akd545
NormWeekend Wrap - Finals Frenzy!
September 10th 2006 23:41
Well the finals have started in full swing, and both competition has given us a number of upsets and surprises.
In the NRL, Newcastle and St. George have been able to score surprising victories against their opponents. The Knights were able to win a thriller against the Manly Sea Eagles, winning the game in the last ten minutes with a field goal and try against the odds to win 25-18. Manly were deemed the favourites of the match, and were leading 12-0 at the break, yet were unable to hold up the full 80 minutes against the Andrew John’s led attack. The Sea Eagles were seeing red against the referee in the dying minutes of the game, as skipper Ben Kennedy was sin binned after retaliating against a dangerous throw by Newcastle's Danny Buderus, and therefore gave the Knights the edge they needed. Newcastle will be on tenterhooks for the week though, as Buderus was reported for his tackle.
St. George was also able to defy the favourites, and defeat the Brisbane Broncos away from home 20-4.The Broncos were hoping to break their finals curse, going into the match with six consecutive losses in the finals, but were unable to match the Dragon’s fast paced game, and with 24 minutes gone in the game were already trailing 10-0. The second half gave the same ferocity, and after a try from Justin Hodges was disallowed in the 63rd minute, Brisbane looked to have no answer to St. George’s attack. The win was not all perfect for the Dragons, as outgoing captain Mark Gasiner was led off the ground with a hip injury during the second half, and now has been suggested that he won’t be able to play until the Grand Final if the Dragon get that far.
In other games, both Canberra and Parramatta were knocked out of the competition after losing to the competition favourites Canterbury and Melbourne. The Raiders were unable the fierceness that the Bulldogs brought to the wet Stadium Australia and were defeated 30-12, whilst Parramatta went down to the minor premiers Melbourne Storm 12-6. The Eels tried everything to stay in contention, and whilst the match went down to the last few minutes, they were simply unable to overcome the defence of the Storm, and slipped out of the finals race.
Next week the action sparks up, as Manly and St. George fight off for the prelim spot against Melbourne, whilst Broncos try to overcome their finals jinx against Newcastle to stay in the premiership race.
In the AFL, Melbourne and Bulldogs pulled off surprising upsets to stay in the competition for another week, whilst Adelaide and Sydney were able to stay ahead of the match to earn a home preliminary final in two week’s time.
On a weekend that held four nail-biting matches Melbourne were able to come from 27 points behind in the second quarter against St. Kilda to run away winner by 18 points, 13.12 (90) to 10.12 (72). The Saints, who led from 13 minutes in the first quarter to halfway into the final quarter, looked to be settled in advancing to the semi-finals, but after a number of free kicks and defensive mistakes they have whittled away their lead, and gave the Demons the opportunity to attack. From their on it was completely Melbourne, and with the help from Adam Yze and skipper David Neitz, the Demons were able to win their 11th out of 12 matches at the MCG to advance to the next round.
At the other game at the MCG, the Western Bulldogs were able to surprise the Collingwood Magpies to knock them out of finals contentions, smashing them by 41 points in the end. In the first half it seemed that the Magpies had the edge over the Bulldogs, leading by 21 points at one stage in the opening term, but were unable to keep up the pressure and in the end could not keep the Dogs down. The Bulldogs played as a team, and with stellar performances from Adam Cooney, Scott West, Daniel Cross, and even Brett Montgomery who came back on after being knocked out in the opening stages of the match, they were able to succumb any attack the Magpies fronted, and ran out winners 18.13 (121) to 11.14 (80).
In other games, the Crows were simply too stylish to lose to the Dockers at home, running away in the final quarter kicking five goals four whilst keeping Fremantle scoreless to eventually win 10.16 (76) to 7.4 (46). And in a replay of last year’s qualifying and Grand Final, West Coast faced up against Sydney. In the tightest match across the entire weekend, it was reminiscent of last September as Sydney was able to hold up the ball and close in on defence to walk away victors by a single point, with the final siren sounding on 12.12 (84) to 13.7 (85) in the Swans favour.
Next week in an unique, and most will say unthought of, twist we see Subiaco host both Semi-Final matches as Fremantle host Melbourne whilst West Coast square up against the Bulldogs.
In the A-League, Melbourne remains undefeated this season with a defining win over New Zealand, winning 3-0, whilst Adelaide secured their first win in great fashion, downing Newcastle 5-1. In other games Central Coast and Queensland were not able to get past each other’s defence, ending the game in a 0-0 draw, whilst Sydney were not able to overcome the struggling Glory, ending also in a draw 1-1.
In the Tri-Nations, South Africa were able to finish the tournament on a high, defeating the Wallabies 24-16. The Springboks, who finished the competition on a two game winning streak against both Australia and the All Blacks, were able to lock out the opposition in the final eight minutes after scoring a second try. Whilst South Africa are floundered at the bottom of the ladder for the season, they have been now stamped as a threat in future competitions, and have extended the Wallabies losing streak in the continent, who have not won there since 2000.
In the US Open, Maria Sharapova won defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to win the women’s championship. Sharapova’s victory is her first since her Wimbledon win in 2004, and has broken her curse as she has not since been in a final for a Grand Slam. Sharapova also became the eight person to effectively beat the world’s no. 1 and no 2 for the trophy since the ranking system was established. In the men’s competition, Andy Roddick advanced to the final to compete against two-time defending champion Roger Federer, which will be played out early this morning.
Hopefully now you are up to date on the weekend action. Due to technical difficulties last week, we were unable to finish over the report for both the NRL and AFL, so two bumper articles will be up early this week reviewing all the sides out of the race, including the latest two exits.
Until next time, sports minds.
In the NRL, Newcastle and St. George have been able to score surprising victories against their opponents. The Knights were able to win a thriller against the Manly Sea Eagles, winning the game in the last ten minutes with a field goal and try against the odds to win 25-18. Manly were deemed the favourites of the match, and were leading 12-0 at the break, yet were unable to hold up the full 80 minutes against the Andrew John’s led attack. The Sea Eagles were seeing red against the referee in the dying minutes of the game, as skipper Ben Kennedy was sin binned after retaliating against a dangerous throw by Newcastle's Danny Buderus, and therefore gave the Knights the edge they needed. Newcastle will be on tenterhooks for the week though, as Buderus was reported for his tackle.
In other games, both Canberra and Parramatta were knocked out of the competition after losing to the competition favourites Canterbury and Melbourne. The Raiders were unable the fierceness that the Bulldogs brought to the wet Stadium Australia and were defeated 30-12, whilst Parramatta went down to the minor premiers Melbourne Storm 12-6. The Eels tried everything to stay in contention, and whilst the match went down to the last few minutes, they were simply unable to overcome the defence of the Storm, and slipped out of the finals race.
In the AFL, Melbourne and Bulldogs pulled off surprising upsets to stay in the competition for another week, whilst Adelaide and Sydney were able to stay ahead of the match to earn a home preliminary final in two week’s time.
On a weekend that held four nail-biting matches Melbourne were able to come from 27 points behind in the second quarter against St. Kilda to run away winner by 18 points, 13.12 (90) to 10.12 (72). The Saints, who led from 13 minutes in the first quarter to halfway into the final quarter, looked to be settled in advancing to the semi-finals, but after a number of free kicks and defensive mistakes they have whittled away their lead, and gave the Demons the opportunity to attack. From their on it was completely Melbourne, and with the help from Adam Yze and skipper David Neitz, the Demons were able to win their 11th out of 12 matches at the MCG to advance to the next round.
At the other game at the MCG, the Western Bulldogs were able to surprise the Collingwood Magpies to knock them out of finals contentions, smashing them by 41 points in the end. In the first half it seemed that the Magpies had the edge over the Bulldogs, leading by 21 points at one stage in the opening term, but were unable to keep up the pressure and in the end could not keep the Dogs down. The Bulldogs played as a team, and with stellar performances from Adam Cooney, Scott West, Daniel Cross, and even Brett Montgomery who came back on after being knocked out in the opening stages of the match, they were able to succumb any attack the Magpies fronted, and ran out winners 18.13 (121) to 11.14 (80).
In other games, the Crows were simply too stylish to lose to the Dockers at home, running away in the final quarter kicking five goals four whilst keeping Fremantle scoreless to eventually win 10.16 (76) to 7.4 (46). And in a replay of last year’s qualifying and Grand Final, West Coast faced up against Sydney. In the tightest match across the entire weekend, it was reminiscent of last September as Sydney was able to hold up the ball and close in on defence to walk away victors by a single point, with the final siren sounding on 12.12 (84) to 13.7 (85) in the Swans favour.
Next week in an unique, and most will say unthought of, twist we see Subiaco host both Semi-Final matches as Fremantle host Melbourne whilst West Coast square up against the Bulldogs.
In the A-League, Melbourne remains undefeated this season with a defining win over New Zealand, winning 3-0, whilst Adelaide secured their first win in great fashion, downing Newcastle 5-1. In other games Central Coast and Queensland were not able to get past each other’s defence, ending the game in a 0-0 draw, whilst Sydney were not able to overcome the struggling Glory, ending also in a draw 1-1.
In the Tri-Nations, South Africa were able to finish the tournament on a high, defeating the Wallabies 24-16. The Springboks, who finished the competition on a two game winning streak against both Australia and the All Blacks, were able to lock out the opposition in the final eight minutes after scoring a second try. Whilst South Africa are floundered at the bottom of the ladder for the season, they have been now stamped as a threat in future competitions, and have extended the Wallabies losing streak in the continent, who have not won there since 2000.
In the US Open, Maria Sharapova won defeated Justine Henin-Hardenne in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to win the women’s championship. Sharapova’s victory is her first since her Wimbledon win in 2004, and has broken her curse as she has not since been in a final for a Grand Slam. Sharapova also became the eight person to effectively beat the world’s no. 1 and no 2 for the trophy since the ranking system was established. In the men’s competition, Andy Roddick advanced to the final to compete against two-time defending champion Roger Federer, which will be played out early this morning.
Hopefully now you are up to date on the weekend action. Due to technical difficulties last week, we were unable to finish over the report for both the NRL and AFL, so two bumper articles will be up early this week reviewing all the sides out of the race, including the latest two exits.
Until next time, sports minds.
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