Yet another week has come and almost gone, so it's time for another edition of This Sporting Life.
Has anyone been following Sky Sport's coverage of the Commonwealth Games so far? It's excellent coverage, and the innovation of the mosaic page where you can see all the channels at once is great, but frankly, the performances thus far have been a little bit underwhelming. The first gold medal is proving to be an elusive beat, and apparently New Zealand sits 14th on the medal table at the moment, just behind Commonwealth powerhouses Uganda (13th) and Nauru (12th), each of whom have 1 gold medal. Valerie Adams starts her title defence tonight, and she will be delighted that Belarus isn't a part of the Commonwealth!
But what is it with the Australian athletes? Not content with winning just about every gold medal available to date, they've had a wrestler and a cyclist disqualified for making rude gestures at judges, their crack sprinter Sally Pearson was disqualified last night after winning the Women's 100m, for allegedly jumping the start.
What else is there? The All Whites play Honduras tomorrow night in Auckland and Paraguay midweek in Wellington. We would have gone to the Paraguay match had it been at the weekend, but a night game midweek is a non-starter. We'll be interested couch potatos though!
The Black Caps are in Bangladesh, playing a form of cricket. We say that because the dung-heap in Dacca which passes for a cricket pitch is an absolute shocker; low, slow and almost impossible to score on when the pace goes off the ball. That the Bangladeshis were using spinners after 5 overs in the first ODI speaks volumes for the nature of the surface. It's one-day cricket Jim, but not as we know it!
We've saved the best for last; Canterbury versus Southland, for the Ranfurly Shield. This could well be the match of the season in the ITM Cup. Forget Southland's insipid performance in New Plymouth last week; they were clearly thinking ahead. The atmosphere tomorrow night at Rugby Park should be amazing. Canterbury was stung by losing to the Stags last year, but the Southland forwards in particular will fight tooth and nail to hold on to the Log of Wood. It probably won't be a try-fest, but it should be a cracking good match. The head says Canterbury, but the heart will be with the boys from the deep south.
So that's our contribution to the day's debate; we look forward to yours!
11 comments:
In order of importance:
1. As an ardent Crusaders, who are everything the Hurricanes have never been and possibley never will be, supporter - I am firmly in the Southland camp. Provincial rugby will be the better for them holding the shield.
2. Is Shannon Stewart the Keeper? If not why is he batting so low in the order?
3. I think Pearson was hard done by. Sure she was invlved in the break in the first start but after the whining pommy sheila protested and was allowed to run she won the race fair and square. Had they both been put out after the first break no argument. The poms are all over it because there other runner will be promoted from fourth to a bronze.
Finally our first gold may come in the pool. Bee the backstoker looked good in the semis.
Is that swimming before or after Ali Shanks goes in the pursuit?
I've really enjoyed the extended coverage we've had from the velodrome this games, and there have been some cracking Kiwi performances - I even found myself barracking for Lauren Ellis and team mates over the English girls in the points race. That's a first, I'm obviously going native.
The Aussies have had a blinder on the boards, which should probably bee seen as an unsurprising result of the near shut-out they suffered in Beijing.
@pdm - yeah, I think the Crusaders are boring and predictable too...
Well what better way to start the sporting weekend than with my mighty magpies proving that they are a danger at home. Not the most convincing win or the most inspiring game but with the season we are having a wins a win.
As for the other games in the ITM Cup Waikato v Otago should be an easy win to the moo loo boys given otagos poor performance this year. Taranaki v Manawatu is another given to the boys from the naki and BOP should outplay Tasman to come away with the victory.
The three key games for me this weekend are Counties v Auckland but with the addition of Berquist to Auckland this year and his precision boot I dont think the home advantage of Tana can carry the counties boys home this week. Habour Welly should be a good line up. Wellington have been shaky this year and Harbour are an inexperienced team compared to previous year. Should be a hard fought game with Wellington edging out. And finally the ranfurly well after such a poor performance last week the stags are hungry for the win. I think it will be a low scoring game with the kickers playing a vital part. With the form of Robbie I pick the stags to pip the red and blacks.
Us poor students cant afford the luxury of sky and have to resort to the coverage on prime which I must admit has been excellent. So far the performances have been mixed. Bell was unlucky in the 50m Backstroke but the girls 4x200m and Kean made up in the pool for us. The cycling team have proven their worth and Newdick in the Decathlon is proving to be a surprise to all.
Well the Ferns were lucky to win over England I still believe they can claim gold as too should the sevens, Willis, Shanks and Villi. The back end of these games are were we will win gold. As for the Aussies that much resound chant we hear at the football seems to be ringing clear "Same old Aussies always cheating!"
Talking of Football two big internationals this week for the boys but the crowd sizes are somewhat disappoint. I knew Auckland would turn out few supporters but more was expected from the capital. I think both games will push us but we should hold on for at least draws in both.
Looking at the A-league its the clash of the melbournites tonight and with only 3 points separating them it should be good but my head tells me the heart just doesnt have it and it will be a victory win. The Youth grade sees Central Coast and Melbourne lining up with one team to finally get some points on the board while the other will be left lingering at the bottom my money is of a central win. Newcastle v Sydney should be an easy victory to Newcastle as it should be to the AIS over Adelaide.
Finally to round the sporting weekend off there is the black caps playing of one of the worst pitches Ive seen. I think if Brendon has a good batting innings again and Dan and Nathan combine with their spin attack we should win by a nice margin.
All in all other great weekend to sit in front of the telling and watch the athletes of our country bring home the results!
Boy Inv2 - If HB proud is a girls she sure knows her sport. A good loyal HB lass too..
JS - I forgot about Shanks. She had a good ride in the sprint the other day.
As far as Newdick is concerned - having seen only the Beeb coverage I wasn't even aware he was in contention in the decathlon. The only showed the 400m which a pom won. Funny that.
pdm - I wasn't even aware we had an athlete called Newdick. See what happens when Paul Henry gets suspended... :D
One final ComGames thought - is the Australian anthem more annoying than vuvuzelas yet?
@ HB Proud - excellent contribution, as usual. The weather forecast is not flash for the weekend, so one ought not feel guilty sitting on the couch and watching sport. Keep studying and working hard, and Sky TV will one day be yours; make sure you get MySky; it's da bomb!
JS -there is probably a lot more of the Aussie Anthem to come.
One thing about the Beeb - they usually only show the Anthem when they win but even then England have ~Jerusalem" instead of honouring their Queen.
One of their presenters wanted Land of Hope and Glory = or as we used to sing it at High School in the early 60's - Land of Sop and Hories.
Not foregetting W(h)anganui playing North Otago in Oamaru tomorrow are you, I2?
Foregetting? No - forgetting.
Did you mean W(h)anganui BEATING North Otago in Oamaru tomorrow Ele?
No I didn't mean that at all I2.
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