New Zealand annoys Australian Sport
It started on a promising Friday night, Pizza, beers, TV and then; Hurricanes defeated Force, Highlanders defeated Waratahs, NZ defeated Australia in World Cup T20 (not that we really care about T20 but hate losing to NZ).
Luckily, Phoenix lost to Perth and Storm beat Warriors to ensure there was something we could take from the weekend. In case you missed the results, here they are;
NRL
Round 3 and the big talking point was slammin’ Sammie Burgess carried off on a stretcher. Good news is that it appears a compressed injury and he should be OK, waiting official medical report.
A few upsets, Dragons beat Bunnies, Titans tame Tigers, Panthers pounce Broncos, Knights and Raiders hold on for a draw, Eels too slippery for Doggies and Cowboys round up Roosters.
Storm the only team undefeated after three rounds.
New Zealand Warriors vs Melbourne Storm 14 : 21
St.George Illawarra vs South Sydney Rabbitohs 8 : 6
Gold Coast Titans vs Wests Tigers 30 : 18
Penrith Panthers vs Brisbane Broncos 23 : 22
Newcastle Knights vs Canberra Raiders 24 : 24
Canterbury Bulldogs vs Parramatta Eels 6 : 20
North Queensland Cowboys vs Sydney Roosters 40 : 0
Super Rugby XV
Rebels win, the Red neither win nor lose but gain points, Waratahs, Force and Brumbies defeated. Brumbies and Rebels on equal points top of the Australian Conference.
Lions vs Cheetahs 39 : 22
Stormers vs ACT Brumbies 31 : 11
Jaguares vs Chiefs 26 : 30
Reds vs Blues 25 : 25
Crusaders vs Southern Kings 57 : 24
Sunwolves vs Rebels 9 : 35
Bulls vs Sharks 16 : 16
Waratahs vs Highlanders 26 : 30
Hurricanes vs Force 41 : 6
Six Nations Rugby
England win Grand Slam defeating France
Wales vs Italy 67 : 14
Ireland vs Scotland 35 : 25
France vs England 21 : 31
A-League:
Glory too good for Phoenix, Victory hold on for draw against 10 man Jets, Wanderers and Adelaide fight it out for no result, Mariners and Sydney score two each and Melbourne City too strong for Brisbane Roar.
Wellington Phoenix vs Perth Glory 1 : 2
Melbourne Victory vs Newcastle Jets 1 : 1
WS Wanderers vs Adelaide United 0 : 0
Central Coast Mariners vs Sydney FC 2 : 2
Melbourne City vs Brisbane Roar 3 : 1
Pro Running
With the Pros taking a break and getting themselves pumped and motivated for Stawell Gift this Easter Monday, Almanac thought you might appreciate a run down memory lane.
Here is a YouTube clip of Cathy Freeman winning the 400m in 1996, possibly the best race at Stawell since Jean-Louis Ravelomanantsoa won the gift also on a water heavy track.
Cathy won this race as back marker, on a heavy track and encountered interference, a cracker.
Watch YouTube clip here
WNBL
Townsville Fire beat Perth Lynx in the WNBL grand final claiming consecutive wins and consecutive titles, winning game 2 in Townsville 80 : 70.
Golf
Jason Day takes the lead into the final day of the Arnie Palmer Invitational with a two shot lead.
UPDATE: Jason Day wins Arnie’s Invitational by one stroke from Kevin Chappell. Adam Scott was in a tie for 12th .
English Football – EPL
Chelsea vs West Ham 2 : 2
Crystal Palace vs Leicester 0 : 1
Watford vs Stoke 1 : 2
West Brom vs Norwich 0 : 1
Swansea vs Aston Villa 1 : 0
Everton vs Arsenal 0 : 2
Newcastle vs Sunderland 1 : 1
Southampton vs Liverpool 3 : 2
Manchester City vs Manchester Utd 0 : 1
Tottenham vs Bournemouth 3 : 0
English Football – Championship
Birmingham vs Fulham 1 : 1
Brentford vs Blackburn 0 : 1
Bristol City vs Bolton 6 : 0
Burnley vs Wolves 1 : 1
Ipswich vs Rotherham 0 : 1
Leeds vs Huddersfield 1 : 4
Milton Keynes vs Brighton 1 : 2
Preston vs QPR 1 : 1
Reading vs Cardiff 1 : 1
Derby vs Nottingham 1 : 0
Middlesbrough vs Hull 1 : 0
Scottish Premiership
Hamilton vs Partick 1 : 2
Hearts St. vs Johnstone 0 : 3
Motherwell vs Aberdeen 2 : 1
Ross County vs Inverness 0 : 3
Dundee Utd vs Dundee FC
Kilmarnock vs Celtic 0 : 1
Primera Division
Gijon vs Atl. Madrid 2 : 1
Granada vs Vallecano 2 : 2
Real Sociedad vs Las Palmas 0 : 1
La Coruna vs Levante 2 : 1
Betis vs Malaga 0 : 1
Espanyol vs Ath. Bilbao
Getafe vs Eibar 1 : 1
Bundesliga
1 FC Koln vs Bayern 0 : 1
Bremen vs Mainz 1 : 1
Hamburger SV vs Hoffenheim 1 : 3
Hertha vs Ingolstadt 2 : 1
Wolfsburg vs Darmstadt 1 : 1
Frankfurt vs Hannover 1 : 0
Schalke vs Monchengladbach 2 : 1
NBA
Charlotte Hornets vs Denver Nuggets 93 : 101
Detroit Pistons vs Brooklyn Nets 115 : 103
Indiana Pacers vs Oklahoma City Thunder 111 : 115
Washington Wizards vs New York Knicks 99 : 89
Atlanta Hawks vs Houston Rockets 109 : 97
Miami Heat vs Cleveland Cavaliers 122 : 101
Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz 92 : 85
Memphis Grizzlies vs Los Angeles Clippers 113 : 102
San Antonio Spurs vs Golden State Warriors 87 : 79
Jason Day clung on to win the Bay Hill Classic in Florida by a stroke. Saw some of the highlights on the BBC Sport app and the Golf Channel app. His birdie from out of the rough on 9; clutch 12 foot birdie on 17 to regain the lead; and up and down with a 30 metre bunker shot to a metre on 18 were great scrambling. His form has been modest so far this season, but this was his “Turnbull Stakes” outing. His long game was errant all week, but his short game up and downs were sublime. Good signs for Augusta.
Other highlights were Leicester finding another 1-0 win to stay 5 points clear of Spurs. And Olympic cycling champion Victoria Pendleton getting around in one piece to finish fifth in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/19/victoria-pendleton-cheltenham-festival-foxhunter-chase-dream-audacious-ridiculous
Thanks DP. Now – let the games begin.