Summary
Another eventful evening of Sportwatch has concluded. Still pinching myself at that third golden point win of the round in the NRL, on a night where there were some tight scorelines in the AFL as well.
But the day was all about the New South Wales women’s rugby union team who claimed consecutive Super W titles in a ding-dong of a battle with nemeses Queensland, 8-5 the final score there - keep an eye out for Jill Scanlon’s column on that tomorrow.
We’ll also have the brilliant-as-ever Craig Little with his write up of Brisbane Lion’s remarkable start to the season. As always, thanks for your company - and that’s Sportwatch.
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A-League: Central Coast Mariners 0-3 Perth Glory
And the 10th v 1st encounter ends in the manner in which many would have expected. Perth with far too much quality across the park, and they made it look relatively comfortable in the end.
A shout out to defender Dino Djulbic who scored his first A-League goal in over four years. Bringing his tally to 7x that of namesake Dino Kresinger.
One dark spot for Perth fans though as Chris Ikonomidis limped out with a shoulder injury. Let’s hope the gun striker isn’t another finals casualty like Terry Antonis.
NRL: Newcastle 12-13 St George
Guys. This is nuts. Cut it out. It’s a third golden point win of the round - what a weekend of high drama!
It turned into a shootout at the end with Mitchell Pearce, Ben Hunt and Corey Norman all taking turns to try and plug droppies with the scores locked at 12-12 at 80 minutes. But after numerous missed chances it was the former Eel who eventually landed one, to the dismay of the home fans. They won’t admit it yet, but they definitely got their money’s worth. Wow.
A-League - penalty! Central Coast 0-3 Perth (Kilkenny, 58’)
Ach. This could get ugly for the absolute most faithful of faithful up in Gosford. They’ve not been poor this second half, the Mariners, but cunning from Diego Castro draws a clumsy penalty from Jacob Melling, and Neil Kilkenny gratefully tucks it away. They’ve been some leans years up in Gosford. The off-season can’t come soon enough.
AFL: Fremantle 11.5 (71) defeat St Kilda 9.12 (66)
It’s another game that finishes inside a goal, gee, they’re only playing thrillers this season, aren’t they, the Saints? They’re on the wrong end of it this time, and the Dockers - narrow losers last week - emerge narrow winners tonight.
Luke Ryan with 32 disposals, 13 marks and two tackles standing tall for the Dockers, with Brandon Matera the pick of the goal kickers with three.
A nasty concussion to Nat Fyfe the big concern for Freo fans, as he left the pitch still reeling from an inadvertent head clash.
A-League - goal! Central Coast 0-2 Perth (Djulbic, 29’)
It’s a booming header from a set piece, and the veteran Dino Djulbic doubles Perth’s advantage! Neil Kilkenny with the corner in, and nobody could stop the leap of the big centre back. They should be comfortable from here Perth, surely they’ve too much quality to let this one slip.
A-League - goal! Central Coast 0-1 Perth (Chianese, 12’)
It’s 10th hosting 1st, and despite a bubble in form and confidence with the appointment of former Matildas coach Alen Stajcic, you’d have to suspect the cellar dwellers were going to be up against it tonight already.
It was some nice combination play from Perth in the lead up, before Joel Chianese, seemingly forced too wide, was able to cut back inside and fire a worm-burner past Ben Kennedy in the Mariners’ goal.
NRL - half-time: Newcastle 10-8 St George
And profuse apologies, I’ve completely missed the second fixture in the NRL tonight (fires assistant). Both these sides went into tonight’s game with just one win in three so a tasty two points on offer.
It’s Edrick Lee that got the opening try for the Knights, but an early penalty and a try to Tyson Frizzell had the Dragons poke their noses in front twice. Hymel Hunt crossing the stripe shortly after for the home side, and how’s this ball from Kalyn Ponga. Brilliant.
The Ponga Pogo is too deadly! 🔥#NRLKnightsDragons#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3h37n4kJmd
— NRL (@NRL) April 7, 2019
A-League: Adelaide United 3-1 Wellington Phoenix
And despite mustering less than 50 successful passes that entire second half, the Reds have hung on! The damage done in a dominant first 25-30 minutes, while Stamatelopoulos’ red card just before half-time definitely put the home side on the defensive. Their visitors appeared to have set their shooting radars to comedy mode - 19 shots, but only six on target, and only one finding it’s way past Paul Izzo in the Reds goal.
It sets up a fascinating last three rounds in the race for the final home final spot - Phoenix stay on 37 points, Adelaide more to 37 points, and Melbourne City move to 36 points. All to play for.
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A-League - goal! Adelaide 3-1 Wellington (Sheridan, 73’)
Too little, too late? Or are we set for a banging last twenty here?
It’s a first A-League goal for the Irish striker Cillian Sheridan, a one-time national teammate of Perth’s Andy Keogh, and now he’s just 52 goals shy of his compatriot’s tally.
It was a well-struck shot from Mandi that cannoned back off the post, and the second-half substitute was on hand to tuck home.
AFL - half-time: Fremantle 6.2 (38) lead St Kilda 5.3 (33)
It’s another see-sawer, having conceded six straight goals without answer, the Saints have fired back four of their own. In fact they’d be ahead if they’d shot at 100% like the Dockers, but two behinds keeps the Saints just nipping at the heels.
No real standouts in terms of touches, but it’s the home side with the larger share of disposals and inside 50s. And interestingly enough, we have 11 separate goal kickers. They’re coming from everywhere.
Super W final: New South Wales 8-5 Queensland
Ooph. You could hear the collective relief around Leichhardt at full-time - what a battle that was! Despite making so much of the attacking play, at the end it was the blues who held on - such a terrific effort from Queensland, and yet they couldn’t quite vanquish their nemeses. What an advertisement for tough rugby!
Super W final: New South Wales 8-5 Queensland
We’ve about ten to play, and it’s going right down to the wire in the Super W final! Who can be the hero? Who can win this for their state?
It’s a penalty to Queensland, but they’re deep inside their own half. Can they launch a good line out play to put the blues under pressure?
NRL: Melbourne 18-16 Canterbury-Bankstown
It’s hardly crystal ball stuff to say, there I told you, but they’ve only gone and won it, the Storm.
Tough to take that for Bulldogs supporters - they played well, completing sets at over 80% and dominating metres run and line breaks. But you just can’t write champion sides off.
How’s this pass from Smith, as he puts Tui Kamikamica through a hole.
No stopping Kamikamica! 💪#NRLStormBulldogs #TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/bFglcOofzK
— NRL (@NRL) April 7, 2019
They stay top, the Storm, the only side to have gone 4/4.
AFL: Hawthorn 13.8 (86) defeat North Melbourne 8.11 (59)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. A veritable tale of two halves in Melbourne, where the Kangaroos led for most of the first, and the Hawks for most of the second.
Breust ending up with five for Hawthorn, with Chad Wingard also grabbing three on his Hawks debut.
North join Carlton and Melbourne as the only winless teams, while Hawthorn move into the eight (pending the result between Fremantle and St Kilda).
Super W final - try! New South Wales 8-5 Queensland (Hamilton, 55’)
And there it is - finally, the maroon wall is breached, and NSW have the try they’ve long been chasing! It’s the vice-captain and backrower Grace Hamilton, but Hewson misses the conversion and we’re still within just a penalty. What a last 25 we’ve got to come!
A-League - goal and red card! Adelaide 3-0 Wellington
What a mad few minutes for Apostolos Stamatelopoulos - he’s scored his second goal of the game, and then moments later, he’s been sent off for catching the Spaniard Mandi with a late lunge halfway up the shin. All of this in the shadow of half-time!
Super W final - second half!
We’re back in action in Leichhardt, but there’s been no change to the score, so far. As per the first half it’s New South Wales predominantly on the attack. We’ve had about seven minutes played.
A-League - goal(s)! Adelaide United 2-0 Wellington Phoenix
Yikes. It’s a flying start in the city of churches, where the home side have fired not one, but two goals in quick succession. Michael Marrone the unlikely opening scorer - just his second A-League goal in 204 competitive games!
That one came in the 10th minute, and seven minutes late it was two - the terrifically named Apostolos Stamatelopoulos tucking home a pass from former Phoenix player Scott Galloway.
They’ve scored 15 goals in their past three games, the Nix, but could they be on the end of a few today? Just 30 minutes played so far.
AFL: We’re also underway over in the West, where Freo are playing host to the Saints. Let’s see if they can fare a little better against the undefeated all-conquerors than the Bombers did last weekend.
Super W final - half-time: New South Wales 3-5 Queensland
And I wish I could bring you some fresh pictures of today’s game, but we just don’t have any yet! From my eyes at the ground though, I’m hearing it’s been an absolute belter, literally, with some colossal hits from both forward packs. The defence from Queensland on their own try-line for large parts of that half was just exemplary. Any chance Michael Cheika could draft one or two of these players?
And speaking of Chika, here’s an update on what our former pollies get up to these days. Good for her.
Watching #NSWvQLD in SuperW final at Leichhardt. Go @NSWWaratahs ! pic.twitter.com/AWSYtOtbOI
— Kerry Chikarovski (@KerryChika) April 7, 2019
AFL - three-quarter-time: Hawthorn 8.6 (54) lead North Melbourne 7.11 (53)
Ach. It’s days like these I wish I had fifteen TV screens and four sets of typing hands. Because we’ve got a belter on our hands over in the AFL.
After a poor first quarter the Hawks have come to life. But just as they threatened to pull away, the Roos have lifted as well. They started nine-points down at the long break, but it’s a third goal to Breust that put the Hawks ahead - only for North Melbourne to fire three late scoring shots to cut the deficit back to one! Jack Ziebell with two behinds - will either of those come to haunt the Roos?
Super W final - defence!
This is impressive stuff from the visitors, Queensland, they’ve been pinned on their own line for a lot of this half, but they keep finding big plays to prevent their line from being breached. “It’s a maroon wall”, cries our match commentary team, and I’m not inclined to disagree.
A-League - kickoff!
And we’re underway in Adelaide, where it’s the Reds playing host to Wellington Phoenix in the battle for fourth spot / the chance to secure a home final. We’ve had about eight minutes played, and as yet - no score.
Super W final - try! New South Wales 3-5 Queensland (Elisaia, 18’)
Look out: here come the Reds. One of my abiding memories as a small child was watching NSW lose a tug-of-war against Queensland across the border at Mungindi, and the image that still haunts me is just how big they were. When they’re in the mood, Queenslanders, there’s not much that will stop them.
There’s about twelve minutes before the break, and it’s NSW on the offensive as the Reds are forced to defend their line. A knock-on from a lineout about 20m out and here’s a real chance for the women in blue.
NRL - half-time: Melbourne 6-12 Canterbury
Here’s one. We’re in the sheds with forty played and it’s still the Bulldogs edging it over the Storm!
In fairness, they’ve looked pretty good for it, the visitors - check out the hands in the lead up to this, a first ever NRL try for winger Jayden Okunbor:
Jayden Okunbor gets his first try in the #NRL! #TelstraPremiership#NRLStormBulldogs pic.twitter.com/ALzh9HHKEc
— NRL (@NRL) April 7, 2019
A penalty try to Will Chambers has helped halve the arrears.
Don’t for a second think this is over though, if the grizzly figure of Cameron Smith still has something to say about it.
AFL: Western Bulldogs 9.14 (68) lose to Gold Coast 10.13 (73)
Golly. They’ve come home with a wet sail, the Bulldogs, but in the final assessment, they’ve left their run too late!
They created 23 scoring shots each these teams, and at the end of the day, Gold Coast made one more of theirs count. The Dogs guilty of missing four very getable set shots - even after the final siren youngster Billy Gowers had a chance at six, but he finished with just one.
The Suns with two wins in three - or 50% of their 2018 points tally in the satchel already - and what a start to the season these unfancied young guns are having!
Super W final - underway!
And we’re up and running out at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney for the final of the Super W between NSW and Queensland.
It’s a nervy opening with a few handling errors creeping in from both sides, but it’s NSW with the first points after five minutes - Ash Hewson with no mistake with the penalty conversion, 3-0!
AFL - half-time: Hawthorn 5.3 (33) trail North Melbourne 6.6 (42)
Hello, hello. The Hawks have kicked four goals to two in the second quarter - is the come-from-behind on?
Luke Breust with two goals in 104 seconds - you’d hope if any family were in watching at the G they weren’t in the drinks cue. They still train in almost every statistical category, the Hawks, but is there a measure for “the lingering spirit of championships past”?
They’ll still need to see a lot more of the footy, but ominous signs for Kangaroos fans.
Rugby Union: And before we turn our focus to today’s Super W final, some sad news, with the passing on rugby legend Lloyd McDermott. Here’s AAP:
Australian rugby is mourning the passing of trailblazer Lloyd McDermott, who has died at his Sydney home aged 79.
Australia’s first indigenous barrister, McDermott was also one of the first indigenous Wallabies and made a notable stand against apartheid in South Africa by making himself unavailable for the 1963 tour there.
“The Rugby community is deeply saddened by the news of Lloyd’s passing, however, his impact on the sport will never be lost and his name will never fade. He was an extraordinary man,” RA chief executive officer Raelene Castle said.
“Through his exploits on the field and in particular for what he did for First Nations people both during his playing career and beyond, he has enriched the lives of so many and provided inspiration and opportunity for thousands of Indigenous Australians.”
AFL - three-quarter-time: Bulldogs 5.10 (40) trail Gold Coast 8.11 (59)
And a low-scoring third period will have fans from Western Melbourne getting a bit nervous - their chargers adding just 1.2 in response to their visitors’ 1.5 in that quarter.
Jack McCrae the busiest with ball in hand, but the Dogs scoring just 8/33 inside 50s. Credit the Suns defence, or question the Bulldogs’ frontline there?
NRL: And our first points in Melbourne v Canterbury, just four minutes in, and it’s the Dogs who cross first through Kerrod Holland!
“The purple army is a little shocked here”, says ABC Grandstand’s match commentator, and no mistake from Rhyse Martin with the conversion.
What a start for the @NRL_Bulldogs!
— NRL (@NRL) April 7, 2019
A ripping try for Kerrod Holland. #NRLStormBulldogs pic.twitter.com/a3qBeGLtSd
0-6 after six; should finish 0-80 to the Dogs, yeah?
A-League: And some news just in from what’s emerging as the story of the A-League this weekend, where the Professional Footballers’ Association has slammed the SCG pitch, after turf on the corner of the cricket pitch is believed to have played a part in a potentially serious knee injury to star Victory midfielder Terry Antonis.
More on that, here:
NRL: And we’re not far from the start of today’s sole NRL fixture, where the Storm are hosting the Bulldogs as the competition’s only undefeated team as we conclude round four. Manly, you’ll remember, edged the Rabbitohs yesterday in a second golden point thriller of the round, Daly Cherry-Evans with the clutch field goal in added time.
It drew a customarily dry response from coach Wayne Bennett, yesterday: “Our performances have been getting worse since we played game one. Hopefully, it’s a reminder to them all they’ve got to prepare better,” Bennett said.
Athletics: Some bad news from the national athletics championships today, where those on “Sally Pearson watch” for the women’s 100m hurdles final might be left lingering. Here’s Australian Associated Press with the story:
Disappointed Sally Pearson has listened to her body and made the difficult decision to withdraw from the 100m hurdles final at the national championships after feeling exhausted following her opening-round heat.
In her first competitive hurdles race in 14 months, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist and two-time world champion claimed a narrow heat win in 12.99 seconds in steamy conditions in Sydney on Sunday.
“That race was hard, it was super hard and I don’t know why,” said Pearson.
“Speaking to the doc afterwards, it just felt like I had run an 800, whatever that feels like. I felt buggered.
“And because I have the choice not to run in the final I’m going to take it. I’m already going to the world champs and I’ll move on to next week.”
As defending champ Pearson has an automatic spot in the world titles in Doha in October, but no doubt would have still liked to shoot for her 10th national title in the event. What an amazing record.
AFL - quarter-time: Hawthorn 1.2 (8) trail North Melbourne 4.3 (27)
And welly, well. This has been an interesting first stanza at the MCG, where the Roos have owned proceedings early on against the Hawks. 27 unanswered points in a 14-minute purple patch between the 3-17 minute mark.
About 35-40K in at the MCG today, they reckon, I wonder how many of those are presently bemused Hawks fans.
AFL - half-time: Bulldogs 4.8 (32) trail Gold Coast 7.6 (48)
A blitzkrieg opening quarter from the Suns has them ahead at the break, kicking six goals to two with Darcy McPherson and Alex Sexton both grabbing braces.
The Dogs defence tightened a little in the second quarter, pulling the lead back to just eight, after 14 more inside 50s and the lion’s share of the territory. Marcus Bontempelli looks back to his imperious best, with 21 touches already, but he would have loved to have converted one of his two behinds to a major.
It’s nicely poised this one, let’s see how it plays from here.
Hi all! I hope this finds you all well, from wherever you’re following our coverage today. We’re about an hour away from the Super W final, and we’ll have Jill Scanlon with a nice write up of that for you on Monday. In the interim, there’s AFL action early doors - fire us an email or tweet to bring some braggadocio to the table.
Will the Bulldogs beat the Suns? And will the other Bulldogs beat the Storm? Let us know.
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Preamble
It’s the Super W final - the old adversaries NSW and Queensland go head to head for just the second time. It’s still early days for the women’s rugby union competition, but as 50,000+ turning out at the AFLW final showed, from little things, big things grow.
As always, there’s plenty from the AFL, NRL, A-League, Super Rugby and more, with athletics and swimming also happening around Australia. Do join the conversation - fire us an email or tweet to share your pearls.
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