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π Better Than Ever
Sport Journal
June 04, 2023
G'day sports fans,
β20 schooners, 20 fireballs. Project Xβ. One of the great post-match interviews from one of the great A-Leagues characters Jason Cummings. (Twitter)
π¦πΊ Aussie Sport
π Michael Neser has been added to Australia's 15-man squad for this week's World Test Championship decider
Scott Boland is in the box seat to play in this week's World Test Championship final after Josh Hazlewood was replaced in Australia's squad for the one-off clash against India starting on Wednesday.
Michael Neser has joined the official 15-man group but Boland now looks certain to partner Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to play at The Oval.
Hazlewood has bowled at full tilt in recent training sessions but is still managing a left Achilles issue as well as a side injury that flared up during the recent Indian Premier League. (Cricket)
"So I think that (intent) [not looking to just survive in red ball cricket] has held me in good stead at the moment, and I've been practicing probably better than I ever have in the nets."
π¦πΊ Collingwood's Jordan De Goey has been referred to the AFL Tribunal for a minimum three-game suspension after being charged with rough conduct by the AFL's Match Review Officer.
The charge has been handed down following an incident between De Goey and West Coast's Elijah Hewett during the first quarter of Saturday's match at Optus Stadium, with the Magpies star colliding with Hewett, who was concussed as a result of the incident.
π Super Rugby: Wins by the Blues over the Highlanders and the Brumbies over the Melbourne Rebels locked in the top six positions.
The Fijian Drua created history by claiming their first ever quarter-finals spot with a comprehensive win over the Queensland Reds in Suva. The top of the table Chiefs beat the Western Force, who had to win to secure a playoffs berth, to ensure the Reds held onto the final spot.
The Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final match schedule is:
Friday 9 June, 7.35pm NZT: Blues (3) v NSW Waratahs (6), Eden Park, Auckland
Saturday 10 June, 4.35pm NZT: Chiefs (1) v Queensland Reds (8), FMG Stadium Waikato
Saturday 10 June, 7.05pm NZT: Crusaders (2) v Fijian Drua (7), Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch
Saturday 10 June, 7.35pm AEST: ACT Brumbies (4) v Hurricanes (5), GIO Stadium, Canberra
SUNDAY WRAP
π¦πΊ Marlion Pickett kicked truly and in doing so snatched a thrilling 16.14 (110) to 15.14 (104) victory from the hands of Greater Western Sydney to notch Andrew McQualter's first triumph as an AFL coach and keep Richmond's slim finals hopes alive. (match report)
π¦πΊ Essendon survived a massive scare to strengthen their grip on a top-eight spot with a tense six-point win over injury-hit North Melbourne. Massimo D'Ambrosio snapped the match-winning goal with two minutes left in a 16.9 (105) to 15.9 (99) victory. (match report)
π Five tries between wingers Semi Valemei and Murray Taulagi led the Cowboys to a stunning 45-20 victory over the Storm in Townsville. (match report)
π Roosters skipper James Tedesco proved he is still one of the game's leading fullbacks, steering the Roosters to a narrow 25-24 victory over the Bulldogs at Gosford. (match report)
π The Penrith Panthers managed to hold on and defeat a spirited St George Illawarra Dragons side 26-18 to close out Round 14. (match report)
π΄ Winx's half-sister City Of Lights has opened her account with a debut victory at Geelong, ironically it was nine years to the day her champion sister won on debut at Warwick Farm.
The three-year-old relation to four-time Cox Plate winner Winx ploughed through wet ground to win by more than a length.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained daughter of Japanese sire Deep Impact and Vegas Showgirl was strongest late in the 1418m maiden.
"I think I deserve to enjoy this moment just like everyone else. I worked really hard for this moment,"
"There will be a time to come for those kinds of questions but for now, we've grasped a small chunk of history for ourselves and I'm not going to pass that by by being sidetracked."
π Nο»Ώew South Wales copped an almighty blow in its quest to level the State of Origin series with halfback Nathan Cleary suffering a hamstring injury.
The Blues halfback limped from the field clutching at his left hamstring during the first half of the Panthers' match against the Dragons in Penrith.
π World Sport
π Red Bull's Max Verstappen cruised to a third consecutive victory, his fifth in seven races, to win the Spanish Grand Prix and take control of the season.
The Dutchman's 40th career victory extended his championship lead over team-mate Sergio Perez to 53 points.
Verstappen was followed home by Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on an encouraging day for Mercedes.
Verstappen had looked unbeatable from his first lap in Friday practice and proved to be exactly that in the race.
β½οΈ Karim Benzema is to leave Real Madrid after 14 years at the club. Benzema, who had a year left on his contract, is set to move to Saudi Arabia after receiving a "record offer" from Al-Ittihad.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti has told Real Madrid's board he wants to sign Tottenham and England striker Harry Kane, 29 to replace Benzema. (The Athletic)
πΎ Novak Djokovic demonstrated his superior quality to swat aside Peru's Juan Pablo Varillas and reach a record 17th French Open men's quarter-final.
The Serbian third seed, 36, won 6-3 6-2 6-2 on the Roland Garros clay and moved ahead of Rafael Nadal to take sole ownership of the last-eight record.
Djokovic is also aiming to overtake Nadal by winning a record 23rd Grand Slam men's singles title.
The two-time champion will play Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov next.
π The Las Vegas Golden Knights scored three times in the third period to beat the Florida Panthers 5-2 in the opening match of the Stanley Cup finals.
Vegas goalie Adin Hill played a crucial part, making 33 saves as his side - playing at home - took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Golden Knights, formed in 2017, are chasing a first Stanley Cup triumph.
β½οΈ Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal hope to announce the signing of Paris St-Germain and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, 35, on 6 June. (Sport)
π Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan says "nothing's decided yet" on his future after scoring both his side's goals in their 2-1 FA Cup final win against Manchester United. His career at City could finish with a TREBLE, with City having now bagged the league and cup double. Just the UEFA Champions League remains (Sunday morning AEST)
ππ½ββοΈ Faith Kipyegon set a new 1500m world record in the Florence Diamond League meeting. Kipyegon streaked clear to win in 3 minutes 49.11 seconds, breaking the 3:50 barrier for the first time.
π Ben Stokes says he is "definitely on course" to bowl in the first Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston.
The England captain did not bowl in England's 10-wicket win against Ireland at Lord's as he manages a persistent problem with his left knee.
But Stokes, who turns 32 on Sunday, did bowl for the first time in four weeks before play on Saturday.
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πΊ Live Sport TV Guide
TODAY
09:10 - MLB Regular Season - Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees (ESPN 2)
10:00 - NBA Finals - Denver Nuggets v Miami Heat (ESPN)
TUESDAY
09:07 - MLB Regular Season - Toronto Blue Jays v Houston Astros (ESPN 2)
10:00 - NHL Stanley Cup Finals - Vegas Golden Knights v Florida Panthers (ESPN)