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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Jonathan Howcroft

Sportwatch: Big wins for Storm and Roosters, tough loss for Dockers – as it happened

Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm held off South Sydney Rabbitohs in the NRL on Sunday. Photograph: Tony Feder/Getty Images

That’s just about it from me for this afternoon. Thanks, as always for your company. It’s been a day dominated by big wins for the Storm and Roosters in the NRL, while in the AFL the Dockers have been trimmed from the list of finals contenders.

I’ll be back to do it all again next Sunday. Until then, keep warm!

User avatar for HarryofOz

Cracking game of football between us and the Storm. Most teams would have crumbled completely after the Storm's blitz start to the match so it was great to see us fight back. No shame in that loss, we played well but in the end the Storm were just that little bit better.

NRL: Rabbitohs 16-26 Storm

A game that swung wildly one way and then the other ends, as it so often does, with Melbourne Storm taking home the two points. The ladder leaders blasted out of the blocks but were then becalmed for the next 45 minutes, during which they had a spell playing with just 12 men. When the game was there to be won in the final quarter the Storm stars stood up with Camerons Smith and Munster pulling out the crucial plays when it mattered most.

If today was a pre-finals audition amongst the top four, Storm and the Roosters passed with flying colours. Can anybody challenge them in September and deny a repeat of last year’s grand final?

AFL: Richmond 11.7 (73) beat Carlton 6.9 (45)

Richmond’s premiership bandwagon continues to roll towards September with a seventh win in a row. This one wasn’t pretty but in horrendous conditions at an icy MCG Damien Hardwick won’t care.

The Tigers replace Collingwood in the top four and can now look forward to laying down a couple of pre-finals markers with home fixtures against the Eagles and Lions ahead to round off the home-and-away campaign.

It was a day to remember for Jack Graham who was the leading goal-kicker on the ground with four, and the top tackler with 14.

NRL: 77 mins: Rabbitohs 16-26 Storm - That seals it for the Storm! Superb timing at dummy half from Smith, perfectly executed grubber from Munster, and a flying chase from Croft.

Updated

AFL: QT: West Coast 3.4 (22) vs Adelaide 1.4 (10) - Business as usual for the premiers who have established a handy lead at quarter-time at home to the Crows.

NRL: 74 mins: Rabbitohs 16-20 Storm - Game on at Gosford! Campbell Graham has a hat-trick and this one is going down to the wire.

Updated

NRL: 61 mins: Rabbitohs 12-18 Storm - Of course, as soon as I type that Melbourne are in trouble they make a couple of line breaks to regain field position before Smith chisels open a gap for Munster to shimmy through. Never write off champions.

Updated

NRL: 55 mins: Rabbitohs 12-12 Storm - Melbourne are back to their full complement of players but it’s all Souths up in Gosford.

AFL: The final match of the round is now underway at Optus Stadium with West Coast hosting Adelaide.

AFL: HT: Richmond 8.6 (54) vs 4.6 (30) Carlton - The Blues have dug in at the MCG but Richmond retain a convincing lead going into the final break. Stats-wise, Jack Graham now has nine tackles to go with his four goals.

NRL: 46 mins: Rabbitohs 12-12 Storm - And it takes no time at all for the extra man to tell, Campbell Graham crossing after some slick hands in the Rabbitohs backline. The Storm are under the pump now on the Central Coast.

Updated

NRL: 44 mins: Rabbitohs 6-12 Storm - The break hasn’t done the ladder leaders any good with more Melbourne indiscipline at the start of the second half. Felise Kaufusi has been binned for a professional foul on the Souths kick-chase under the posts.

User avatar for Enigma_One

A couple of things, just for the hell of it:

A first series victory on English soil since 2001 has to be on the cards.

Nah, I don't think we should get too carried away. It's great fun to watch England in a flap after one loss, but it's only one loss and Smith aside our batting still doesn't look that great. I'll be quite happy to be proved wrong, of course.

[...] Chelsea visiting Man Utd in the most anticipated match of the weekend.

The only thing I'm anticipating is another wasted season for United. Oh, well. I said yesterday about the Swans that success isn't endless or anything to take for granted; that applies just as well to United. And as a United fan I've come full circle - they were very ordinary when I started following them, as they are now.

Still stoked about the Wallabies last night, but of course it's only one win. Win this weekend - unlikely though that is - and I'll start to be convinced about them. Maybe.

Thanks for joining in Enigma_One. I wondered if anybody would pick up on the cricket comment. I write it as an Englishman, and I just cannot see how England get back into the series.

Bowling-wise Australia can at least match them in every department - with the possible exception of swing - but even that potential advantage is diminished with Anderson’s absence, and besides, there’s never a guarantee of swing. As fragile as Australia’s batting stocks can be, in Smith they have the transcendent figure of the series, and in Wade and Head two fighters in decent nick. Plus you know Warner’s going to come good at some point.

England look shot to me after their World Cup exploits, and that’s said without judgement. The ECB have prioritised white ball cricket for some time and clearly accepted the Ashes may suffer as a consequence. So be it. I am happy to be proven wrong!

As for United, until they appoint a football / technical director with clout they’re going to be playing catch-up behind Liverpool and Man City. They need years of strategic planning, not just a busy transfer window or two. Hopefully the Glazers recognise the situation and act accordingly. Or better still, hand over the reins completely.

NRL: HT: Rabbitohs 6-12 Storm - An intriguing half on the Central Coast ends with Melbourne a converted try to the good. This one looks set to go down to the wire.

User avatar for DrRudi

Apropos of this article:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/09/afl-takes-lead-on-mental-health-issues-in-positive-if-long-overdue-move

David Parkin and Ryan O'Keefe were very articulate about this on ABC Grandstand this afternoon. Parko related a story from a recent function where both Clarkson and Hardwick acknowledged at least half a dozen players on each of their lists were facing mental health conditions. Also, first time I've listened much to O'Keefe - he was great.

User avatar for DrRudi

After an age camped in Melbourne territory Souths have finally hit the scoreboard

Bunnies were awful in that first 15 minutes (or made to look awful). Playing much better since.

It’s been a half of two halves. The Storm threatened to run away with things in the opening 20 but some ill-discipline and unforced errors have allowed Souths back into the contest. Melbourne could do with the half-time siren and the opportunity to regroup.

NRL: 25 mins: Rabbitohs 4-12 Storm - After an age camped in Melbourne territory Souths have finally hit the scoreboard.

Football: The English Premier League is back up and running and the opening round of matches has so far been dominated by big wins to title favourites Liverpool and Manchester City. And there was good news for Australia’s Premier League pair with Mat Ryan and Aaron Mooy celebrating an unexpected 3-0 away win for Brighton against Watford.

The round concludes at 1.30am tomorrow morning with Chelsea visiting Man Utd in the most anticipated match of the weekend.

AFL: HT: Richmond 6.4 (40) vs 1.6 (12) Carlton - What looked like a treacherous fixture for the Tigers is turning into a handy pre-finals tune up. Richmond have skipped through the showers to show their class, Jack Graham in particular turning it on, leaving Carlton contemplating a face-saving job in the second half.

NRL: 15 mins: Rabbitohs 0-12 Storm - Melbourne mean business. They have blown their top-four rivals away in the opening 20 minutes on the Central Coast.

NRL: 5 mins: Rabbitohs 0-6 Storm - It hasn’t taken the Storm long to settle in Gosford. It’s been all Melbourne in the opening stages.

NRL: No rest for the wicked. The second blockbuster of the day is underway on the positively balmy Central Coast (it’s 13C).

NRL: Raiders 18-22 Roosters

The Roosters come out on top in a superb game of rugby league worthy of gracing the finals. The victory cements Sydney’s status in second on the ladder and means the Raiders can be overtaken by Souths if they overcome Storm in the afternoon’s second blockbuster. It was the Roosters backline that did the business at GIO Stadium with Daniel Tupou and James Tedesco both carrying over 200m each and Latrell Mitchell showing his class with the boot.

AFL: QT: Richmond 3.2 (20) vs 0.2 (2) Carlton - The Blues and Tigers are enduring miserable conditions at the roof-less MCG and it’s reflected on the scoreboard. Between the icy gusts of wind and driving rain only three goals have been mustered, all to Richmond, who take a handy lead into quarter time.

AFL: St Kilda 10.12 (72) beat Fremantle 10.9 (69)

Oh boy, what a way for Fremantle’s season to end. Ross Lyon has just had his pocket pinched by his old club at Marvel Stadium, and the Saints fans are loving it. The Dockers looked to have done enough when they engineered their biggest lead of the match with just six minutes remaining but Brett Ratten’s St Kilda refused to give in and after banging on the door in the closing stages finally found a breakthrough in the last minute. The final goal of the game forced the eighth change of lead and it proved conclusive.

The victory leaves St Kilda level with the Dockers on nine wins for the season but with two rounds remaining neither are likely to make the top eight because of their poor percentage records.

Updated

NRL: 65 mins: Raiders 18-22 Roosters - There’s life in the Raiders yet!

AFL: 1 min remaining: St Kilda 10.12 (72) vs 10.9 (69) Fremantle - The Saints hit the front!

AFL: 6 mins remaining: St Kilda 8.11 (59) vs 10.8 (68) Fremantle - The Dockers are out to their biggest lead of the day after kicking the first goal of the final quarter in the 18th minute of action. Still no goals between Richmond and Carlton at the MCG in atrocious conditions. Not a weekend for fans of high-scoring matches.

NRL: 53 mins: Raiders 12-22 Roosters - Sydney’s backline is something else. There can’t be a better player in rugby league right now than James Tedesco, what a superb attacking talent.

Cricket: The second Ashes Test begins at Lord’s on Wednesday and England are in all sorts. Their star bowler is unavailable, the top six looks shaky, and most of the World Cup winning heroes look spent. Australia, by contrast, look full of options, especially in their bowling stocks. A first series victory on English soil since 2001 has to be on the cards.

User avatar for 20CharactersNoSpaces

Tigers playing the Blues today, and we’re without Dusty and our captain - and Patrick Cripps is there. Danger game for Richmond.

Indeed it is, against a Carlton outfit rejuvenated under caretaker coach David Teague. Both sides are now out on the MCG preparing for the opening bounce.

AFL: 3QT: St Kilda 8.7 (55) vs 9.8 (62) Fremantle - Two evenly matched sides going toe-to-toe at Marvel Stadium and there’s little separating them at the final change. There’s been barely a kick in it since midway through the second quarter with neither team able to break free. Nat Fyfe continues to offer the most upside to fantasy fans with a couple of goals and 28 possessions.

NRL: HT: Raiders 12-18 Roosters - A thrilling half of rugby league ends with the visitors with their noses in front. James Tedesco again tops the stats sheet for metres gained while the try-scoring kicking machine that is Latrell Mitchell has already bagged ten points.

Super Netball: Firebirds 59-71 Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds may have ended the opening quarter behind but it was one-way traffic thereafter. Adelaide’s 12-goal, three bonus point, victory all-but condemns the Firebirds to the wooden spoon with two rounds remaining.

Maria Folau was named player of the match for shooting 35 goals from 38 attempts to go with ten assists.

The fixture was the final time Laura Clemesha and Caitlyn Nevins will appear in front of the Firebirds’ home crowd with the retiring pair facing two road trips to round off their careers in purple.

Updated

NRL: 35 mins: Raiders 12-18 Roosters - The spectacular tries just keep coming at GIO Stadium.

Tennis: The Rogers Cup is one of the major milestones on the way to the US Open and Canada’s biggest tennis event is providing plenty of talking points. In the men’s draw the only member of the big three in attendance, Rafael Nadal, is through to tomorrow’s final, and primed to be a contender once again at Flushing Meadows.

The women’s draw has been altogether wilder. The final will pit 19-year old phenomenon Bianca Andreescu against an opponent twice her age; Serena Williams. Williams has yet to claim a title this season but victory in Toronto would set up her charge for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam (and redemption for last year’s final meltdown) in New York later this month.

There’s also been a change at the top of the world rankings with Naomi Osaka recapturing the number one spot from Ashleigh Barty, while the form player on tour, Simona Halep, withdrew from her quarter-final with injury. There’s never a quiet day on the WTA Tour.

NRL: 25 mins: Raiders 12-12 Roosters - Controversy in the nation’s capital with the Roosters levelling courtesy of an intervention from the bunker.

Super Netball: 3QT: Firebirds 45-51 Thunderbirds - Another bonus point to the Thunderbirds and their lead is now up to six points with the Firebirds looking condemned to the wooden spoon for 2019.

NRL: 20 mins: Raiders 12-6 Roosters - Not a bad way for Jarrod Croker to celebrate game 250.

As Winnie alludes to in the comments, it’s going to be a rollercoaster fortnight in the race for the AFL finals with percentage playing its part.

User avatar for WinnieOfOz

Freo will need to do more than bank the four points. Last week their percentage was the same as the Bulldogs. That's what they'll need to win by to be in the running for eighth.

Provided next two weeks are not as bizarre as this weekend, of course.

I can easily envisage seventh-placed Essendon losing both their remaining fixtures (away to Freo and Collingwood), and eighth-placed Port Adelaide are no certainties away to North Melbourne and at home to the Dockers.

Eleven wins may well prove enough to secure a final which brings Adelaide, the Bulldogs, and Fremantle into the equation. Of that trio, the Dockers have by far the lowest percentage.

AFL: HT: St Kilda 6.5 (41) vs 6.4 (40) Fremantle - The Dockers gained the ascendancy in the second quarter but failed to kick clear of St Kilda, only to find themselves back behind at the main break. Nat Fyfe has two goals to go with his 21 disposals, while Dan Hannebery has bagged his first couple as a Saint.

NRL: 11 mins: Raiders 6-6 Roosters - This contest is living up to its billing. The Raiders have hit back quickly against the Roosters, keeping the ball alive with offload after offload, eventually creating a chance for Jordan Rapana.

NRL: 5 mins: Raiders 0-6 Roosters - It’s taken no time at all for the Roosters to opening the scoring in Canberra, and you won’t see a sweeter passing move all season. Unsurprisingly James Tedesco was to the fore, and it’s set up this top-four blockbuster beautifully.

Super Netball: HT: Firebirds 30-33 Thunderbirds - Adelaide powered ahead of Queensland in the second quarter to surge into a three goal lead and secure the second available bonus point. The Thunderbirds upped their intercept game to secure more possession and in turn more shots at goal than the Firebirds. Sasha Glasgow and Maria Folau have missed just two efforts between them with Folau in particular catching the eye around the goal circle.

Rugby: The big Australian sport story of the day continues to be the Wallabies’ pummelling of the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup last night. New Zealand were reduced to 14 men just before half-time and Australia exploited their advantage ruthlessly.

With the World Cup on the horizon this was a timely boost for Michael Cheika, not to mention a result with wider ramifications. South Africa’s hammering of Argentina in the early hours of the morning means the Springboks will take home the Rugby Championship for the first time, while Wales will move ahead of the All Blacks on the unofficial world rankings. It’s the first time in a decade New Zealand haven’t been considered the best team in international rugby.

AFL: QT: St Kilda 4.3 (27) vs 2.3 (15) Fremantle - If the 12th-placed Dockers are any chance of sneaking into the eight during the run home they need to pick up four points against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium this afternoon. But things haven’t begun as Ross Lyon would have hoped against his former side, the Saints racing into an early lead, helped by of a strong opening salvo from Tim Membrey.

Super Netball: QT: Firebirds 16-15 Thunderbirds - Queensland have sneaked the first bonus point in their battle with Adelaide to avoid this year’s wooden spoon. The two sides occupying the least envied places on the ladder missed just one shot at goal apiece in the opening quarter. The Firebirds, remember, are still striving to break their duck for 2019.

Preamble

Hello everybody and welcome to what is comfortably the coldest Sportwatch of my time at Guardian towers. I spent this morning building snowmen in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and I have yet to properly thaw out. The weather will of course make for some interesting outdoor action this afternoon.

Our focus today will be on the NRL with two humdinger contests to sink our teeth into. From 2pm the third-placed Raiders welcome the second-placed Roosters to Canberra in conditions I can only imagine will resemble Disney’s Frozen. If that wasn’t a big enough blockbuster for you then at 4.05pm the fourth-placed Rabbitohs host the ladder leading Storm in Gosford. A month out from the playoffs we’ve been dealt a free finals taster, and I am hungry.

There’s plenty of intrigue in the AFL too with Fremantle needing a win away to St Kilda to keep their finals hopes alive. That one began at 1.10pm. Richmond have been moving through the gears in recent weeks and they’ll be out to assert their premiership credentials against old foes Carlton from 3.20pm. Finally, West Coast round the day off against Adelaide in a fixture starting at 5.20pm that is of interest at both ends of the eight.

Either side of all that there’s Super Netball to keep an eye on with the birds of fire and thunder already in battle, and the Fever hosting the Magpies at 8pm.

In amongst all that there’s all the overnight action to discuss and anything you wish to add to the agenda. Comments are open below the line and you can reach me directly via Twitter or email should you wish to contribute.

Ok, so more like 15mm of snow in my neck of the woods today but I’ll accept any excuse to drop Mr Cave into the blog.

Updated

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