Summary
A lot going on this Saturday - so much for the post-winter codes lull.
The WBBL has just finished up at Drummoyne Oval, with the Sydney Sixers in all sorts after the Brisbane Heat ripped through their top six. It was a decisive win for the defending premiers who were excellent with the bat and ball - Laura Harris took out player of the match, while also proclaiming herself “Harris of the Match”, pipping sister Grace for that gong.
There were big wins for the Hobart Hurricanes and the Adelaide Strikers earlier in the day - Chloe Tryon the star for the Tasmanians with a stoinking 46 off 18 with the bat.
At the World Nines, Australia and New Zealand shared the finals glory with a win-a-piece, Australia winning the men’s final, while the Kiwi Ferns pulled a minor upset in the women’s final with a great win from behind.
In the A-League it was honours shared in Western United’s first home game from Geelong, as they nearly pipped the premiers Perth Glory, who had the coach’s son, Kristian Popovic, to thank for their point. The F3 derby huffed and puffed - but home side Mariners couldn’t find a second after Milan Duric’s sumptuous opener.
Plenty more elsewhere - a Sheffield Shield century for Steve Smith, who just doesn’t know how to not score runs these days. No doubt lots more we’ve missed - thanks for your company!
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The big news today of course: Australia are out of the Rugby World Cup.
It’s the old enemy, England, that delivers the coup-de-grâce. The Wallabies played some scintillating stuff at times, and some loose stuff at others.
Our chief rugby writer Bret Harris with his final assessment of the campaign - and he doesn’t mince his words:
A-League: Central Coast Mariners 1-1 Newcastle Jets
All square in the end. They rattled the crossbar a few times, the Mariners, while in added-time it was Dimi Petratos with a chance to win it at the death for Newcastle.
Jets dominated possession and finished stronger in the second half, but Central Coast still had their chances. You’d imagine coach Stajcic would settle for the point given how they had one snatched away in round one, while Merrick may have preferred the three, as he side blew out some cobwebs after a first round bye.
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Nines Men's Final: Australia 24-10 New Zealand
And there it is! It’s the teenage prodigy, David Fifita who clinches it for Australia. You can’t question that try - and it’s Moses in at the end, but wonderful lead-up play.
Worthy winners in the end, but huge question marks over the Feldt try. Madge Macguire doesn’t look happy on the touchline in the NZ coaching strip, but on balance, they probably still earned it, the Kangaroos.
One a piece - Australia win the men’s final, NZ the women’s!
Updated
Nines Men’s Final: Australia 17-10 New Zealand - second half, 5 to play:
NZ look to get the “go-ahead” try, but it breaks down and almost allows Josh Addo-Carr to launch a speedy counter-attack.
Wade Graham gets Australia moving but he doesn’t have the pace to get home - but they head to the corner, has Kyle Feldt grounded in the corner? He looked short of the line? They’ve given it! Wow. Expect that to come back to haunt, if this one finishes close.
82 min: A big last ten minutes or so to come in the F3 derby - it’s still scores locked 1-1. Is there a feeling that at this stage in the season both sides would prefer more not to lose than to win?
Stajcic was certainly aggrieved not to get something from the opening round against the Wanderers after a late VAR penalty against his side, but how much do Merrick and his men want all three points?
Nines Men’s Final: Australia 13-10 New Zealand - HT:
So! We’re away, and what a lively half it’s started in the Nines men’s final. New Zealand get first blood down the flank, but Australia hit straight back with a try from the “bonus zone” to move to 7-4.
The superb Jamayne Isaako then pins the ears back and scores in the corner for NZ, only to convert brilliantly as well with the drop-kicked conversion. Before Australia got the last laugh of the half.
They almost duffed this, the Kangaroos, but how’s the turn of pace from Moses to finish. Fine work.
The points keep coming 🔥#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/UrUCpXJWyD
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
75 min: Skipper Matt Simon looks to throw himself around (uncharacteristically). Oh, and look - he’s picked up a yellow - and it’s his 50th in the A-League!
You certainly know what you get from the passionate striker. Love it.
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There is also WBBL action underway, where it’s the fearsome duo of Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry at the crease for the Sydney Sixers as they start their run chase.
Beth Mooney got Brisbane Heat flying with a quick-fire 50, before Laura Harris smacked a remarkable 36 off 17 finish with a respectable 6-165 off 20.
Some handy work here during that innings from Healy as well. Enjoy.
😀👊Brilliance behind the stumps by @ahealy77!!#smashemsixers pic.twitter.com/hXOaPKtkoX
— Sydney Sixers WBBL (@SixersWBBL) October 19, 2019
68 min: And Stajcic does eventually shuffle his pack, but it’s a defender Ruon Tongyik that comes on for Dylan Fox, not Silvera further up the field. What we have we hold for the Mariners? They’re similar players, so no significant tactical adjustment you fancy.
We still have the Nines men’s final to come - we’ll try and bring you some of that shortly, but if you weren’t sure how much it meant to the Kiwi Ferns to win the women’s clash, check out these celebrations:
THE FERNS WIN THE GRAND FINAL 🥳🥳🥳#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/7N7wGw3NRk
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 19, 2019
62 min: The Jets starting to grow a little ascendent here - Alen Stajcic ponders his options, and sends the talented youngster Sam Silvera to warm up. The pressure is rising on the home side, Petratos, Ugarkovic and Ridenton starting to dominate the midfield.
Goal! Central Coast 1-1 Newcastle (Petratos)
56 min: Petratos steps up once again - he goes the same way, again, but this time he beats Birighitti! If the crowd weren’t involved before they are now. It’s really running hot inside Gosford Stadium, and can you blame the home fans?
55 min: Oh my - we’ve gone upstairs - Birighitti strayed fractionally off his line to stop the penalty, and we’ll have the penalty re-taken, and the ‘keeper is handed a yellow card!
Ooph, that’s harsh, isn’t it? It was a brilliant save - but the video did suggest he went marginally early.
52 min: Penalty! They do get the whistle this time, the Jets, as Giancarlo Gallifuoco rises for a header and just deflects the ball off the head of an opponent with the hand.
Up steps Dimi Petratos - but Birighitti saves it! Brilliant reactions from the Mariners custodian.
50 min: And another VAR shout at the other end - Clisby gives the ball away poorly and Steven Ugarkovic goes to ground in the box under the challenge of Kye Rowles. Was there sufficient contact there? Referee and video men say: no.
48 min: Close! Lovely work from Duric who finds De Silva - and the young u23 national team star almost fashions a second for the Mariners. He skipped past a would be tackler or two before playing the one-two with Duric, but his delightful cross was prevented, nearly off the goal line, by the experienced Topor-Stanley. A lovely passage for the home side.
A-League - second half!
But, back to the A-League, and we’re underway once more in the F3 derby. It’s a half-time substitute a piece - the skipper Matt Simon replaces Jordan Murray for the home side, and young English fullback Bobby Burns is on for Johnny Koutroumbis for the Jets.
Poor old Michael Cheika - his old mate Eddie Jones really does have the wood over him. It’s a bit too soon to talk about what this all means for him post-World Cup, but needless to say it’s a bitter pill to swallow.
Not that media figures from across the ditch are feeling too sympathetic.
Winners are grinners pic.twitter.com/1GR2MNQamQ
— Jason Pine (@pineyzb) October 19, 2019
And if you just need Rugby World Cup action hooked into your veins, there is of course the minor matter of New Zealand v Ireland coming up as well. The irrepressible Barry Glendenning is the man on the keyboard there:
And, I’ve tried my best not to talk about it, but in that minor matter of the Rugby World Cup match, the Wallabies have not been victorious.
Here’s Robert Kitson from the ground in Japan with the match report:
A-League: Central Coast 1-0 Newcastle Jets - HT:
So a rugged clash, as you’d expect in the F3 derby, where the whistle’s just gone for half-time. Duric’s quality strike the difference. Newcastle Jets have enjoyed a fair share of the possession but they’ve struggled to fashion too many clear-cut chances in the face of some desperate Mariners defence. Fitzgerald with a chance or two against his old club - wouldn’t that light the touchpaper, if the former CCM man bagged an equaliser.
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Nines Women's Final: Australia 15-17 New Zealand
Wowee, wow. They’ve hung on and done it, New Zealand. They were well-beaten 22-8 in the pool stage yesterday, but when it really mattered they’ve stood tall, the Kiwi Ferns.
One down, one to go - can New Zealand make it a clean sweep with a win in the men’s final as well?
Nines Women’s Final - Australia 15-17 New Zealand - 5 to play:
It’s New Zealand with first blood after the break, as Jules Newman finds the corner. Corbyn McGregor then with too much pace round the outside to put the Jillaroos back in front.
McGregor hits the afterburners 🔥#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/N44yA9fBOr
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 19, 2019
But it’s quick work from dummy half from Maynard that gets the Ferns back in front.
Can they get home from here, the trans-Tasman rivals?!
Nines Women’s Final - Australia 8-7 New Zealand - HT:
Brigginshaw looks at the clock and sizes her options. The skipper puts it on the toe and tries to catch the Kiwi Ferns on their heels, but they tidy up at the back.
“We have to play smart now, tackle one and two - no risky balls” is the word from the Ferns skipper. Let’s see what they can come up with this second half.
Let’s take you to the women’s Nines final now - hopefully we can follow that to the end.
It’s Australia v New Zealand, and it’s 8-7 to the Jillaroos with three minutes to play before half-time. It’s two tries to one for the host nation, as Brigginshaw looks to marshall her troops. They’ve dominated possession, Australia, but New Zealand are finding considerable success on a fast break.
17 min: A talking point as the VAR takes a good look at a potential handball in the box by Johnny Koutroumbis. And even those it’s clearly struck the hand, the verdict is that he was not “making himself bigger” with the arm. It’s an area of some real unclarity and unhappiness, handballs under VAR, but that’s the line here.
And it will be an Australian-New Zealand final in the men’s Nines as well - as the Kangaroos hop away from a determined Samoa late on. 25-8 the final score. At risk of sounding a party pooper t’d have called this last one held, but credit the persistence from Frizzell.
Just when you thouught you stopped Friz... #RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/g71f6tatnI
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
Goal! Central Coast Mariners 1-0 Newcastle Jets (Duric)
5 min: Can you believe this! We’re barely minutes underway and it’s their star Serbian midfielder who’s sparked the contest.
First blood, Mariners - and he becomes the first player to start their carreer scoring in consecutive games for Central Coast since, of all names, Asdrubal!
It was an exquisite volley from the former Vojvodina man - he released Jordan Murray with a raking cross-field ball, before the return found the Serbian unmarked, and he lashed it home past Glen Moss. Terrific strike.
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Kickoff!
1 min: We’re in Gosford, home of the Mariners, where Newcastle are making their first appearance of the season follow their opening round bye. A 48th F3 derby. Hasn’t it grown into a great fixture over the years.
Two former Mariners, Matt Millar and Nick Fitzgerald will start against their old club. The former, you’ll recall left in pretty acrimonious circumstances.
We’re at half-time in the Nines second semi-final, where Australia are leading 11-4 against Samoa.
A terrific late try from Josh Addo-Carr really getting Australia going - how’s the skillset here, watch and enjoy:
RUGBY LEAGUE YOU BEAUTIFUL BEAST 😍#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/XYq9oU5h4G
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
Now, our feature match for tonight’s Sportwatch is about to kickoff - it’s the F3 Derby in the A-League, Central Coast Mariners v Newcastle Jets.
Alen Stajcic did start his reign at the Mariners late last season with the derby, which Central Coast stunning won 3-2, with all five goals coming in the second half. Can we dare to hope for a repeat of those dramatics tonight?
We’re in the first semi-final in the men’s Nines where England are battling New Zealand (Australia will face Samoa in the second semi).
They’ve just registered their first try, England, having gone behind 16-0. About 20m out and with their tails up, the northern hemisphere side had a shot at really making it interesting, but bombed a good chance, only to see Jamayne Isaako sprint away 70m and hit straight back for NZ.
22-6 the current score.
Rugby Union - England 17-9 Australia - HT:
As mentioned, the big fixture today comes from the Rugby World Cup where it’s the Wallabies trailing England at the break. An intercept try a real kick in the teeth for Michael Cheika’s side, who for large portions have looked very good.
Follow that all play-by-play with Lee Calvert:
Full-time: Western United 1-1 Perth Glory
No! There’s the final whistle. It’s honours even and reputations in-tact. They’re good off-field friends, Tony Popovic and Mark Rudan, so they’ll have to settle for the point each. But importantly for the home fans on the A-League’s newest club, no loss on their home debut. 6,888 the official crowd figure in Geelong - not too shabby for a club that’s only existed > 2 years.
By all accounts a pulsating second half, and there was a goal disallowed for Besart Berisha - could they have taken all three, the new kids?
And some better news for Perth Glory in the A-League, where it’s been a telling contribution from Popovic!
No, not coach and former Socceroo Tony - but son Kristian who has fired his first ever A-League goal, to level the ledger for the premiers. Western United 1-1 Perth Glory. Is there a final twist left in this one?
⚽️ GOAL K.POPOVIC (76) ⚽️
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) October 19, 2019
WHAT A MOMENT! Kristian Popovic scores his first-ever @ALeague goal with a deft header from Kilkenny's sublime cross deep into the area.
Game On! 👊
(1-1) #OneGlory #ALeague #WUNvPER
And a few scandalous yarns doing the rounds today - firstly from the A-League a who-dunnit worthy of Carmen Sandiego even - the mystery of Perth Glory’s missing kit.
The club launched a remarkable broadside on Twitter:
Kit Switch...
— Perth Glory FC (@PerthGloryFC) October 19, 2019
Due to Qantas losing our regular kit in transit ☹️, here’s what we’ll be lining up in against @wufcofficial this afternoon...@ALeague #OneGlory #ALeague #WUNvPER pic.twitter.com/ahoL8h33w2
Before Qantas replied:
Hi there, we're looking into this for you, but our records show the bags made it to Melbourne. Please DM us with your missing bag report number or more information. Thanks. HC
— Qantas (@Qantas) October 19, 2019
Wherever the truth lies, they’ve turned out in their all-white training kit, Perth, and it’s not appearing to work for them. Shades of Alex Ferguson and the infamous United grey kit? Only difference is they’ve got nothing to change back into for the second half, the reigning premiers.
And another emphatic win at the Nines - New Zealand have sunk England 33-4 in the final group game of the women’s draw, so it will be an all trans-Tasman final in about an hour or two’s time. Game on!
As mentioned - the Rugby World Cup knockout match between Australia and England has just got underway. Check out Lee Calvert’s liveblog for play-by-play coverage of that one.
And we do have a breakthrough in the A-League - where it’s a first home goal for Western United, and it’s their marquee midfielder, the Greek international Panegiotis Kone for smashes one home from outside the box! Western United 1-0 Perth Glory.
What a strike 🔥 #WUFC
— Western United FC (@wufcofficial) October 19, 2019
pic.twitter.com/Iyz6ocUMek
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A-League - Western United 0-0 Perth Glory - HT:
No goals out in Geelong in the new kids on the block’s inaugural home game. Plenty to like from both sides with star playmakers Alessandro Diamanti and Diego Castro trying to pull the strings for their respective halves but very little goalbox action thus far. Just the two shots on target from Perth, who almost took the lead inside two minutes with a sumptuous buildup just avoiding Bruno Fornaroli at the far post.
Some result updates from the Nines. The Aussie men have finalised their group matches following a convincing 26-0 win over Papua New Guinea, thanks to tries to Daly Cherry-Evans, Campbell Graham x2, AJ Brimson and Jai Arrow - the last probably the pick of the action:
Now that's a kick return! #RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/NYOMRvhZ4J
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
And the Jillaroos have just completed their final group game, also against PNG, and it was another emphatic showing. A double to Tiani Penitani who takes her tournament tally to four, with Isobel Kelly and Ally Brigginshaw also in the thick of the action. A late consolation try for PNG maintaining their record of having scored in every game, 30-6 the final score there.
Beautiful pass 🙌 Beautiful finish 👌#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/B4Sce4ioOE
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 19, 2019
The Australian men will now progress to a semi-final date with England, the Australian women will now look ahead to the final, where they’ll play the winner of England or New Zealand.
Now, as mentioned there’s plenty floating about on the sports front at the moment. We’ve got A-League action, Nines, a game or two of WBBL, but most eyes I imagine will be flicking towards the crunch Rugby World Cup knockout rounds showdown between Australia and England.
First whistle is about half an hour away there, and Lee Calvert is your eyes on the prize in our match-specific liveblog:
Evening all - and thanks Megan for another sterling shift. Great to bond over all things Carmen Sandiego. Apparently there’s a Netflix show now so that the young’uns can relive one of the seminal classics of our generation (Gen X/Millennial cusp?). “Here are the de-tails of your next case”. Magic.
Incidentally a fun fact about the word sterling - I recently read Mark Kurlansky’s classic book, Cod, where he suggested the name came into English through ancient salted fish trade with the “Easterlings”, Germanic traders around the Baltic Sea. Apparently there are rival theories that challenge that, but it’s certainly a more romantic interpretation.
Sportwatch, eh? You came for Nines updates, you left learning about the history of currency. Next week maybe we’ll do famous dead languages, what ever happened to Livonian etc.
Well that’s goodbye from me, I now leave you in the very capable hands of fellow Carmen Sandiego fan Richard Parkin to see you through the rest of the night. He’s bringing you some more Nines, even more WBBL and some A-League, just to mix things up. Auf Widersehen!
Adelaide Strikers 120-4 (15.2 overs) defeat Melbourne Renegades 117-7 (20)
It wasn’t a happy day for the Melbourne teams today, as the Renegades’ 117 proved to be not quite enough at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide. Sophie Devine was the standout batter for the Strikers and was awarded player of the match, with 72* off 45. Katie Mack came in for a quick-fire 10 from five balls at the end, in a wonderful cameo to finish off the game.
Lea Tahuhu and Maitlan Brown were the wicket-takers for the Renegades, grabbing two each. While only Claire Koski and Georgia Wareham were particularly expensive, the Renegades weren’t bowling tightly enough for such a small total.
Stafanie Taylor will be pleased with her off-season move from the Thunder, starting with a decisive bowling performance for her new club.
And that’s a wrap for game one! 👏👏👏 #BlueEnergy #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/m4r1DTFiiW
— AdelaideStrikersWBBL (@StrikersWBBL) October 19, 2019
Hobart Hurricanes 164-5 (20 overs) defeat Melbourne Stars 144-9 (20)
A big win for the Hurricanes in their first match of WBBL05. After dominant batting performances from Erin Fazackerley (46 off 33) and Chloe Tryon (46 off 18), the Tasmanians were well set up to defend their total. Getting Elyse Villani lbw for a duck was the perfect start and they denied the Stars the chance to get into a rhythm, taking regular wickets.
Belinda Vakarewa (3-27) and former Thunder star Maisy Gibson (3-26) did the damage and the Stars couldn’t catch them. Tess Flintoff gave it her best shot, managing 34* off 22, but it wasn’t enough for the women in green. The Stars will get another shot tomorrow however, as the two teams meet again - same bat place, (almost) same bat time (it starts at 2pm instead of 1:30pm).
The @HurricanesWBBL start their #WBBL05 campaign with a bang! Tryon and Fazackerly best with the bat, while Gibson collected three.
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 19, 2019
Scores: https://t.co/AS4jznyoFp #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/8nFzkOuUmJ
Netball: If you thought I was finished plugging my own articles, do I have news for you! Here’s another - this one is on Lisa Alexander and her record-breaking 100 games as coach of the Australian Diamonds. The Constellation Cup continues tomorrow and I’ll be bringing you a match report live from Sydney, so check back in for that one.
W-League: My colleague Samantha Lewis wrote an excellent analysis on the questions posed by an independent W-League this week. Lots of good talking points in there, I highly recommend having a read of it.
World Cup Nines: Time to check back in on the best World Cup you didn’t know was a World Cup. In the men’s competition Lebanon couldn’t keep up their giant-killing form, falling to Wales 14-25. England made short work of France, winning 38-4, while the Cook Islands moved into second place in Pool C after beating Fiji 12-10. Samoa are ahead of Tonga at half-time, leading 18-10. Australia take on Papua New Guinea at 5:15pm.
The women’s competition returns to the field this evening, with final pool games featuring Australia v Papua New Guinea and England v New Zealand, with the final to follow.
How good are these guys! #RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/KiBFux1pIS
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
Racing: The fortuitously named Yes Yes Yes has won the Everest at Royal Randwick today. I’m sure the owners were screaming that name quite loudly as the horse crossed the finish line. Funny name for a horse really. I’d probably have called him Elizabeth. Or Mary.
Yes Yes Yes wins #TheTABEverest in a track record @boss_glen @cwallerracing #EverestCarnival #RoyalRandwick pic.twitter.com/wMT7ANca6l
— Australian Turf Club (@atc_races) October 19, 2019
WBBL: Checking back in on the Big Bash and there isn’t a whole lot of big bashing, or bashing of any description, going on right now to be quite frank. The Stars are looking stilted at 68-5 after 10 overs. The loss of Elyse Villani for a duck was a huge blow for Green Melbourne and they have a way to go to chase down the 164 that the Hurricanes put on. Belinda Vakarewa and Maisy Gibson (another former Thunder player) have done the damage with the ball, taking two wickets each, with Heather Knight picking up one.
The Strikers would have been confident chasing down the Renegades’ 117 but have struggled get going early, losing Susie Bates for 2 and Tahlia McGrath for a duck. Lea Tahuhu has both wickets for Red Melbourne so far, with sensational figures of 2-4. The Strikers are 25-2 after four overs.
Lea Tahuhu sending them down FAST 🔥 #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/55KU0GB7tt
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 19, 2019
Rugby World Cup: There is no doubt that the Wallabies go into tonight’s quarter final against England as the underdogs. The Australians have been less than convincing at the World Cup so far, but that puts the pressure squarely on England. Bret Harris analysed the Wallabies as underdogs for us this week, looking at the potential headache they could cause for their English rivals.
Tokyo 2020: We ran a sneak peek behind the scenes at some of Tokyo’s stunning Olympic venues. While Japan has been all about rugby lately, the attention will soon turn to the world’s biggest multi-sport showcase and the city is ready.
W-League: It was getting a little worrying, but the draw has finally been released! Much like the Super Netball this year, the competition will take an international break, but fortunately not as long as the netball one was. Hopefully the Matildas players are given plenty of support and recovery opportunities as they work through a crowded calendar.
WBBL: Melbourne Renegades 117-7 at the innings break
Despite the best efforts of Jess Duffin, who pulled together 44 from 32 balls, the Renegades look to be in a spot of bother in Adelaide. However the second half of their innings was much improved and they will take some confidence from their refusal to fall apart after things looked catastrophic early. West Indies captain Stafanie Taylor looks to be the signing of the season, she was sensational for her new club, finishing with 3-26 from her four overs.
How about this super catch from Shooter!? #BlueEnergy #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/dJXTdKmAQ0
— AdelaideStrikersWBBL (@StrikersWBBL) October 19, 2019
Sheffield Shield: Checking in on the Shield games for a spell and Queensland are creeping up toward’s South Australia’s total, currently 82 runs behind at 139-4 after Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 32.
Lunch at the WACA and the Western Australians are 18-1 and looking to build after the early loss of Cam Bancroft for 10. Sam Whiteman and Shaun Marsh will return to the crease after the lunch break, chasing Victoria’s total of 341 in the first innings.
Meanwhile Steve Smith has reached his half century at Drummoyne Oval, batting with Moises Henriques. NSW are 113-2, chasing Tasmania’s first innings score of 268.
🐐 📸
— NSW Blues (@CricketNSWBlues) October 19, 2019
Pic: David Gray/AAP pic.twitter.com/21V60h3sd1
Realityreigns in the comments isn’t too excited about all this delightful summer sport we’ve got on.
I feel like maybe we need some more summer vibes to get them excited about this wonderful time of year. Some Calvin Harris might help.
Rugby World Cup: Don’t forget, we have a big night of action from Japan coming up with the Australia v England and New Zealand v Ireland coming up later tonight. We’ll be live blogging both matches, so stick around for those. While you’re waiting, we’ve had some great coverage from our rugby writers. This piece from Andy Bull about how rugby has won over “niwaka fans” is a great place to start.
WBBL: Hobart Hurricanes 164-5 at the innings break
Well, a few overs ago I urged Fran Wilson to get a move on and, while she did indeed oblige, it was young all-rounder Chloe Tryon who really took it to the bowlers, smashing 46 off 18. While they looked in danger after Fazackerley’s dismissal, Tryon turned their innings around and now they have a total they will be confident they can defend. The Stars have plenty of firepower in their ranks though, and will look to come out firing. Should be a cracker of a second innings, so stay tuned!
First two WBBL deliveries faced: two boundaries!
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 19, 2019
Welcome to the Big Bash, Chloe Tryon! #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/F7CVl5LYZo
Netball: News just in that Diamonds’ mid-courter Paige Hadley has been ruled out of tomorrow’s Constellation Cup match between Australia and New Zealand. It’s a blow for the Sydneysider who has had a huge year, being selected for the Netball World Cup and leading the NSW Swifts to victory in the Super Netball last month.
From AAP:
Australia will be without experienced midcourter Paige Hadley for the remainder of the Constellation Cup netball series, after she fractured a wrist in game two on Wednesday. Going into Sunday’s third game of the series at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena, the Diamonds and Silver Ferns are locked at 1-1 after two matches in New Zealand.
Diamonds’ coach Lisa Alexander said Australia wouldn’t bring in a replacement for Hadley as they had picked 13 rather than the normal 12 in the squad, which included an extra midcourter.
“We really feel for Paige, especially given she would have been playing in front of her home crowd tomorrow,” Alexander said on Saturday. “To be losing her from the team for the remaining two matches of the series isn’t ideal but we’re confident we have the depth within our group to get the job done.”
A win on Sunday would go a long way toward securing Australia a ninth Constellation Cup series in 10 years, with the final match to be played in Perth on October 27. Alexander opted to go with just three shooters in game two but Hadley’s injury means she will have four players across each line for Saturday’s clash. The match is expected to draw at least 14,000 spectators, which would be the biggest netball attendance anywhere in the world this year.
Wing attack Laura Scherian’s impressive introduction to international play and the increasing influence of fellow Queenslander and shooter Gretel Tippett have been two big positives for Alexander through the games in New Zealand. Tippett continued her impressive shooting form from the World Cup, missing just two of 49 shots across the first two CC matches and her all-round play in Auckland was excellent. Scherian handled the step up with aplomb after getting her Diamonds chance at age 31.
“Shezzie is amazing. She doesn’t look like a debutant at all , she’s very wise,” Tippett told AAP. “She’s my little general out the front; she calls the shots and I love that.”
The fortunes of both have risen considerably since 2014, when they were playing for Queensland Fusion in the domestic second-tier ANL.
“(Tippett) is starting to get that consistency with her game; we’re using her strengths in a more consistent way as well,” Alexander said. “(With) Laura Scherian, it’s possibly the Queensland angle, they have a nice combination together and that was very complementary in the first two Tests and hopefully that will be what we see in the future.”
WBBL: Unfortunately it looks like I put the commentator’s (blogger’s?) curse on Erin Fazackerley earlier, she fell to fellow Erin (Osborne) almost immediately after for 46. No one else has been able to put on a big score for the Hurricanes, but Fran Wilson with 17 off 14 is building. With only four overs remaining, she needs to get a move on. The Hurricanes are 126-5 after 17 overs.
Things haven’t improved for the Renegades, who are now 37-4 after 10 overs. Stafanie Taylor took two wickets in her first over for the Strikers, shifting there from the Sydney Thunder this season. Courtney Webb and Jess Duffin are batting cautiously at the crease now, looking to establish a partnership and hopefully hit some late runs to mount a defendable score.
Stafanie Taylor picks up two wickets from her first over in blue! 😱
— Rebel Women's Big Bash League (@WBBL) October 19, 2019
Renegades 4-27 after 7 https://t.co/zoWHD9ulwW #WBBL05 pic.twitter.com/HovkfJVhUt
World Cup Nines: Australia Women 42-4 England Women
Australia’s women continue their dominance, easily accounting for England at Bankwest Stadium. England were slightly ahead in the standings on for and against, but Australia will now leapfrog them into first place and have sealed a place in the final. Australia shared the scoring around, with seven tries coming from seven different try-scorers. It was a dominant display from start to finish, with the English unable to match the pace or skill of their southern rivals. It speaks volumes about the standard of the NRLW competition and the benefits to the women who compete in it.
Good luck stopping Kelly 🔥#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/cIOO5YbV5G
— Women's Rugby League (@WRugbyLeague) October 19, 2019
World Cup Nines: It’s been a big two days of World Cup Nines action so far. The big story has been Lebanon’s win over England in the men’s competition, leaving England vulnerable to an early exit from the tournament.
From AAP:
England are perilously close to becoming the first shock exit of the World Cup nines after a 16-13 loss to lowly Lebanon. Without their boycotting NRL stars, the Cedars claimed what will likely be the biggest upset of the weekend against an England side full of NRL and Super League talent.
Brothers Reece and Travis Robinson starred, the latter scoring a double with the first coming from a nice flick pass from his sibling. The win was Lebanon’s second of the tournament after also stunning France on the opening night, meaning they will qualify for the finals if they beat Wales on Saturday afternoon.
That would blow England out of the tournament, meaning they would miss the semi-finals of a rugby league World Cup event in any format for the first time in their history.
“We probably didn’t start well. Some of the tries we let in defensively weren’t our best effort. That’s where we let ourselves down there,” England star Gareth Widdop said. “They played some good football. We nearly got it at the end there but didn’t. We know we need to be better in the next game.”
UPSET 😱#RLWC9s pic.twitter.com/21NnkVZvxo
— NRL (@NRL) October 19, 2019
WBBL: First to the cricket, which had a high scoring start to the season last night, with the Sydney Thunder unable to run down the total their cross town rivals, the Sydney Sixers, had amassed. It was a powerful display from Sixers’ captain Ellyse Perry, who dominated with the bat and ball. Thunder veteran Alex Blackwell put up a good fight, but lacked support around her to chase the 192 that the women in magenta put on.
First up today we have the Melbourne Stars taking on the Hobart Hurricanes in St Kilda. The Stars sent the Canes in and Tasmanians have got off to a decent start, currently 69/2 from 11 overs. Erin Fazackerley is doing most of the heavy lifting, with 43 off 29 balls.
It’s not such a happy start for the Melbourne Renegades against the Adelaide Strikers with both openers going cheaply, they’re currently 15/2 from four overs. Megan Schutt has been the dangerwoman for the Strikers, taking both wickets at 2/9.
And since we’re talking about WBBL, why not have a read of my article from earlier in the week about reasons to get excited about the new standalone season?
Updated
Preamble
Hello and welcome to Saturday’s edition of Sportwatch! And what a big night we have ahead of us. There’s plenty of A-League and WBBL action happening tonight, plus we’ll have our separate live blogs going for the big Australia v England and New Zealand v Ireland Rugby World Cup quarter finals. I’ll be kicking us off and the always delightful Richard Parkin will take you into the evening. It’s going to be a big one and as we’re already up and running with the Rugby League Nines and the WBBL, let’s get started!
The really good news is that it's only about six months until the AFL season starts again, I'm already counting the sleeps.