Category Archives: Sport

AFL semi-finals 2022: Brisbane Lions defeat Melbourne by 13 points – as it happened

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  • Brisbane knock out premiers in upset at the MCG
  • Melbourne 11.13 (79) defeated by Brisbane Lions 14.8 (92)

A busy start for Petracca. Three touches in the first three minutes. Remember that he’s playing tonight with a fracture in his leg; the fitness test will come in time.

1st quarter (18:50 remaining) Melbourne 0.1 (1) vs Brisbane 0.0 (0) Luke Jackson deep into the AFL Members pocket gets a left boot on a snap and it snaked around like a Damien Fleming outswinger all the way to the goal mouth but is touched on the line. That would have been a brilliant goal from the big man to start this final.

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Over 250 women to receive honorary degrees at University of Bedfordshire

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They studied between 1940 and 1978, when their courses were not acknowledged as degree level studies

Over 250 women in their 70s and above are to receive honorary degrees at the University of Bedfordshire this weekend, decades after they completed their studies in physical education.

The women, who studied at Bedford College of Physical Education between 1940 and 1978, are receiving honorary degrees after a six-year campaign to prove the three-year courses they completed were worthy of degree status.

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Australia defeat New Zealand by 113 runs in second one-day international – as it happened

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4th over: Australia 14-2 (Smith 6, Labuschagne 3) Marnus joins his mentor at the crease with green and gold backs against the wall. He’s away straight off with a pretty on-drive for three. Smith then repeats the shot bit gets a bit more oomph on it and it goes to the rope.

I’ve not had time to slurp my Kenco with this rapid start, it’s now tepid at best. Tough gig eh. It’s creeping up to 6am here in London, if you are out there then do drop me a line with your thoughts and/or theories.

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Cam Green guides Australia out of dire straits in ODI win over New Zealand

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  • New Zealand 232-9; Australia 233-8 | Australia win by two wickets
  • Green (89 no) shares 158-run partnership with Alex Carey (85)

Cameron Green and Alex Carey have steered Australia to an unlikely victory over New Zealand in their opening ODI in Cairns with the hosts languishing at 44-5 at one stage.

Chasing 233 to win, Australia’s innings under lights began abysmally when skipper Aaron Finch fell once again to a left-arm seamer, scoring just five for a second consecutive innings.

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Australia 1-2 Canada: international football friendly – as it happened

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Out come the two sides onto a dramatically lit Allianz Stadium pitch. There’s firework smoke haze, spotlights, and the feel of a pop concert.

The new Allianz Stadium is resplendent tonight, all shiny and new and filled with fancy lights and noise from the PA system, which is alternating between loud pop music and interactions with fans.

With 20 minutes to go before kick-off, fans are still making their way in (and risking missing the firework display), possibly stopping off for a quick cheeseburger spring roll or two from one of the many concourse outlets (disclaimer: I have not seen a cheeseburger spring roll and know not what they are, nor can I vouch for their tastiness and/or health benefits).

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Australia slump to second defeat to Canada after early promise fades

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  • Olympic champions beat Matildas 2-1 at Allianz Stadium
  • Adriana Leon double cancels out Mary Fowler’s early opener

Three days ago the Matildas were in crisis. There were 320 days until a home World Cup and a 1-0 friendly loss to Canada indicated – once again – that getting anywhere near the trophy was basically an insurmountable task. Tony Gustavsson, the man appointed to steer an underperforming Australia to said trophy, was starting to be seen as less like a nice-natured, slightly quirky man with a very good plan and more like a slick corporate type who delivers interesting TED talks but whose advice is not quite working for those he was hired to help.

On Tuesday night, with 317 days to go, he emerged for the rematch at Allianz Stadium wearing a hospital-white hoodie and white trainers, Matildas merchandise around his neck and an earpiece that had him looking every bit the new-age life coach. He had just told media the previous day that he still had the backing of Football Australia and pleaded with external forces to trust in his process.

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Australia beat New Zealand by two wickets in first one-day international – as it happened

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WHAT A CATCH. Glenn Maxwell pouches a scintillating diving catch at backward point. Think Ben Stokes off Stuart Broad in the 2015 Ashes at Trent Bridge! Guptill slices a length ball on the drive and it flies off his blade to Maxwell’s left hand side. Maxwell launches himself goalkeeper stylee to pluck the ball out of the air as it went past him at high speed. Ooof, get that on the replay.

5th over: New Zealand 10-1 (Conway 1, Williamson 0)

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Matildas face World Cup race against time after friendly defeat to Canada

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  • Australia lose 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane
  • Matildas left to rue missed chances in World Cup warm-up

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson believes his squad is in a race against time to complete preparations for next year’s Women’s World Cup but that home-field advantage can help push the team towards success.

Australia will co-host the 32-team finals in July and August with neighbours New Zealand, and Gustavsson warned against complacency ahead of his side’s latest preparation matches.

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Geelong edge out Collingwood as week one of AFL finals delivers another classic

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  • Cats beat Magpies 11.12 (78) to 10.12 (72) in pulsating match
  • Geelong kick four of the last five goals to earn a week off

Geelong exorcised their first-week AFL finals demons with an epic six-point win over Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. The Cats were behind at every change in a pulsating qualifying final, but kicked four of the last five goals to win 11.12 (78) to 10.12 (72) in front of 91,525 fans.

It continues a bumper start to the finals series, following Brisbane’s last-gasp win over Richmond and Sydney’s upset of reigning premiers Melbourne.

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Australia stunned by Zimbabwe in final ODI as David Warner denied century again

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  • Australia rolled for 141 in three-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe
  • Warner falls for 94 to make it 54 innings without a ton

Zimbabwe have recorded their first ODI victory in Australia to stun the hosts by three wickets in the final match of their bi-lateral series, as leg-spinner Ryan Burl took 5-10 early for Zimbabwe to roll Australia for just 141.

Zimbabwe won the toss and put Australia in to bat for the first time this series, nabbing three crucial wickets inside the first 10 overs. Left-arm seamer Richard Ngarava got skipper Aaron Finch for the third time in three ODIs.

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Nick Kyrgios sideshow rolls on with straight-sets defeat of JJ Wolf

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  • Kyrgios defeats Wolf 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 to move into last 16
  • Australian next faces world No 1 Daniil Medvedev

Nick Kyrgios continued his stirring progression in New York in an off-Broadway setting at Flushing Meadows on Friday night. As Serena Williams, the 23-time grand slam champion, was sent into retirement by fellow Australian Ajla Tomljanovic, Kyrgios was blitzing JJ Wolf by 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 in 1hr 55m on nearby Louis Armstrong Stadium.

In a normal US Open, a Friday night outing on Armstrong would scarcely be a sideshow, such is the electric vibe that can be felt on a court that is grand in its own right. Kyrgios is the best supporting actor to start the US Open and the Wimbledon finalist was never seriously challenged by Wolf, a hard-working wildcard entry.

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Sydney stun reigning premiers Melbourne in AFL finals upset

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  • Swans beat Demons 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69) at MCG
  • Sydney earn week off before hosting preliminary final

The Sydney Swans surged through to their first AFL preliminary final since 2016 after shocking reigning premiers Melbourne by 22 points. In the first final at the MCG since the 2019 decider, the Swans ruined Melbourne’s coming home party with some scintillating run-and-gun football to dismantle the Demons’ much-vaunted defence.

Melbourne entered the qualifying final as hot favourites after humiliating the Brisbane Lions in the final round of the home-and-away season but the Swans completely outclassed the Demons after half-time in front of 78,377 fans. Sydney’s 14.7 (91) to 10.9 (69) win means they now have a week off and will host a preliminary final at the SCG on 14 or 15 September to be in reach of their first flag since 2012.

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Linda Nosková and Lucie Hradecká beat Serena and Venus Williams: US Open doubles – as it happened

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First set: *Williams/Williams 3-2 Noskova/Hradecka (* Denotes servers)

Venus serves. The Americans leap out to a 30-0 lead and consolidate it with a punishing serve into the body that’s too good for Noskova. A nice moment for the teenager next though as she exchanges a series of fiery forehands with Venus, just 25 years her senior. She wins the point too and we’re soon at deuce. A double fault brings up break point for the Czechs, which Venus saves with a fine serve that Hradecka floats long. Venus hits another double fault – her serve is a little erratic today – but eventually it’s another Williams hold.

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Inflation pushes average cost of filling Panini 2022 World Cup sticker album to £870

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Five-sticker packs for football tournament in Qatar are 12.5% more than for Russia 2018

Inflation has come for the football sticker album. Collecting and completing the official Panini Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 album will cost fans an average of about £870.

Panini, which first produced a World Cup sticker album for the 1970 tournament in Mexico, has priced five-sticker packs for the Qatar 2022 album at 90p each. That is a 12.5% increase on the 80p cost of a five-sticker pack for the Russia 2018 album. For Euro 2016 a pack cost 50p.

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Amid the grandstanding, Sydney’s new stadium leaves same issues unresolved

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The Allianz Stadium has been rebuilt at a cost of $800m but the harbour city still lacks the right grounds in the right places

Walking into Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium feels a bit like walking into an old house with new fixtures. Everything is a bit brighter and works a little better – the couch somehow feels closer to the TV and that pesky leak in the roof has stopped – but the foundations are much the same.

That isn’t all that surprising given the architectural firm that designed the old 42,500-capacity venue is the same firm that designed the new 42,500-capacity venue. But it does prompt a query: if a stadium is demolished and rebuilt to look strikingly similar, was it rebuilt at all? If the New South Wales government had not spent $828m on it, could we say it had really happened?

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Stake.com told not to use Everton branding in $5,000 betting offer

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Club’s shirt sponsor criticised for offering $10 free bet to anyone who wagers large amount in a week

Everton FC has told its sponsor Stake.com to stop using its imagery in an international promotion offering a $10 free bet to anyone who wagers $5,000 in the space of a week.

Football fans and campaign groups had criticised the marketing scheme and questioned Everton’s apparent involvement.

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Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson shot multiple times

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  • Player was victim of apparent robbery or carjacking
  • Coaches and staff of NFL team are present at hospital

Washington Commanders rookie running back Brian Robinson was shot during what police say was an attempted robbery or carjacking, the NFL team said on Sunday night.

The 23-year-old former Alabama player was taken to a hospital with what the team called non-life-threatening injuries. The Commanders said team co-owners Dan and Tanya Snyder, president Jason Wright, coach Ron Rivera, team physician Dr Anthony Casolaro and clinical psychologist Dr Barbara Roberts were with Robinson at the hospital.

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Kenyan cyclist Sule Kangangi killed in crash at Vermont Overland gravel race

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  • 33-year-old dies after crash at high speed on Saturday
  • Kangangi was committed to growing cycling in Kenya

Kenyan cyclist Sule Kangangi died in a crash on Saturday while competing in a gravel race in Vermont. The 33-year-old was riding at high speed in the Vermont Overland race when he crashed.

“Sule is our captain, friend, brother. He is also a father, husband and son. Gaping holes are left when giant’s fall. Sule was a giant,” his Team Amani posted on social media. “Instead of leading us at the front of the pack, he will now lead us as our guiding pole star as we press forward in the realization of his dream.”

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Australia 25-17 South Africa: Rugby Championship Test – as it happened

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Paul Williams from New Zealand is the man in charge of today’s contest. He was in Australia recently, taking care of the final Test of England’s tour in Sydney.

There was collateral damage in the Wallaby camp after the trip to South America. Defence coach Matt Taylor has been let go with veteran Brumbies forwards coach Laurie Fisher returning to the fold. “He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience which will only benefit our playing group,” Rennie said.

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Australian racing industry ‘failing miserably’ to rehome greyhounds as adoption flatlines

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Welfare group says breeding numbers are still too high and surpass the industry’s capacity to rehabilitate the dogs

The rehoming of Australian racing industry dogs has flatlined in the last three years, according to research by the Coalition for the Protection of Greyhounds.

Just over 2,000 dogs were rehomed annually by industry adoption bodies, a figure that has not increased since 2017-18, a CPG report found.

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