marks a lateral pass from the boundary line, then sends his set shot straight through the middle. It’s 44-41 to Brisbane.

Updated

NRL: Manly have just got underway versus Canterbury in the league, and in the Super Rugby the Highlanders will tackle the Chiefs shortly.

Updated

AFL: It really is comeback day in the footy, isn’t it? The Swans have banged on four goals in a row in the second quarter, and now the Lions only lead by the measly couple of behinds they managed from missed shots in the first. It’s 37-35 now, with Will Hayward starting the Swans off with two quick goals, then Heeney and Dawson drawing the scores all but level.

Seriously though – the mime-fend from Heeney should become a new fashion.

Updated

MotoGP: It’s qualifying day in Jerez, Spain, on the famous racetrack there. Cloudy conditions and plenty of riders after a spot.


Updated

AFL: The Lions (I always think of them as the Brisbane Loins, for some reason) have five individual goalkickers from the first quarter, and lead Sydney 36-8. The Swans’ only goal came from Tom McCartin. It’s just after quarter time at the Gabba. I wonder how the inventor of the GIF would pronounce Gabba.

Super Rugby: Hurricanes beat the Rebels 29-19

It ended up being closer than you might have thought, in the end. Meakes and Hodge both scored tries for the Rebels in the second half, but Quade Cooper missed the second conversion which would have put pressure on the Canes at 26-21. The Rebels also mucked up a few other attacking opportunities, and didn’t make the most of a very lopsided penalty count in their favour. In the end the Canes were able to kick a late goal from one of their rare penalties, and stay out at a comfortable 10-point lead.

NRL: Canberra Raiders beat Penrith Panthers 30-12

James Tamou scores a late try for the Panthers which Maloney converts, then Croker adds one more penalty goal in the final minute for the Raiders. He kicked seven without blemish today. A comfortable win in Wagga Wagga for the Raiders.

Super Netball: Queensland Firebirds draw the Collingwood Magpies 57-57

Scores level at the end! The Magpies tried to work the last minute to their advantage, taking their time before scoring to go ahead. But the Firebirds found their way through to level up with about 15 seconds left. The Maggies got down the far end but the final pass was too rushed and was intercepted. The Firebirds came flying back, a long pass looking for Aiken, but the whistle went with the ball still mid-air. It’s a draw.

Some disappointment for the Firebirds, who gave up a big lead, and some for the Magpies, who took the lead numerous times late but couldn’t hold onto it.

31 from 39 for Aiken, who was also active further up court. 26 from 27 for Gretel Tippett. For the Pies, 42 of 47 for Nelson, and 10 from 12 for Medhurst. Sinclair shot 5 from 5 before being subbed off.

Updated

Super Netball: Tippett, shooting at 96%, is keeping the Firebirds in this. But Medhurst’s no-look pass finds Nelson at the far end, who easily scores. She’s just too tall and too strong, Nelson. Ash Brazill goes down winded after a heavy collision. Late to the attempted block and caught in the ribcage. Tippett scores again and scores are level with a minute to go, at 56 all.

Updated

NRL: Hudson Young scores for the Raiders, and Croker kicks six from six. They’re up 28-6 over the Panthers.

AFL: The Brisbane Lions have started off fiercely with four early goals against the goalless Sydney Swans. Battle of the 80s expansion. 4.3 (27) to 0.1 (1).

Super Netball: Another time out, this time from the Magpies. They lead by 51, and they got away with Ash Brazill being offside moments before they scored. Should have been a Firebirds ball at the top of the circle. Big miss from the officials. Mapies leading 50-51. Aiken scores for the Birds, Nelson fetches her own rebound to score for the Pies, then Aiken again. It’ll be down to the final whistle at this rate. 52-53 to the Magpies with 5 minutes to go.

Super Netball: The Birds still can’t find an easy way through. It takes a Hail Mary pass and Aiken manages to reel it in, leaping high and extending one long arm to palm the ball one-handed. Tippett pops in the score, but the Pies are finding it much easier to reach their shooters at the other end. It reaches 49-49 with 8 minutes to go.

Super Netball: The Magpies surged back through the third quarter to close to within a goal at quarter time. Now, early in the fourth, they’ve hit the lead! They were eight goals adrift at one stage, but Nelson has dropped in 33 of 37 goals to keep them in it. Medhurst is back on and has scored 9 from 11. The Firebirds have split the scoring more equitably with Aiken scoring 26 and Tippett 20. Their coach calls a timeout when they lose the lead, and we have just over 10 minutes to play.

NRL: Croker knocks over another penalty to take Canberra to 22-6 over Penrith.

Super Rugby: Matt Phillip breaks the duck for the Rebels, sneaking through a defensive gap to land under the uprights. Cooper knocks over the conversion and it’s 26-7 to the Hurricanes.

AFL: GWS beat St Kilda 18.6 (114) to 10.10 (70)

A comfortable win for the Giants, with six goals to Jeremy Cameron and 30 stats to Zac Williams. On the live ladder the Saints fall to 8th with the potential to fall further by the end of the round. The Giants rise to 3rd.

NRL: A couple of reports against Penrith players for a dangerous tackle, two of them at once. Penalty to the Raiders, and they break downfield to within five metres of the try line. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad receives the ball and burrows through to ground the ball over the line. 20-6 as Croker makes it four from four with his goalkicking.

Updated

NRL: Nathan Cleary has crossed for the Panthers in the second half against the Raiders, and popped over his conversion. It’s 14-6, and there could be a twist in this tale yet.

AFL: Melbourne beat Hawthorn 11.13 (79) to 11.8 (74)

Melbourne nearly got too cute by half. Lockhart marked just inside 50 with 90 seconds left. He took his full 30 for the shot, but chipped sideways to Melksham rather than going for goal. Melksham didn’t wipe off as many seconds as he could have, and when he kicked to the top of the square, Hawthorn cleared. The ball got down the other end with 20 seconds left, and Chad Wingard juggled his first attempt at a mark, only for Frost to arrive and spoil the ball. Petracca gets a kick back up the wing, and the Dees hang on! They’re off the bottom of the ladder with their second win.

Updated

AFL: Max Gawn takes a key defensive mark for Melbourne. They wrestle down the other end where Jayden Hunt thinks he’s toed a goal over in a scramble, but the ball had stayed in play after clipping the post. Melbourne lead by 5 points with two minutes to go. You can just bet what Hawthorn will be thinking...

It’s 79-74.

AFL: Quick centre clearance, brought to ground in Melbourne’s forward line, and Harms is there to swoop and snap the goal. Then Hawthorn get forward quickly and Breust has carved up the defence on the lead, back across the ground after everyone else went the other way to open up space. He nails his set shot, and it’s 78-74 in favour of Melbourne with five minutes to go.

AFL: Demons back in front! They’ve hit back. Should have had a 50-metre penalty after... I think it was Henderson... kicked the ball away after Tom Scully was caught holding the ball 48 from goal. And didn’t the Melbourne fans cheer that against their former No1 draft pick. But the players don’t dwell on that missed opportunity, as there’s another holding-the-ball free in the forward pocket, from which they play on, and a centring kick finds young Jay Lockhart running back towards goal to take a diving mark, full stretch. It’s 72-68.

Updated

AFL: The Saints meanwhile aren’t going away. They won’t win but they’re fighting out the match. Goals to Sinclair, Marshall and Kent to offset a couple more Giants goals. It’s 96-62 in the fourth quarter.

AFL: Hawthorn hit the front! Roughead does the business for his side, receiving the lay-off handball and roosting a classic left-foot monster from outside 50. It sails through half-post-high! Hawks lead 65-68, and will this be another chapter in the Demons’ season of woe, so soon after their season of hope?


Updated

Super Netball: Half time also at the netty, with the Firebirds opening up a big lead 32-24.

Super Rugby: The Hurricanes are towelling up the Rebels, surprise surprise. Beauden Barrett has converted three tries and missed one. He’s been over the line himself, as have Laumape, Goosen and Fifita. It’s 26-0 at the half.

Ngani Laumape of the Hurricanes scores a try in the tackle of Rob Leota of the Rebels at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
Ngani Laumape of the Hurricanes scores a try in the tackle of Rob Leota of the Rebels at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Updated

AFL: Outstanding pass from Wingard! Puopolo found him running wide on the half-forward flank. Wingard runs wider, hard on the boundary, and kicks long enough to clear the defensive pack to the far side of the goal square. Liam Shiels is tracking into that space and marks, then runs around from his set shot to snap another. Hawthorn within three points! Melbourne with the air out of their tyres. With 14 minutes left they have to re-inflate. It’s 65-62.

AFL: Here we go. The Hawks’ forward line plays smartly to make space, and Gunston uses it to lead into. Takes the set shot and kicks his third, and it’s 65-56 now to cut Melbourne’s lead to 9 points.

Super Netball: Aiken likes making life hard for herself. She misses once, wins her defensive rebound. Misses again, wins her rebound. Then while overbalancing and trying not to fall into the goalpost, she flips up a one-handed layup from out of court as she crosses the line, and lands it in. She’s taken the Firebirds out to a 27-20 lead in the second quarter. The Magpies call a timeout with 4:41 left.

NRL: Half time at Wagga Wagga, with James Maloney having a fair chat with the ref as he comes off. Not happy about a few calls in that half, but probably less happy that his Panthers trail 14-0 to the Raiders.

Super Netball: Shimona Nelson misses her first shot for the day, at her 13th attempt. The rebound is cleared down to the far end, and despite needing a few bounces on the rim, Aiken’s counter shot drops in. They’ve both scored a dozen so far. The Firebirds lead 22-20.

NRL: Croker pops over a penalty goal despite some windy conditions and takes the advantage out to 14 points for Canberra.

AFL: No blow-outs in the other AFL game though, as Gunston gives Hawthorn a goal just before three-quarter time. It’s 64-50 in favour of Melbourne with a quarter to go. Buckle up.

AFL: The Giants have suddenly blown their game open against the Saints. Cameron kicks his fifth goal, then Harry Himmelberg adds two in a couple of minutes. Solid set-shot kicking, and the margin is suddenly back to 39 points. It’s 83-44.

NRL: Jack Wighton goes over for the Raiders! He’s been prominent today and gets rewarded on the scoreboard. Croker pops through his second conversion and it’s 12-0 over Penrith.


Updated

Super Netball: The Firebirds take a bonus point into quarter time with the scores at 15-13. It’s been a shootout between the team’s imposing Goal Shooters, Aiken for the Firebirds and Shimona Nelson for the Pies. Nelson is on a hot streak, shooting 10 out 10 today, while Aiken is 7/9 but has been involved in a lot more aggressive play, winning back possession and helping set up her GA Gretel Tippett for 8 from 8. The Magpies’ GA has only had three shots.

AFL: Blake Acres, the man who sounds like a housing estate, has kicked another for the Saints and they’re also closing the gap. They trail the Giants 59-44, but then GWS finally find a route to goal. The same route as usual, through Cameron. It’s out to 65-44 now.

At the MCG, Alex Neal-Bullen kicks another for the Demons and they lead by a similar score now, 61-44.

NRL: Still 6-0 to the Raiders in the NRL, thanks to Jack Wighton making a try-saving tackle in the middle of the park.

AFL: Jayden Hunt waits back in the goal square as the ball is contested at half-forward, then leads into space to receive Melksham’s spearing pass. Hunt kicks truly and it’s 55-44 to the Demons!

AFL: Demons back in front, as Tom McDonald nails a set shot from 48 metres out. Petracca and McDonald have had bad misses today, but that shot hit the target despite fading late to the right, and the Dees are in with a chance today. It’s 49-44.

Sam Frost of the Demons marks the ball during the match between the Melbourne Demons and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MGC in Melbourne.
Sam Frost of the Demons marks the ball during the match between the Melbourne Demons and the Hawthorn Hawks at the MGC in Melbourne. Photograph: Daniel Pockett/AAP

Updated

AFL: The Demons hit the front! Goals to Jones and Garlett to start the third quarter. But it doesn’t last long as Breust wrestles one back for the Hawks. It’s 43-44 in favour of Hawthorn. Game on at the G.

Super Netball: First centre pass in the netball has just taken place between the Magpies and the Firebirds. A superb block from Romelda Aiken in the early stages sets her up to score, while Nat Medhurst has also put in a couple of strong defensive blocks, but then has to go off with a blood nose. No, a split lip. Non-contact sport, hey?

It’s 4-4 with 10 minutes left in the quarter.

Updated

NRL: The Raiders have scored first against the Panthers, having played 12 minutes at McDonald’s Park in Wagga. Michael Oldfield got over after 8 minutes and Croker converted. It’s 6-0 to Canberra.

AFL: A similar story as the Giants take on the Saints, fourth plays sixth on the ladder. Still can’t quite believe I’m typing that. GWS flew out to a big early lead, piling on nine goals by a couple of minutes into the second quarter. Jeremy Cameron has three of those. But they couldn’t get another to half time, while the Saints pegged back three goals to Parker, Marsh and Marshall. Get that Marsh in the Cricket World Cup squad. The gap is still 24 points at half time, but that’s a lot better for St Kilda than it was. More importantly they played with cohesion through the end of that quarter.

It’s GWS 9.4 (58) to St Kilda 5.4 (34).

AFL: It’s half time in both the matches that started earlier this afternoon. Melbourne are glued to the bottom of the ladder, and played like it against Hawthorn in the first quarter. There was plenty of lamenting of Jeff Garlett’s attempted miracle snap from the pocket when he had an option inside.

But the Demons have hit back in the second quarter with more contested possessions and inside-50s, with Stretch and Fritsch kicking goals to narrow the gap. Two goals to Breust for Hawthorn, singles to Lewis (no, not the one who plays for Melbourne now), O’Meara and Gunston.

It’s Melbourne 4.5 (29) to Hawthorn 5.8 (38), nine points the difference.

Updated

Preamble

Happy weekend, and welcome to another edition of Sportwatch. We’ve got all kinds of sporting action from around Australia and the wider world today, as long as I can remember to bring it all to you. Aussie Rules, NRL, the Super everything (Netball, Rugby, cars), the Spanish MotoGP later on, golf at Wells Fargo and the LPGA tour, the Tour de Normandie cycling... I’m not going to remember it all. But make sure to post your own observations below the line.

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