Super Rugby
My fix of live sport this week came courtesy of the Super Rugby clash between the Western Force and the Sharks at NIB Stadium in Perth. After a narrow loss away to the Reds in their season opener, the Force were hopeful of getting a win with the likes of Wallabies James O’Connor, Nathan Sharpe and David Pocock in their side.
It didn’t go well however as the Sharks ran out comfortable 39-12 winners, scoring five tries. The Force were reduced to 14 men after just 15 minutes when centre Rory Sidey was dismissed for a horrible spear tackle on who left the field on a stretcher. The hosts also lost both Pocock (knee) and Mitch Inman (dislocated elbow) to injury on what turned out to be a miserable night. Patrick Lambie scored a try, four conversions and two penalties for the visitors for an individual points haul of 18.
It was an emotional return to the field for the Crusaders of Christchurch following the cancellation of their week two fixture. Now playing out of McLean Park, Nelson which is north of the affected area, they claimed a 38-18 win over the Waratahs. Robbie Fruean bagged a pair of tries while Daniel Carter was lethal with the boot, kicking four penalties and three conversions.
The rest of week’s games saw wins for the Blues, Reds, Chiefs, Stormers and Highlanders.
AFL
Collingwood and Essendon will meet in the NAB Cup Final on Friday night after they defeated West Coast and St Kilda in their respective semi finals. Thanks to some fantastic scheduling by the AFL, I was unable to attend the Eagles/Magpies game at Subiaco Oval as it was played at the same time as the Force/Sharks Super Rugby fixture. The Eagles performed well for three quarters against the reigning Premiers but lost out 86-50 in the end.
On Friday night Essendon scored an upset win over St Kilda to deny the AFL their dream repeat of the 2010 Grand Final. The Bombers won 84-45 as new coach James Hird continues his 100% start. Kerry’s Tommy Walsh wasn’t involved for the Saints.
A-League
The good folk at the Football Federation of Australia (FFA) decided last week to completely overshadow the ongoing finals series by announcing that they will no longer be supporting North Queensland Fury.
The Fury has been in the league for two seasons and were funded by the governing body during 2010 as they tried to establish themselves in Townsville. However the FFA have deemed Robbie Fowler’s first Australian club too expensive a risk and have pulled the plug, meaning the A-League will again consist of just 10 teams in 2011.
Fowler’s current club, Perth Glory, are now the worst in the competition following Fury’s demise. This week saw the presentation of an independent review into the workings of the club which basically told even the most casual of observer what they already knew – Glory splash too much money on over-the-hill has-beens and are poorly run internally. Rivetting, no-s***-Sherlock stuff.
On the pitch, an Adam Kwasnik goal 11 minutes from time has put the Central Coast Mariners into the Grand Final where they will take on Brisbane Roar this Saturday night. Mariners’ 18-year-old goalkeeper Matt Ryan was in superb form as he kept Gold Coast United at bay, denying Bruce Djite and Joel Porter amongst others.
The final will be Central Coast’s third, a record only equalled by Melbourne Victory, though they face a difficult task to overcome the Roar who have been the standout side all season.
