Summary
And that’s where we’ll leave Sportwatch for this Saturday. A somewhat subdued affair with the absence of AFL looming like the ghost of Christmases past over proceedings.
A big result in the Super Netball though with the Lightning downing the Swifts by ten after a big third-quarter blowout - winning through to their third consecutive grand final, as the season of Noeline Taurua just continues.
In the NRL there were wins for the Knights, Storm and Roosters as the Panthers’ outside hopes of finals footy finally faded and Manly suffered a big hit to their top four hopes with Tom Trbojevic also limping out with a possible season-ending pectoral injury.
There’s still plenty to come overnight from the US Open where Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev are in action, as well as Aussie youngster Alexei Popyrin, while in the women’s draw Kiki Bertens and Caroline Wozniacki are the pick of the action in their respective clashes.
Thanks for your company tonight - we’ll be back tomorrow with much more to digest, including the washup from Jeff Horn’s boxing bout and the Boomers taking court at the Basketball World Cup.
Updated
Full-time: Sydney Roosters 22-6 Penrith Panthers
Seven on the trot, and even without Cooper Cronk and their skipper Boyd Cordner the Chooks have shown their experience, and their defensive resilience, to keep out a hard-working and hard-striving Panthers outfit that ultimately just lacked a ruthlessness in finishing.
Strong on their own line just before the major break, Sydney ground down their opponents, while youngsters like Verrills stood tall in the absence of more senior players like Jake Friend.
They sew up second on the table, the Roosters, who now face a huge final round clash with the Rabbitohs - who will be chasing a top four finish and a chance to claim a big scalp enroute.
But it’s goodnight to the Panthers. That’s their season over - they huffed and puffed, but it just wasn’t to be.
Try! Sydney Roosters 22-6 Penrith Panthers (Tupou)
75 min: They’re out on their feet and they know their night, and their season, is over, the Panthers. Sam Verrills has been running the show from halfback, and once again the quick ball gets the Roosters moving.
Mitchell and the winger Tupou combining brilliantly. Not much real estate to operate in but the hands were sublime and the legs pumped like pistons.
Mitchell 👉 Tupou 🤩 Name a better duo... We'll wait#TelstraPremiership #NRLRoostersPanthers pic.twitter.com/0RvykZ5aVs
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Cricket: After the pure unadulterated adrenaline of that miraculous third Test run chase, it’s probably good that there’s a bit of break between the third and fourth Tests. The Australians are however in action today in a three-day tour match against Derbyshire. Mitch Starc and Jimmy Neser did well with the ball before Mitch Marsh and Usman Khawaja got amongst the runs with 70-odd each.
Meanwhile, here’s Vic Marks’ write-up ahead of the fourth Test where surely it’s time for somebody else (apart from Archer) to stand up for England:
70 min: One man with top-end talent still is James Maloney, and the battle-worn half has kicked his side a 40-20!
Brilliant stuff, and Penrith get another look at the Roosters line.
They’re less than 10m out as Martin is brought down. Ach. They go wide - and Stephen Crichton has bombed it! Ball to ground - and that has to be the season.
67 min: Ooph. A chance there for the Panthers - but the kick chase wasn’t there! A gaping tryline, Tedesco and Keary deceived by the bounce of the ball, but they eventually scramble to recover.
Those are the margins at this level. Both sides are completing at 90%+. It’s been high quality footy. But they just don’t have the top-end talent that the Roosters possess, especially in the backline.
Updated
60 min: They still pinned back in their half, the Panthers - not that they’ve given up. They’re fighting hard, but the Roosters have been clinically efficient tonight.
A burst from Liam Martin gets Penrith gaining good metres, and Maloney goes to the air again - but it’s meat and drink for Morris. As they have all year they just haven’t managed to find the final option and puts points on. Roosters too calm.
53 min: They opted against a kick at goal in the first half, but they’ve decided to play sensible footy now. Cleary (jnr, not the coach running onto the field) puts a late hit on, and Latrell asks for his tee. Two extra added as they move to 18-6, the Roosters.
Increasingly hard to see how Penrith come back from here. But, where there’s a will there’s a way.
Football: And if you thought the NPL final was the high point for the day, it transpires that there’s a little more football action for those counting down their prison-wall calendar until the A-League kicks off again.
Over in the English Premier League it’s the Slayers of Brighton vs the Slayees of Crystal Palace:
Try! Sydney Roosters 16-6 Penrith Panthers (Mitchell)
49 min: That was as inevitable as the Titanic once it had struck the iceberg. Tedesco and Mitchell both loomed on the short side and there was absolutely no way the Panthers were keeping them out from there.
Mitchell too big, too strong 💪#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/JJvDPo7tmB
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
He’s missed the kick, but it’s still Latrell 8-6 Panthers.
They need something very special from here, Penrith, or it’s goodnight, nurse and farewell to the NRL 2019 season.
48 min: They’re back on the attack, the Roosters. Scrum 15m out after a ball down as Naden knocked a pass to ground. Big opportunity for a set piece - they need to hang on here, the Panthers. Their season is hanging by a claw.
45 min: Oh my! They’ve absolutely butchered that - and, oh dear. It was Nat Butcher. That’s a dolly. Sportswriters aren’t notoriously the sharpest in the shed, but when they lob them over the plate like that.
He’d burst through, the interchange player for the Roosters - it looked a try for all money, but credit the recovering defence I guess as it ends with ball to ground. A warning shot from Sydney.
NRL - second half!
But back to our feature match. We’ve kicked off, and as per the first half the Roosters have conceded an early penalty, this time from Tupou for a marginally high tackle.
What can the Panthers muster?
Football - NSW NPL Final: Apia Leichhardt 2-1 Sydney United
And they’ve done it! 16 years since they were last NSW champions, the 2019 table runners up have won the finals’ series!
Sean Symons’ extra-time goal was enough. Great effort from one of the country’s proud teams, Sydney United, but it’s not theirs today.
The vino will be flowing along Marion and Norton st, viva viva!
Half-time: Sydney 12-6 Penrith
A cracking finish to the half; after all that Penrith pressure it was the Chooks trying the Hail Mary with a on-the-whistle field goal! It didn’t come off, and we go in with the margin just one converted try. A pulsating finish to this first forty.
Updated
37 min: Some good work from Penrith as they earn a repeat six. They’ve banged it 55m on the restart though, the Roosters. Woof.
Some great sustained pressure from the Panthers - can they make it count on the scoreboard though? Great work to finish the half - they’re throwing everything at it.
Nathan Cleary looks for the line - has he crossed? He has! But they’re going upstairs. Campbell-Gillard pinged for obstruction in the defensive line and it’s no try!
Unlucky for the Panthers - they’ve huffed and puffed. Repeat six after repeat six - but they’ve not been able to make it count where it matters.
Updated
Goal! NPL NSW Final - Apia Leichhardt 2-1 Sydney United!
And we have a goal in extra-time! The ‘keeper came, but didn’t claim, and it’s a clever improvised lop from Sean Symons - is this the winner?!
Wollongong Wolves were the front runners all season, but it could be the side that finished second on the table who claim the silverware!
25 min: They’re in the mood now, the Roosters. They started slowly, but the early conceded try clearly stung the pride.
Latrell Mitchell with a bustling, bruising run, but they hang on, Penrith. They’re finding it tough bringing it out from their own line. They’re only just shading possession, Sydney, but they’ve arguably done a bit more with it so far.
Maloney with a clever kick to release the pressure. Still, if they can grab something before half-time they go in level, the Panthers.
Try! Sydney 12-6 Penrith (Tedesco)
18 min: Deary me. Is their season on the line, Penrith? Having started in such promising fashion they’ve been carved up with aplomb here. And only seconds after the restart from the first try!
Almost coast to coast, as they back up well from the burst from Crichton. Good hands from Keary - unselfish at the end, and who else? It’s Tedesco.
From try line to try line...
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
The @sydneyroosters know how to score a try 😱#NRLRoostersPanthers 12-6 after 19 mins.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/wZkSVV2xS1
Another easy one for Latrell. They’re ahead by six, just like that.
Updated
Try! Sydney 6-6 Penrith (Verrills)
15 min: They’ve leveled the ledger, the Roosters! Again, some suspect line defence, but credit the attacking movement.
Very little looking on for the hooker, Verrills, but he’s channeled Damien Cook with a super burst through a pack of Panthers defenders. Tamou there surely could have done more - he’s caught the markers napping!
Mitchell adds the extras. Too easy, Roosters.
Welcome to the scoreboard, @sydneyroosters 😏#NRLRoostersPanthers 6-6 after 17 mins.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/Dt9pfLzL9e
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Updated
Football: Now for our A-League-starved football fans, there has of course been some second-tier state competitions in action tonight.
Have you been at a ground tonight and can share us any of the details from the various NPL clashes? Drop us an email or tweet.
In Victoria the Bentleigh Greens have rolled Green Gully 1-0 (in the “Green Derby”) to win through to a semi-final. Meanwhile, in NSW it’s the NPL final - where Apia Leichhardt and Sydney United have gone to extra-time, with the scores locked at 1-1!
6,426 fans in attendance there, reportedly - great to see such support down the pyramid. We’ll try and keep across that clash for you if we can.
Updated
11 min: Six again! The fullback Edwards bats it dead after Tedesco drops the well-weighted grubber into the in-goal. A good response from the Roosters, as they maintain some pressure on the visitors.
They play inside the 10m with five gone - they go to the air for Tupou who’s a notorious leaper. Has he knocked this forward, or do we have a try?! We go upstairs.
No try! Looked close, but the Bunker suggests a slight touch from the big winger. They remain scoreless, the Roosters.
Updated
8 min: They look for a 40-20, the Panthers, but Tedesco is alive to the threat. Great intensity from Penrith so far, but they’ve just gone a step too far - Maloney pinged for a second tackle on the fullback.
Can the Roosters capitalise on that overexuberance?
Try! Sydney 0-6 Penrith (Kikau)
3 min: Here’s a bright start! We mentioned pre-game how important tonight is to the Panthers’ season, and they’ve started in impressive fashion. The big second-rower Kikau one-on-one with Manu and he’s just brushed him off and powers over!
Cleary adds the extras, and the tails are up. Will this sting the hosts into an immediate reaction?
Kikau kicks off the night with a 💥#NRLRoostersPanthers 0-6 after 4 mins.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/dktejDvcVe
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Updated
Kick off - Roosters v Panthers!
So, without further ado - to our feature match on Saturday Sportwatch.
It’s the home side kicking off, but it’s an early infringement. The veteran Kiwi Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is pinged for a dangerous tackle. What an absolute battle-ax he is - he’s been doing it week-in, week out for seemingly forever. But just outside the bounds of the laws on that occasion.
Melbourne Storm secure the 2019 Minor Premiership!
For a third time in four seasons the Melbourne Storm have finished top of the pops. The Roosters can’t catch them, and it’s now a remarkable seven years since a team other than Melbourne or Sydney has finished on top of the ladder. Congratulations, Melbourne Storm, Craig Bellamy and staff.
Full-time: Manly 6-36 Melbourne
They notched 18 in the first half, and 18 in the second - six tries to one in an emphatic display of might from the table-leaders. You’d have to call that a flex - they’ve gone out there and blown away the Eagles - who you’ll note have been in pretty handy form themselves recently.
Olam with three tries, Addo-Carr, Asofa-Solomona and the hyphen-less Papenhuyzen with the others. Another expert performance from the Storm, who like a nice meringue are rising just when it matters.
Big concerns for the Eagles though. Is that Tom Trbojevic gone for the season? And does this kiss goodbye their top four hopes? Big headaches for Dessie going into the final round of the season.
Updated
Try! Manly 6-36 Melbourne (Olam)
78 min: Ooph. Only one team out there still running it seems, as the Storm - with Cameron Munster limping off leaving them with just ELEVEN players (with Chambers still in the bin) - they’ve still gone over and scored!
That is three for Justin Olam 🇵🇬#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/L7nbq3zTM6
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Try! Manly 6-30 Melbourne (Papenhuyzen)
A lot of teams go ahead when they’ve a man advantage, but it’s a sign of the Sea Eagle’s night that they’ve gone further behind!
It’s the fullback Papenhuyzen - nothing too flash there, just pins the ears, slides across the defence and picks the gap! Lovely work, and good hands from Hughes in the lead up.
Try-scoring machine 🤖#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/T7N9yGsVXs
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Boxing: Now there is the little matter of the “Battle of Bendigo” to come later tonight, but that may unfortunately fall just outside our watch.
Jeff Horn is back in the ring, and he’ll be taking on Michael Zerafa. Plenty of interesting chat in the lead up to this bout, including Jeff Horn bemoaning “online bullying” trying to discredit his remarkable win over Manny Pacquiao. (Which if anything proves the gutless nature of anonymous trolls, who you 100% know would never say it to Jeff Horn’s face).
Three people who won’t be in the ring are the “card girls” - who have been replaced by “fight progress managers” after local complaints from the Bendigo council:
69 min: Bit of stink! You can tell your side’s butchered a series of good chances when this happens. Almost a Bronx cheer from the home side, who at least see their side finally showing some life.
Will Chambers with a high shot on Jack Gosiewski who stays down. Dylan Walker flies in and that starts the fracas. Chambers in the bin! He leaves to a chorus of boos - they don’t love him in Brookvale.
65 min: Good work from Garrick at the back as he defuses a tricky bomb. Now to look to bring out. Walker with good metres before DCE fires a swirling effort; and Addo Carr makes a meal of it! Papenhuyzen cleans up, but they’ve been penalised at the play the ball, Melbourne.
Big six for Manly! They’re 10m out and knocking at the door. The purple wall arranges though - they’ve been immense in defence, the Storm. And would you believe - it’s DCE who puts to ground! Were the eyes on the defence? Either way, it’s ball down and once again, the opportunity is lost.
A bit of pump from the NRL social media padowan there. Try of the year? Almost certainly not. Impressive hands from Addo-Carr, but with a slice of fortune that big you’d wonder if it will even finish as try of the round, maybe even the match.
Still no updates on that Tom Trbojevic’s injury - if it’s a ruptured pectoral than that’s the season, and that’s a huge loss for the Eagles. Meanwhile, Morgan Boyle is also chalked for the night, with a reported shoulder injury - it’s bad to worse for the home side.
Back on the field - it’s a penalty to Melbourne, and Cam Smith duly slots the two. Manly 6-24 Melbourne.
Try! Manly 6-22 Melbourne (Olam)
55 min: Bombed! It looked a good line from Curtis Sironen, but he’s grassed it - and a great opportunity to blow this game open is missed.
They double down with a sloppy penalty, and the Storm are comfortably out of their own half. What a let off!
Meanwhile, four tackles later, it’s terrific work from the flyer Addo-Carr to keep a ball in, he flicks back in touch, off the knee was it, of Brad Parker? And Olam is Johnny-on-the-spot, to score an absolute gift! They really do punish you, the Storm - remarkable counter punch!
Smith misses from the touchline. A very slim silver lining for Eagles fans, I guess.
IS THAT THE TRY OF THE YEAR!?!#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/JlqF41Mt5c
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Updated
51 min: Penalty to Manly! The crowd likes that. Kaufusi penalised for attempting to slow the play. DCE goes to the touchline and they’ve got 27m to get there - six to come.
What can they make of this?! If they go in here, we are officially GAME. ON.
46 min: Terrific return from Papenhuyzen - sheesh, if Vunivalu doesn’t get you the young fullback will. It’s a clever kick from Jahrome Hughes and they’ve earned themselves a 10m scrum restart!
Surely, they’re in here shortly, the Storm?
No! With the line begging it’s a knock on from Asofa-Solomona, and they’re off the hook once again, the Sea Eagles!
Updated
Second half - Manly 6-18 Melbourne:
We’re back from Brookvale where the hopeful will be hoping the rain doesn’t turn into, *licks lips*, a Storm.
They’re right back on the defence the hosts, as Vunivalu sets off on a terrific kick return, and they’ve ended up just shy of the Sea Eagles line, with the hosts desperately hanging on. No sign of a let up yet from Bellamy’s men!
Hola chicas! I hope this finds you well, hearty, hale and happy to boot. A quiet night on Saturday Sportwatch but a good chance to cast a close eye over the NRL as we approach the business end of the season.
We’ve still got top four spots on the line as Manly look to “pull a Raiders” and hand Storm a second half surprise - forty big minutes ahead there.
And later, it might be an outsider’s chance, but it’s the only chance they’ve got. The Panthers will be looking to keep their slim final’s hopes alive against the high-flying Roosters. The second placed side will however be without Boyd Cordner and Cooper Cronk, who are rested. Will it be enough? Let’s find out.
Well that’s it from me folks, I’m going to hand you over to the delightful Richard Parkin for the remainder of this quiet night in sport. He’ll guide you through the rest of this game, as well as the Roosters v Panthers battle that’s sure to attract tens of people at the SCG on this rainy night. Go well and don’t forget to watch the Super Netball minor semi-final tomorrow between the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies - it’s sure to be an absolute cracker of a game.
NRL: Manly 6-18 Melbourne at half-time
Things aren’t looking good for Manly’s top four hopes, after a lacklustre start against the Storm. To add injury to insult, fullback Tom Trbojevic left the field in what appears to be a pectoral injury. The Storm meanwhile, seem to be relishing the wet conditions (it’s all in the name I guess) and are all hakuna matata. Jesse Bromwich has been sensational for the visitors, making 110m in the first half, along with 13 tackles.
The big man is HYPED!#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/iCOtYeNUpw
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Football: Pretty sure this is my favourite headline from this week. And I mean, what a speech. I’m crossing my fingers we get one like this at the Brownlows or the Dally Ms this year - it’d make all the sitting through the counting of votes worth it.
“As flies to wanton boys are we to the gods, they kill us for their sport,” Cantona said, quoting King Lear. “Soon the science will not only be able to slow down the ageing of the cells, soon the science will fix the cells to the state and so we will become eternal. Only accidents, crimes, wars, will still kill us but unfortunately, crimes, wars, will multiply. I love football. Thank you.”
Super Netball: If you want to re-live that semi-final, the match report is up now. Swifts fans, you’re excused - go and prepare for next weekend. It’s been a rough day for you.
Basketball: Seeing the Boomers beat the USA for the first time ever was pretty exciting, but the Australians aren’t resting on their laurels ahead of the Fiba World Cup. They’re determined to come home with a medal and emulate the winning ways of their Opals counterparts.
Rugby: There is a lot of interest around mental health in sport at the moment, but Guardian writer Robert Kitson fears too many sports are just paying lip service to mental health awareness, rather than making meaningful change to take care of their players. While rugby is the focus of this story, the same could be said for almost any professional sport.
Interesting question from HarryOfOz in the comments:
I think my money would be on the Titans, they might be able to just beat the Suns into submission? Or maybe we could just look at merging the teams and throwing a random collection of them out each week in both codes and see how they go? I don’t think things could get any worse for either team so it’s worth a shot.
AFL: Did you see this great article from Cheryl Critchley during the week? It gave such a good feeling of what it was like to be at Vic Park. Being a Sydneysider, I never made it out there, but it reminded me a lot of the feeling you get at Kogarah and Leichhardt Ovals. They’re not the most modern or comfortable, but sometimes you just can’t beat that atmosphere at suburban grounds.
Cricket: And speaking of the Ashes, this was a lovely piece from Max Rushden on how Jack Leach gives the illusion that we could all go out there and have a crack at Test cricket. Like Daniel Vettori before him, everyone loves a nerdy looking guy in glasses playing cricket at the highest level.
Cricket: A blow for Jimmy Anderson, ruled out of the remainder of the Ashes series. England have proved they can manage without him, but they would have breathed easier if he was available, especially with Australia regaining Steve Smith for the fourth Test.
Super Netball Lightning 58-48 Swifts
It wouldn’t have been the game that broadcasters were hoping for, the Lightning able to cruise to a comfortable lead after two solid opening quarters, following by a rampaging third quarter and a nice easy fourth. The moving circle was their strength for most of the match, once Laura Scherian was able to hit the circle edge consistently and get her feeds around the Swifts’ defenders. However they didn’t lose too much momentum when Proscovia entered the game and either she or Koenen will be damaging in the grand final, whoever Taurua decides to use. This means the grand final will be held in Brisbane in two weeks - not exactly home for the Lightning, but after winning in hostile Perth in 2018 they will be more than capable of winning in their home state. The Swifts meanwhile, head home to Sydney to take on the winner of tomorrow’s minor semi-final between the Melbourne Vixens and Collingwood Magpies. They will hope for a 10k+ crowd at Qudos to be their ‘eighth player’ against whichever Victorian team they play.
Player of the match unsurprisingly is Laura Langman, who absolutely loves these big occasions. This team will be extremely hard to stop in the grand final in two weeks and whoever plays them will need to find a way to shut down Langman and Pretorius if they want to have a chance of taking it out.
FULL TIME: LIGHTNING TAKE THE WIN! WE'RE GOING TO THE GRAND FINAL IN A FORTNIGHT! #WeStrikeAgain pic.twitter.com/dkgAiMl79a
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) August 31, 2019
Updated
Super Netball: 11 mins Lightning 53-43 Swifts
The Swifts aren’t giving up without a fight, but it’s not quite enough of a fight with a margin so big. They don’t call the third quarter “the championship quarter” for nothing. The 18-10 scoreline that quarter really set the Lightning up well to close the game out without too much scoreboard pressure on them. The Swifts have tried every player in their match day squad in every position they can think of to stop this Sunshine Coast team, but nothing is working.
NRL: Newcastle 38-4 Gold Coast
Things didn’t improve for the poor old Titans in the second half and I think they’ll be putting a request in to please never play a team the week after they’ve sacked their coach again. Luckily for them they play the Dragons next week, so may still finish off the season on a happy note before chalking up 2019 to experience. Probably my favourite thing about this whole game is that the Knights have a player called Bradman Best. Yes, he certainly was young man and you can bet he’d tell you all about it if you gave him the chance. The Knights had seven different try-scorers for their seven tries, a true team effort there. Herman Ese’ese was phenomenal with the ball in hand, making 123m for the Novacastrians.
Bradman Best scores his first #NRL try!
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
How good 😏#NRLKnightsTitans 28-4.#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/LxAsuDbY3Q
Super Netball: 6 mins Lightning 47-39 Swifts
The Swifts have lifted since the break, slightly ahead so far this quarter, but that won’t help them bridge the huge margin. Peace Proscovia enters the match, as predicted, then Lightning immediately call a time-out which is weird. Seems like a mis-communication between the coaches and Cara Koenen. The Lightning will now need to adjust to a holding circle, a good test for them when the moving circle has been so strong for them so far.
Super Netball: Lightning 45-34 Swifts at three-quarter time
It will be interesting to see if the Lightning use this last quarter to run some of their bench - to make sure they get some finals experience in them in case they’re needed in the grand final. I’d expect to see Peace Proscovia in goal shooter and Jacqui Russell in wing defence for at least some of the last quarter. I don’t think they’ll risk bringing Annika Lee-Jones on, knowing how hard this Swifts team can come back if they get fired up. They won’t want to leave anything to chance and Lee-Jones is unlikely to play the grand final unless something major happens.
Super Netball: 11 mins Lightning 42-30 Swifts
This is just a netball master class from the Lightning now. They look unstoppable and the Swifts’ performance has been lacklustre. The lack of finals experience, along with a lot of attrition this season, seems to be really getting to them. Langman and Pretorius, on the other hand, are the epitome of big game players and are hitting this thing out of the park.
Take a bow Laura Langman!#SSNLightningSwifts LIVE on @Channel9#9Netball #SuperNetball pic.twitter.com/AiQdsORFZ4
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 31, 2019
Super Netball: 4 mins Lightning 33-26 Swifts
Helen Housby is back on court, but Karla Pretorius isn’t giving her a warm welcome, she is absolutely riding her and taking full advantage of that lack of match fitness we spoke about earlier. Little mistakes are starting to creep into the Swifts’ game. This is their first finals match of Super Netball after failing to qualify for finals for the past two years. The Lightning on the other hand, are the reigning premiers and thrive on these kind of pressure situations. The difference is looking quite marked at the moment, so it will be interesting to see how the Swifts rise to the occasion. They take a time-out after a 6-1 start to the half from the Lightning and young Tayla Fraser comes on to replace Paige Hadley in centre.
Cricket: Not a completely glorious return for Steve Smith in the tour match against Derbyshire, making just 23 runs. However he’ll be pleased he’s made a return and will no doubt learn from it to come back stronger in the next Ashes Test.
Football: Exciting news for the A-League today as they announced Kate Jacewicz is set to become their first female referee in the upcoming season.
From AAP:
The A-League is set to join the NRL and AFL with the first female referee appointed to the league’s match official panel. Kate Jacewicz, an eight-time W-League referee of the year, is one of two new names added to the league’s referees panel for the 2019-20 season along with Ben Abraham.
Her appointment follows in the footsteps of the AFL’s first female field umpire Eleni Glouftsis and NRL referee Belinda Sharpe, who became the first woman referee in a professional rugby league match earlier this year.
Jacewicz’s most recent assignment was refereeing two matches at this year’s Women’s World Cup in France, and FFA chairman Chris Nikou said the 34-year-old more than had the credentials to referee in the A-League.
“Kate is without doubt one of the leading referees in the world at any level,” Nikou said.
Jacewicz’s appointment comes after Stephanie Frappart refereed the European Super Cup clash between Liverpool and Chelsea a fortnight ago.
Super Netball: Lightning 27-25 Swifts at half-time
The Lightning started to stamp their dominance on the game in the second quarter, with some big defensive plays from the usual suspects in Karla Pretorius and Phumza Maweni and even WD Maddy McAuliffe getting into the action with a beautiful intercept. The Swifts looked to create some more rhythm in attack by bringing on Sophie Garbin in GA for Helen Housby, who has been out for a number of weeks with a thigh strain. This may prove to be a smart move later in the match - Housby’s match fitness will be slightly down after her break and getting fresh legs on now will allow her to play a key role later in the game without worrying about the fatigue factor. Some nervous shooting on both sides is giving the defenders plenty of chances to get hands to ball, we’ll keep an eye on how that plays out and if the shooters have their eye in better in the second half.
HALF TIME: WHAT A GAME SO FAR! Lightning lead by 2 at the main break.
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) August 31, 2019
Lightning 27 v NSW Swifts 25 #WeStrikeAgain pic.twitter.com/HJpwKkPvX6
Super Netball: 7 mins Lightning 19-20 Swifts
The Swifts came out flying after the break and Scherian continued her struggles with Rore. However the Lighning are not a team that lies down and they kept on fighting, getting Scherian to the circle edge more consistently so she doesn’t have to battle those Rore arms. Lightning have called a time out while they’re the team with momentum, which is an interesting move. Noeline Taurua must have something she wants them to execute off the next centre pass.
NRL: Newcastle 24-4 Gold Coast at half-time
The Knights follow the age old tradition of having a cracker of a game immediately after the coach is sacked. Four tries from four different try-scorers in the first half has fueled their amazing game, which unfortunately almost no one is there to watch. Sure, it’s raining and they were worse than terrible last weekend, but what else is there to do in Newcastle?
The @NRL_Knights strike again 🔥🔥🔥#NRLKnightsTitans#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/tXePbYKVqM
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019
Super Netball: Lightning 13-14 Swifts at quarter-time
With no bonus points in play for finals, the Lightning won’t be too worried about this small quarter-time margin. However they didn’t look confident playing the ball around to eat up the clock and close off the quarter with even scores. Young goal shooter Cara Koenen took a shot with over 20 seconds left on the clock and a Swifts centre pass to follow, giving the visitors enough time to score and take a first quarter lead. We’ll keep an eye out for any changes for the second quarter, but my guess is both teams will remain as is for now.
The NSW Swifts silence the crowd in the opening quarter.
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 31, 2019
Can they go on to claim an upset win?#SSNLightningSwifts LIVE on @Channel9#9Netball #SuperNetball pic.twitter.com/FBeF5ECYJA
Super Netball: 11 mins Lightning 8-11 Swifts
It’s a scrappy game, but the Swifts have a slight upper hand at the moment. Lightning’s defence is good, but they are struggling to break through in attack. However they do have Ugandan star Peace Proscovia on the bench and she might be the spark they need if brought on.
And if you missed Laura Langman’s amazing first intercept, here it is.
What a way to start the #SuperNetball Semi-Finals!
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 31, 2019
WOW 🙌#SSNLightningSwifts LIVE on @Channel9#9Netball pic.twitter.com/vQk0Suz4Dq
Super Netball: 6 mins Lightning 5-6 Swifts
The game started with Langman doing Langman things - snaffling an intercept off the first centre pass to kick the game off for the home team. However the Swifts weren’t fazed and went about their business until their own Kiwi star, Katrina Rore, monstered her 20cm shorter oponnent in Laura Scherian to force a turnover. The game has been goal for goal since then.
WHAT AN ATMOSPHERE!#SSNLightningSwifts LIVE on @Channel9#9Netball pic.twitter.com/IkI2C7oA7O
— 9Netball (@9Netball) August 31, 2019
Updated
Cricket: I think a lot of people were in the same boat as Declan Kay on this one - I know I was. In our defence, it didn’t seem like it was going to be an exciting game for quite a while there! Declan gives a great account of that terrible FOMO that accompanies life as an Australian sporting fan.
Basketball: Some of our Guardian writers have put together their predictions for the upcoming Fiba World Cup. Check them out here and let me know what you make of them!
Super Netball: The coverage has just started, so get yourself to a TV and get settled in. While you’re there, let me know what you think of the starting lines for both teams. And if you felt like it, you could also read my article from yesterday looking at the bonus point system and how it worked across its first two seasons in play.
STARTING 7 IS IN for the Major Semi Final. Thoughts? Premonitions? Share below! Regardless it will be one of the matches of the season!#WeStrikeAgain #TogetherWeStrike pic.twitter.com/fDCBe5pWOi
— Sunshine Coast Lightning (@sc_lightning) August 31, 2019
Football: An exciting announcement today, the Matildas are set to play two friendlies against Chile in November - one at the new Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta and the other at Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium. A great opportunity for the team to build on their momentum from the World Cup and prepare for their upcoming Olympic qualifiers.
Tennis: Plenty happening in the US Open at the moment, including victories for two Australians overnight in Ash Barty and Alex de Minaur. Both are playing brilliant tennis at the moment and it’s been exciting to see them shine. Barty is on a collision course with Serena Williams, while de Minaur is heading for a Roger Federer match up, so some big games coming for the young Australians.
Preamble
Welcome to a slightly less busy day of sport! With the AFL taking an incredibly baffling bye weekend the week before finals start, it’s down to the Super Netball and NRL to fill the void. In the NRL, we have three games going on - the clash of the ‘why is this season still going, is it Mad Monday yet’ Titans and Knights will begin soon, while later on Manly will take on the Storm in a bid to get themselves into the top four before the finals begin and later still the Panthers will look to take down the second placed Roosters in a final desperate bid for the top eight.
Meanwhile in the Super Netball, it’s finals time and today we have the major semi in the delightfully named Sippy Downs between the Sunshine Coast Lightning and the NSW Swifts. On recent form, this game is the Lightning’s to lose, but write off the Swifts at your peril - this team have pulled themselves out of the depths of despair more times than you can poke a stick at this season. So let’s get to it!
Who would win if the Titans played the Suns in a game which melded the rules of League and Aussie Rules?