Sports Benches presents this week’s sports news going back on the Superspeedway at Talladega with three races left this season where the stakes are higher than ever with a touch of “The Big One” wrecks.
What’s also high stakes was the Constellation Cup Netball that’s easy for the leading side following a flying start but also almost always difficult playing offshore, will that be enough?
And debate is currently open from New Zealand Rugby about their future in Super Rugby following a completely different viewing experience this year, especially from a Sports Benches lens.
Make sure you keep Sports Benches in the loop for your weekly Sports News and General Hospital updates twice a week.
NASCAR Cup Series at Talladega II: YellaWood 500
Kyle Larson – the undisputed phenomenon – finally secured his first-ever restrictor plate Cup win with yet another championship almost certainly on his way.
It wasn’t the easiest of days courtesy of his Top 10 Chevy Camaro on paper when all Kyle had to do is avoid wrecks, choosing the right lanes and the will to attack.
And it was just enough for Kyle to marry these winning ingredients together right on the stroke of the checkered flag where he simply blew everyone away after Turn 4.
He’s far from the finished picture as should he win this year’s championship, winning the Daytona 500 would surely be the icing on the cake with Team Hendrick.
Unlucky from Todd Gilliland down in 7th if it wasn’t for the late crash after Joey Logano’s car was turned upside down; fortunately, he’s okay.
Credit to Todd’s crew chief though where it’s all about capitalising as much track position as possible both pit road while avoiding yellows. Todd would be upfront all day long if we had a mini restrictor-plate series.
Finally, Denny Hamlin finished 8th amid back luck with some flashes of speed off green flag starts/restarts as don’t see much hope now unfortunately unless Kyle suddenly crashes with two races left. The End.
Constellation Cup Netball Game 3: Diamonds v Silver Ferns
Yesterday’s match was one hell of a moment, particularly current Comm Games Gold Medalists from Glasgow with New Zealand’s Netball Team: Silver Ferns.
They had their struggles for sure every time playing away from home against a resilient Aussie Diamonds team who always know how to get the job done, even closer.
But the way coach Dame Noeline Taurua pushed hard for her Ferns team to increase their attacking output ultimately became their winning recipe not just the match, they also regained the Constellation Cup Series title itself with one match spare.
Can’t believe DNT’s ruthless fitness standards helped pinpoint every last five mins out of a possible 4 x 15 mins shift as if these were mini matches or practice games. Maybe it’s her alternative innovation to the two-point Super Shots rule you normally see in Franchise Netball but with bonus scoring beyond single-pointers lol.
Lost count how many Con Cups the Silver Ferns have won so far this decade now three from the last six years predominately seen by Sports Benches.
Meanwhile, there were some good and also unlucky moments from the Aussie Diamonds including unfair fouls ignored by the umpire.
The only achilles heel they had adding insult to injury was not agitating the Ferns’ defensive back two much against Kelly Jackson and Karin Burger regardless of tactical changes. Shame it was at the right place, wrong time.
Final score was Diamonds 49-52 Silver Ferns with the Top 3/4 few players’ report card based on “championship points” coming next Monday on Sports Benches.
The Future of Trans-Tasman Rugby Union
How we watched rugby this year particularly Australians have changed with rare free-to-air Super Rugby games while Shute Shield & Hospital Cup returned as a regular 3pm Saturday arvo fixture. We still get every home Wallabies and Wallaroos game though live on Nine.
Now there could be even more changes with New Zealand Rugby prepared for a bold shakeup ahead of their final decision expected before Christmas.
However, it’s best to integrate four Australian Super Rugby teams – currently on the separate Super Rugby AUS – into NPC while consolidating some NZ regions. It’ll be like our own South Africa’s Currie Cup but as a secondary Trans-Tasman competition.
What does that mean for Super Rugby if the expanded NPC helps? I’m putting my wannabe commissioner’s cap on but here’s this:
NZ Conference: Blues, Chiefs, Crusaders, Highlanders & Hurricanes.
Australian Conference: Brumbies, Reds and Waratahs, Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika (based in Melbourne).
Japanese Conference: Perth Sunwolves & promotion/relegation tier to four Top League clubs.
Total: 15 teams plus six-team Finals.
