Sports Benches is back to present this week’s sports updates.
We had another good Toyota Camry day with the same winner as last week.
Then we switch our attention back to NZ’s ANZ Premiership following two weeks on-deck with Super Netball involving Silver Ferns players at Sydney’s Ken Rosewall Arena.
Not far from KRA, we will also have the Australian Swimming Trials with a full update coming this weekend.
Sports Benches keeps you company with the week’s sports news and a touch of General Hospital drama where Sidwell holds influential power and a possible affair could force Ethan to look after baby Phoebe.
NASCAR Cup Series, FireKeepers 400 at Michigan
It’s been another crazy arvo of wrecks but with the same Toyota Camry winning feeling by Denny Hamlin once again for Gibbs.
Yes, he struggled to extract some stage points from pole position but used the green flag cycles to pit that’s long enough to stretch track position & conserving things ahead of schedule (the next lot of yellows) and at the of the day, voila!
No surprise to hear Denny locate his aha moment following his 63rd career Cup win!!
Meanwhile, the best Chevy Camaro goes to Kyle Larson in 4th from Hendrick Motorsports whose start wasn’t bad along with the early lead for some time.
Although endless yellows meant tough resets, especially unable to dislodge these Top 3 Camrys at restarts; but a Top 5 finish though sounds like executing scraps that’s only within his control.
With Ford power, not much to say with their inability to extract Top 5s closer towards wins.
Anyways, Joey Logano is this week’s spotlight in 7th for Team Penske where he struggled to extract consistently by going off different sets of strategies to crack Top 5.
Again, he had to keep his Mustang tight towards the end which was safe than sorry.
ANZ Premiership Netball RD 9, Steel v Stars
Southern Steel may have lost last week v Northern Mystics but this time dominated the Northern Stars by 71-59.
Now Steel will play Finals since 2023 but there’s only one round to go next Sunday v Mainland Tactix where a win will either land straight to the big dance or settle with the Elimination Final.
For starters, keep an eye out on this established Steel shooting duo of Aliyah Dunn and Georgia Heffernan.
Aliyah continues to go strength to strength loading buckets into goals while Georgia played clutch like Helen Housby & is capable of lifting the Steel’s lively attacking output at Goal Attack.
Not forgetting Steel’s minister of defense Carys Styhe (GK/GD) with her amazing deflections & recycling ball, having seen Stars lack composure beyond Amelia Walmsley & Martina Salmon.
As for Stars, Claire O’Brien stepped up providing loads of goal assists & feeds at Wing Attack who carried this with a great eye & mobility since goals are imperative as if it’s an individual contest.
However, Stars suddenly drifted themselves downhill despite their good start. Especially when managing an injury-hit squad while chopping & changing tactics added huge setback on the back foot.
Australian Swimming Trials at Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre (to be updated)
It’s that time of the year again as our Aussie swimmers – both established and emerging – are ready to make a statement in the pool.
We will then know how good a squad can be both for the Comm Games & Pan Pacs.
Update 13/6/26
Over the past six days, we witnessed such a spectacle at the swimming home of Sydney 2000.
There were amazing swims including near world record times, first-time breakthroughs, tickets & accomodation being earned for the plane overseas and heartbreaking shortfalls below Qualifying Time standards.
No doubt the Queen of freestyle (Mollie O’Callaghan) & backstroke (Kaylee McKeown) will provide continuity, particularly for Mollie who won’t be settling for less but hungry for more elite brilliance.
Then Lani Pallister has a clean runway to make her name heard usually at long-distance freestyle events & now short to medium races following Ariarne Titmus’ retirement last year.
That’s going to aid our chances for gold especially team relays with blessings by Lani’s godmother Dawn Fraser.
And finally, Sam Short, where he may have been unlucky before like last year’s worlds & Paris 2024; but still has the chops to go all out gold at every possible men’s freestyle races following his Commonwealth record feat in the men’s national 800m final.
Because now is the time for Sam to maintain the ante consistently, so he’s well positioned against the world’s best for 2027 & 2028.
