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Tennis x Sports Crossover at the 2025 Australian Open: Super Rugby, All Blacks & Wallabies preview along with Netball in New Zealand and Jack Doohan under pressure for only the first six races in Formula 1 at Alpine-Renault

by Sports Benches

And last but not least, how about we give a shoutout to two Wallabies stars Harry Wilson (Queensland Reds) and Max Jorgensen (NSW Waratahs), who were both in attendance at Melbourne Park this weekend to cheer on Alex De Minaur.

Yet, the Demon did win after all to play in the 4th round for the 4th straight year of his AO men’s singles career.

It was also nice seeing Harry and Max lend over that Wallabies green and gold jersey to Alex and look at him go! – How good! 

Rugby Union

We first have a jam-pack year of Rugby ahead of us with the 11-team Super Rugby competition set to start in a month’s time before the British and Irish Lions arrive at our own backyard during winter. Plus, there’s Club Rugby at the same, the Rugby Championship & Bledisloe Cup in August-September, and we finish off the year in Europe v the North’s best sides on earth.

First of all, it’s been a bitter blow not seeing Melbourne field a Rugby team anymore in the Rebels when they are a big sporting city due to financial problems. But with lots of people playing AFL (Aussie Rules) and even NRL (Rugby League), it seems there’s no room for Rugby to succeed in that place unfortunately.

Now we are down to four teams with the Western Force still around & as we all know the ACT Brumbies would love to finally play in a Grand Final. However, we would need the Tahs, Reds or even Force to be playing in the semis either way in order for the Wallabies to succeed & that includes the Brumbies. It’s never been a better time to try taking that advantage now, especially with Joseph Suaalii onboard from the Sydney Roosters (NRL) to the Waratahs. 

Other than that, the NZ teams will still be dominating for the most part along with a new-look Crusaders, even though the All Blacks had their bad times last season when it comes to the Springboks and France.

Netball

If Rugby isn’t big enough for NZ, why not Netball when they also have a huge year ahead? 

The Silver Ferns will be stopping by in Sydney soon to spend nine days there as part of their training camp including a Practice Match v the NSW Swifts featuring the Ferns former star shooter (for now) Grace Nweke on Sunday, February 2.

They will also have a slightly different ANZ Premiership season amongst half of the six teams having brand new coaches (Mainland Tactix, Southern Steel and Northern Stars) between May-July including Finals with a two-round home-and-away format across 10-12 weeks rather than playing three times last year.

Yes, the Ferns haven’t organised any matches lined-up yet for the second half season but we are still expected to see the Taini Jamison Trophy series back regardless of opponent. Although England have won it last year but the good news is that they will be able to defend the Constellation Cup v the Aussie Diamonds following their 3-1 series win back in late October.

And shoutout to former Silver Fern and current GWS Giants (Western Sydney) player Gina Crampton who plays at Wing Attack and was also in attendance from the stands for Alex De Minaur’s game yesterday – sure she still has plenty to offer at age 33, especially playing against the best in Super Netball.

Formula 1

What else? Rugby & Netball isn’t the only sport who mix and matches well with Tennis.

I also wish Alpine-Renault’s Jack Doohan from Formula 1 was there to see Alex also because they do look like each other with both of them having a smiley face personality. Surely, Jack can get some tips on defying those odds from Alex when there’s a bunch of reverse drivers waiting in his wings under pressure including Franco Colapinto. Alex did beat another Argentine actually yesterday too in Francisco Cerundolo; hopefully, this will cheer Jack up in a bid to keep his seat over the first six odd races of the season.

Although I can understand Jack is more aligned with Ayrna Sabalenka because she visited his team’s garage in his unexpected F1 debut last month at Abu Dhabi & Jack came back in return for Ayrna when she played a match a few weeks ago at the Brisbane International.

Post-Notes

Can’t believe there’s a whole lot of other athletes watching for fun there rather than looking to go toe-to-toe with the pro Tennis players & see who’s better? 

Time will tell.

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2024 ANZ Premiership R14/15: Northern Stars hold off the Southern Steel after a successful late tussle with the one goal win

by Sports Benches

It’s been oh so close between the 5th v 6th/bottom two teams in the Northern Stars & Southern Steel to finish off Round 14 of the 2024 ANZ Premiership Season in Dunedin with one last regular season round remaining this weekend. Steel always off to a great start but it was the Stars who held them up throughout the first half where they were one goal up at half-time, 27-28.

Although Steel again rebounded as if the start repeated itself with some really good improvements that gave them a two-goal advantage at three quarter time (41-39), but just couldn’t hold on a bit longer towards the end there unfortunately. At the end of the day, it was Stars with the win once again by just a solitary goal to close the second last round of the 2024 season, 53-54.

First of all, skipper Maia Wilson had an amazing night as the main Northern Stars shooter. She netted a near perfect accuracy towards goal of 97%, having missed only one shot out of 39 attempts throughout the night v Steel. Yes, Stars may be low on possession but gotta credit her team’s defense on exposing the Steel’s isolated attack before Maia was able to get the job done with the net right in front of her off the back of a brilliant counter-attack feed through the channels. It led to a good few points lead at the half-time break followed by an excellent end with the win as although things may not be the same this year when it comes to the Top 3 down in 5th, but Maia is always going places including at International level for the Silver Ferns.

Here’s another standout Stars player this time in the back three tonight in Kate Burley at goal keeper who is flexible amongst multiple defensive roles along with her excellent physicality and athleticism to deflect one away from the net at her own danger zone. She had really great start actually that made the Steel front three so hesitant under pressure before Kate was able to throw onto the other side where goals coming her way for the most part including that crucial final few minutes with three rebounds of her own including three intercepts for the best of the Stars. When she came off, the Steel were a couple of goals ahead where the Stars began to slip away at one stage. However, glad she saved the day when she can back on to help steer victory once again for the Stars with unfinished business ahead in the hope of returning to its former glory in 2025.

Now it might not have taken that long to settle in for Serina Daunakamakama in the south when she was at the Northern Mystics as a training partner earlier this season but she had another great game though that reflects her progress within the senior level at Wing Attack. She picked up as many balls as possible with the most feeds of 36 in order to find her front two thanks to her team’s good start on top of a good defense as usual alongside skipper Kate Heffernan in the mid-court. That way, Georgia Heffernan and Grace Namama can help finish things off within the circle where the Steel were so close of winning this one again off the back of an improved 3rd quarter. But then the Stars’s scrambled defense proved so difficult for them in the end where mistakes were being made made under pressure before the Stars stole the show even if it’s by a small margin, particularly in the last few mins on what has been another difficult year to end up 6th & last once again for the Steel. 

And lastly, wishing Reigna Bloxam all the best ahead of her last game as the Steel head coach this weekend v the Magic after giving back for so long before she heads off overseas while a new era awaits in the hope the Steel can rejuvenate next season.

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ANZ Premiership: Central Pulse too good to pull off the way with a 27-goal win (38-65) after a close first 15 mins v Southern Steel

by Sports Benches

As we all know, the Southern Steel had a great start with by going through the basics – which reflected the team’s great start. However, it was the same old, same old unfortunately if you look at the state of this side where the Steel were way off the pace for the majority including against the ladder leaders (once again) in the Central Pulse tonight. Pulse were leading big time going into the half-time break by eight goals 17-25 before they doubled then tripled their lead throughout the 2nd half unchallenged with the win by an easy 27 goal contest v Steel at ITL Stadium in Southland, Invercargill 38-65. Three regular rounds to go before Finals time with Steel v Mystics in Auckland this Sunday & Pulse back next Monday v Magic (away again).

The spotlight player of the night starts with none of than Aussie raised but Kiwi-born Martina Salmon at the front of the Pulse attack as goal shooter. She’s blessed with the Southern Steel’s toothless attack & her side’s solid defensive efforts at the other end, having successfully shot 85% of the goals right in front of the net. As said, sure she’s well travelled along with a towering build who spent some time training at other teams in the past such as Sunshine Coast Lightning & the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic. But again, she’s got unfinished business when she was thrown into the deep end at ANZ Premiership back in Round 6 for the Pulse rather than having to play in NZ’s second-tier netball comp. But she made such an instant impact as sure she’ll keep on learning on before she can fulfil her full potential someday what has been a great few games so far at this top level.

Then you got another Pulse towering player this time at the back and she too is experienced at both Domestic & International in her prime is Kelly Jackson (nee Jury) as the main goalkeeper. Every time you struggle to put the pieces together, Kelly steps in to steal the ball away from anyone’s opposition fingertips with her long arms that gave plenty of time for her team to get the job done – which was mission accomplished under her watch very easily v the vulnerable Steel. Not only that she’s provided excellent leadership and communication in the Pulse back three on what has been another great season for her off the back of a busy 2023 including the World Cup on-court as well as her marriage to husband Cameron Jackson off-court.

And Kate Heffernan was one of the Steel’s beneficiaries on what has been yet another underwhelming match as a whole team in the middle. She’s got excellent all-round mobility likewise with her twin sister Georgia in the same team at Goal Assist as being tested both defensively to protect her back three and also in attack where she can get away quick smart to try and get things done at the other end. Kate ended up with 19 goal assists along with 36 feeds and a few general play turnovers that reflected the Steel’s good first 15 minutes of the night with credit to their great defensive basics. Yes, things could’ve been a lot better if the Steel managed to build on their good start by cutting these handling errors with her being the team’s main goal supplier towards the circle so they would be neck in neck v Steel instead of being so far behind from here. All she wants to do is end this season on a high since Top 3 isn’t possible that would hopefully benefit her personally for the Silver Ferns.

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Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic def. Southern Steel to set up next Monday’s fight for 3rd in the ANZ Premiership v Northern Mystics

by Sports Benches

It was a fairly quiet game but close though tonight to finish off Week 10 of 15 between the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic v Southern Steel in the 2024 ANZ Premiership Netball season after two close games over the weekend. We saw the Mystics over the Stars in an all-Northern Auckland derby two days ago 51-49 and then the best of the best clash ended right through the wire yesterday with Mainland Tactix (1st) showing the Central Pulse (2nd) whose boss in the end at extra time 58-53.

Steel actually got away with a great start where they won first two quarters. Gotta say it was a big team effort to get things going rather than the attackers converting them into goals though despite staying ahead of the Magic a bit every time the Steel were able to add goals inside the net. Meanwhile, the Magic might have fired off poorly that gave the Steel the benefit of the doubt. Despite this, the Magic were never too far back to see them add up while they added goal after goal of their own top going into the break, 20-22. The nature pacing of this game might not have changed that much where there lots of scrambling defenses from both teams but at least there was a new leader with the Magic while the Steel couldn’t continue to capitalise and own up to their poor shooting conversions up front. The Magic got away by three points head of Steel after the 3rd quarter off the back of some subs and tactical tweaks before they were able to hang into top spot by seven points as the Steel’s poor front two display including its poor tactical decisions has 100% gifted the Magic another win, 48-41.

Ameliaranne Ekenasio is so crucial to the glue of this Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic side as goal attack. Yes, their first half might have been slow and steady but she was always the team’s go-to attack in the front two, who rubs around opposition defenders off the back of the Steel’s poor executions at the other end, particularly when the Magic managed to turn this around from a two-goal trail after half-time. That way, she knows where to find the net either for herself or her goal attacking team-mate when she’s in & around the circle. She will look to keep that recent winning form by closing into the Mystics for that Top 3 Finals circle next Monday & the Magic needs her so badly in order to make that perfect storm up front. Meanwhile, Erena Mikaere also kept a great eye on a struggling Steel front two as the team’s main goal keeper for the Magic. She’s got a physically robust Georgia Takarangi by her side while she’s got the experience and tall reach – such as the impressive read and direction to knock down a hesitant Steel shooting front two herself that led to a lot of ball going her team’s way with a decent comeback to hang in there for the win in the end. Gotta say she’s still got a lot to offer with a great sense of humour having tasted plenty of success in the past as unfinished business goes on by looking to upsurge the Mystics for 3rd next Monday.

And now the Steel attackers includign their starting front two won’t definitely get a shout after a poor attacking conversion display tonight but gotta say Renee Savai’linaea did the best she can possible to keep the Steel in check including her backline at wing defense. The way she communicated with her defenders and Kate Heffernan in the middle was so crucial to get the ball rolling right from the opening centre pass such along with excellent energy to disrupt the Magic as being tested defensively at times to feed these attacking chances at the other end. But as said, it’s just the shooters who let herself & the whole Steel team down where lots of hits and misses eventually forced the Magic’s hand unfortunately with yet another loss.

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