AFL Sydney Testing the Waters
Pre-season Bank Cup has started and while we have seen some interesting results, you cannot take what has happened so far as any form of gauge to the season proper. Port showed good intent in their undermanned match against Swans who typically don’t show their wares until round 1, although a tall forward from Robe named Dawson (do we dare call him smokie?) did enough with his few touches to excite the red and white hopefuls. In a storm-drenched last quarter, the Swans glided on the surface whilst peddling hard underneath, cutting up a gallant Port.
Gold Coast, North, Hawks and Adelaide had wins, with the latter racking up a big score against last year’s GF finalist West Coast. WC did start pre-season later and we shouldn’t read too much into the score, after all this is the pre-season for hope and optimism, everyone is on equal points.
NRL
It has been reported that former Penrith player Jamal Idris survived an attempted kidnap in Vietnam while on Contiki tour. A Free to Air broadcaster reported that the 25-year-old was on a contiki tour in Ho Chi Minh City when he was separated from his group, encountered a group of kidnappers who duly attacked him and tried to extort money from him. Idris escaped, immediately contacting his family, who informed the Australian Federal Police. Not exactly sure if this was a kidnapping or robbery or extortion but there has been many an opposition player who have also failed in their attempts to stop the powerful player. Idris is on an indefinite break from the NRL.
NRL vs Superleague
The World Club series being played in England witnessed Southern Hemisphere dominance. Still in pre-season build-up, Brisbane Broncos were too powerful and skilful for Wigan Warriors wining 42-12, Sydney Roosters demolished St Helens 38-12. The final game, showdown if you like between the two championship teams will be played overnight, Nth Qld Cowboys against Leeds Rhinos at Headingley.
Cricket – Records and runs galore in NZ
B McCullum turned on the fireworks in his last test for NZ, in a performance befitting a T20 match. Breaking Sir Viv’s fastest Test ton, McCullum swung and did little running between the wickets taking the Kiwis to 370. Aussie sin reply piled on a 4-363 on day in a more sedate manner with Tons to Smith and Burns, he with the 3 test centuries to his name in 19 innings with those of you out there calling for his head. Patience please it’s not T20.
A-League: Safe to say no flare in the A-League
With the two major supporter clubs being penalised for letting off more than wind, Victory and Wanderers’ fans seemed to behave themselves. Victory lost in the final gasp and Wanderers drew in a tense sometimes spiteful Sydney derby, a match where Barmy Arnie felt the sky blues dominated and should have won, while Wanderers had the better chances and if converted they should have won, but they didn’t.
Melbourne City sprang back into action with a solid win against Central Coast, who lost Storm Roux to a nasty injury and Fabio Ferreira for a second yellow card.
Brisbane obviously didn’t appreciate the flight over to Perth, with a sluggish 6-3 defeat to Glory. Nine goals scored for the match equalled the A-League record that was set on four previous occasions.
Adelaide finally ended a five year loss record on Victory’s home turf, records are meant to be broken.
Melbourne City v Central Coast Mariners 4 : 1
Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar 6 : 3
Sydney FC v WS Wanderers 1 : 1
Newcastle Jets v Wellington Phoenix 3 : 2
Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United 0 : 1
Golf
Korean Soo Bin Kim fired a course record nine under 63 in the first round of the Women’s Australian Open in Adelaide. It wasn’t enough to win the tournament with Japanese golfer Haru Nomura a final round 67 to win over world number one Lydia Ko (67) and local hope Karrie Webb (71).
Cycling Tour of Oman
Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) has won stage 5 of the Tour of Oman. General Classification leader Vincenzo Nibali continues to lead the tour with one stage on Sunday remaining. Best young rider is Australia’s Brendan Canty (Drapac).
Pro Running – Keilor Gift 20th February
120m Keilor Gift 1st Craig Foley, 2nd Brett Richards, 3rd Cam Dunbar 12:669
120m Women’s Gift 1st Julia Phillips, 2nd Kayla Bunevicius, 3rd Lauren Keating 14:176
400m Open 1st Jarrod Whittaker, 2nd Hamish Adams, 3rd Jack Doderico 48:171
1600m Backmarkers 1st Indiana Cooper, 2nd Mark Andrews, 3rd Jack Kockley Samon 4:15:369
400m Women’s 1st Megan McMahon, 2nd Sophia Fighera, 3rd Meg Deane 56:820
400m Restricted Final 1st Justine White, 2nd Tom Deane, 3rd Tim Halpin
300m Masters 1st Les masters, 2nd Scott Schillito, 3rd Neil Brennan 36:799
1600m Frontmarkers Final 1st Chloe Sproule, 2nd Leon Brooks, 3rd Corina Kapusta 4:10:036
800m Open Final 1st Stefan Catalano, 2nd James Deane, 3rd Jake Stevens 1:55:261
70m Open Final 1st Harrison Kerr, 2nd Carrick Gill-Vallance, 3rd Rhys Gillson 7:638
Stonnington Gift 19th February
Gift 100m Open 1st Ryan McNamara, 2nd Nathan Riali, 3rd Brett Richards 10:509
Women’s Gift 100m 1st Keely Henderson, 2nd Sarah Blizzard, 3rd Jessica Payne 11:687
Women’s 400m 1st Jody Richards, 2nd Natalya Hall-Dekleva, 3rd Anne Church 56:336
300m Masters 1st David Page, 2nd Scott Shillito, 3rd John Hilditch 35:113
1600m Open 1st Cameron Clayton, 2nd James Deane, 3rd Jack Davies 4:10:770
100m U20 Boys 1st Daniel Richardson, 2nd Darcy Ireland, 3rd Matt Burleigh 11:023
U20 Junior Stonnington Gift 1st Sarah Huntington, 2nd Olivia Owen, 3rd Bridget Neideck 12:079
NBL
New Zealand heart breakers defeated Melbourne not so united 2 -0 in their playoff, with NZ set to meet the winner of Illawarra Hawks and Perth Wildcats going into a decider game 3.
Hockey
The Hockeyroos defeated Great Britain in the final game of the series to win 2-1 having played their three draws previously in Perth. Enjoy the flight home.
Snooker
Australian Neil Robertson meets Ronnie O’Sullivan tonight in the Final of the Welsh Open 2016 Snooker Championships. UPDATE: The Aussie lost
Robertson reached the Final with semi win over Northern Ireland’s Mark Allen 1-77 (77), 40-82 (55), 65-57 (Allen 56), 109-12 (54, 51), 75-0 (75), 86-31 (82), 72-1 (72), 0-124 (124), 1-96, 66-40.
O’Sullivan defeated fellow Englishman Joe Perry in the other Semi. 68-48, 0-139 (139), 129-0 (124), 1-92 (92), 105-0 (101), 94-29 (94), 88-3 (88), 39-83 (56), 98-24 (78)
Ski Jumping
Latest rounds of the Ski Jumping World Cup in Kuopio Finland sees Austria’s Michael Hoyboeck win the first round. Second rounds are due overnight.
Rank Athlete
1 HAYBOECK Michael AUT 265.4
2 TANDE Daniel Andre NOR 263.0
3 FREUND Severin GER 259.5
4 GANGNES Kenneth NOR 259.2
5 PREVC Peter SLO 258.7
6 FORFANG Johann Andre NOR 255.0
7 KASAI Noriaki JPN 246.6
8 FANNEMEL Anders NOR 245.8
9 KOUDELKA Roman CZE 245.5
English Football – FA Cup
Arsenal 0 – 0 Hull
Reading 3 – 1 West Brom
Watford 1 – 0 Leeds
Bournemouth 0 – 2 Everton
Blackburn 1 – 5 West Ham
Tottenham 0- 1 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 5 – 1 Man City
English Football – Championship
Cardiff 4-1 Brighton
Birmingham P-P Leeds Postponed
Bolton 1-1 QPR
Brentford 1-3 Derby
Burnley 2-0 Rotherham
Fulham 3-0 Charlton
Huddersfield 1-0 Wolves
Middlesbrough P-P Reading Postponed
MK Dons 0-2 Bristol City
Preston 1-0 Sheff Wed
SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP
Celtic 3-0 Inverness
Dundee Utd 2-1 Hearts
Kilmarnock 0-0 Dundee
Ross County 2-1 Hamilton
St Johnstone 2-1 Motherwell
LEAGUE ONE
Barnsley 1-0 Doncaster
Bradford 2-2 Rochdale
Bury 5-2 Colchester
Chesterfield 3-1 Crewe
Fleetwood 2-1 Scunthorpe
Millwall 3-0 Peterborough
Oldham 2-1 Gillingham
Sheff Utd 1-0 Port Vale
Swindon 3-2 Blackpool
Walsall 1-2 Wigan
Spain Primera Division
Levante 3 vs Getafe 0
Las Palmas 1 vs Barcelona 2
Espanyol 1 vs La Coruna 0
Betis 1 vs Gijon 1
Celta Vigo 3 vs Eibar 2
Vallecano 2 vs Sevilla 2
NBA
21st
Atlanta Hawks V Milwaukee Bucks 109 : 117
Miami Heat v Washington Wizards 114 : 94
Minnesota Timberwolves vs New York Knicks 95 : 103
Los Angeles Clippers vs Golden State Warriors 112 : 115
20th
Los Angeles Lakers vs San Antonio Spurs 113 : 119
Utah Jazz vs Boston Celtics 111 : 93
Portland Trail Blazers vs Golden State Warriors 137 : 105
Sacramento Kings vs Denver Nuggets 116 : 110
Phoenix Suns vs Houston Rockets 100 : 116
Atlanta Hawks vs Miami Heat 111 : 115
Chicago Bulls vs Toronto Raptors 116 : 106
Memphis Grizzlies vs Minnesota Timberwolves 109 : 104
Milwaukee Bucks vs Charlotte Hornets 95 : 98
New Orleans Pelicans vs Philadelphia 76ers 121 : 114
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers 98 : 101
Brooklyn Nets vs New York Knicks 109 : 98
Orlando Magic vs Dallas Mavericks 110 : 104
Washington Wizards vs Detroit Pistons 98 : 86
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