FOOTBALL
ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE
Sunday
Tottenham 2-2 Manchester United
Hull 3-1 Liverpool
Chelsea 3-1 Southampton
Manchester City 3-0 Swansea
Saturday
Aston Villa 0-0 Sunderland
Cardiff 0-3 Arsenal
Everton 4-0 Stoke
Norwich 1-0 Crystal Palace
West Ham 3-0 Fulham
Newcastle 2-1 West Brom
Ladder (All have played 13)
1 Arsenal (31) 2 Chelsea (27) 3 Man City (25)
4 Liverpool (24) 5 Everton (24) 6 Newcastle (23)
7 Sth’ton (22) 8 Man Utd (22) 9 Tottenham (21)
10 Hull (17) 11 A Villa (16) 12 West Brom (15)
13 Swansea (15) 14 Norwich (14) 15 West Ham (13)
16 Stoke (13) 17 Cardiff (13) 18 Fulham (13)
19 Sun’land (8) 20 Crystal Palace (7)
A-LEAGUE
Central Coast 0-0 Melbourne Victory
Brisbane Roar 1-0 Perth Glory
Sydney FC 2-0 Newcastle Jets
Wellington Phoenix 0-0 Western Sydney Wanderers
Melbourne Heart 3-3 Adelaide United
Ladder (After round 8)
1 Brisbane Roar 18
2 Western Sydney Wanderers 15
3 Sydney FC 15
4 Melbourne Victory 12
5 Newcastle Jets 12
6 Central Coast Mariners 10
7 Perth Glory 9
8 Adelaide United 6
9 Wellington Phoenix 4
10 Melbourne Heart 3
CRICKET
ASHES TOUR MATCH
CA Chairman’s XI v England XI
Chairman’s XI won the toss and chose to field
England XI 1st Innings 7-212 (78.0 overs)
Ballance 55, Stokes 28, Bairstow 31no; Mackin 2-32 (16.0)
CA Chairman’s XI 1st Innings 8-254 (84.5 overs)
Cazzulino 48, Harris 49, Turner 39no, Lalor 45; Swann 4-56 (23.0), Panesar 2-41 (19.0)
England XI 2nd Innings 1-47 (16.0 overs)
Carberry 37no; Mackin 1-3 (5.0)
Result – Draw
RUGBY UNION
INTERNATIONALS
Saturday
Barbarians 43-19 Fiji
Sunday
Wales 26-30 Australia
AVIVA PREMIERSHIP
Sunday
Newcastle 9 – 35 Harlequins
Saturday
London Irish 12-19 London Wasps
Saracens 24-19 Sale
Worcester 10-33 Northampton
Bath 21-16 Exeter
Friday
Gloucester 17- 22 Leicester
Ladder
1 Saracens 36
2 Northampton 34
3 Bath 30
4 Harlequins 28
5 Leicester 26
6 Exeter 23
7 London Wasps 22
8 Sale 20
9 Newcastle 13
10 Gloucester 13
11 London Irish 12
12 Worcester 2
RUGBY LEAGUE
WORLD CUP FINAL
Saturday
New Zealand 2-34 Australia
Images via Getty
Monday, December 2
MAIN:
Kangaroos ruthless in World Cup final rematch against Kiwis
Almost perfect were Australia’s Kangaroos are they clinically disposed of New Zealand’s Kiwis in the World Cup final in front of a record crowd for a rugby league international at Old Trafford in Manchester.
The 74,468 fans may not have been treated to the thriller the Kiwis gave them the week before in overcoming England in the final moments of their semi-final, but they got a masterclass from Tim Sheens’ side in the 34-2.
After their tough opener against England, Australia went through every game to follow without conceding a try and finished it off with a five try to zip domination.
Billy Slater went over twice, having been an injury doubt going in, while Brett Morris also claimed two, but it was the overall performance that impressed most.
With panels clearly favouring playmakers, Johnathan Thurston won his fourth man of the match of the tournament after the forwards dominated a pack including superstars in their own right, including Sonny Bill Williams.
“It’s a dream come true,” Thurston said of beating the side which gave them a shock in Brisbane in 2008. The Kangaroos were also out to put to rest the world’s best tag after their loss to NZ in 2010.
“It’s been a long six weeks but to win a World Cup with your best mates, it doesn’t get any better.
“We’ve been building towards this. Our main focus was to be here in the last weekend of the World Cup and to improve each week and we’ve done that.”
Cameron Smith was his reliable self throughout the tournament, leading from the front.
He said before raising the World Cup: “What a fantastic campaign we’ve had.
“We started off a bit shaky in the first game in Cardiff (against England) but we’ve certainly turned things around.”
The Kangaroos almost played identical halves, going into the break 16-2 conceding just a penalty – though it took 14 minutes to find the first try through a leaping Slater – and doing it all again in the second.
The Kiwis suffered with the loss of outstanding winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the first 10 minutes, but were never allowed into the contest.
“I just think Australia’s performance today was nothing short of outstanding,” Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney said. “They gave us a real lesson.”
THE WEEKEND IN A FLASH
McIroy ruins Scott’s hopes of triple crown at Australian Open, with a little help from the Aussie
Adam Scott’s hopes of winning the Aussie majors triple crown were dashed by an excellent final round from Rory McIlroy in the Australian Open at Royal Sydney.
McIlroy won his first tournament of the year with a birdie on the last hole or the tournament after Scott made a poorly timed bogie.
Scott set up the tournament with a course record 62 on the opening day, the perfect start to add to his Australian Masters and PGA titles.
He led by four strokes going into the final round but Northern Irishman McIlroy ran him down – although was somewhat apologetic about it at the end.
“I can’t believe I won,” McIlroy said. “I didn’t think it was going to unfold the way it did. It’s hard not to feel some sort of guilt in the way I won it.
“Adam’s a phenomenal player, a great competitor and probably an even better guy. I feel a bit sorry that I was the one that sort of ruined the Triple Crown for him.
“I knew what it meant and just the way the tournament finished for him. Having a one-shot lead going into the last and having it taken away from you right at the very end, it’s tough. I’ve been in that position before.
“I knew I was going to have to do something pretty special to catch Scotty,” he said. “I wanted to get a win by the end of the season and I’ve been able to get one.
“But more satisfying than that is that I’ve been able to take on one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top.”
Scott could have easily claimed victory with a bit of luck, and joined the likes of Gary Player, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicholas on the trophy.
But he lipped out five times, including a three-put on the 16th on the last day to let McIlroy back into the hunt.
“Nothing was going my way on the greens today,” Scott said. “I could have put this thing away early on if the putter was behaving how it should have, how it did the rest of the week.
“I’m gutted. I felt I’d never have a better chance to win the Aussie Open.”
Images via Getty
SAT 4 Wallabies v Wales
MCKENZIE COOPER QUOTES?
Few would have thought it possible a year ago, but on Saturday Quade Cooper led the Wallabies onto Millennium Stadium on Saturday to take on Wales.
For a player marked never to return by Robbie Deans, he’s now vice-captain and again an integral cog in Ewen McKenzie’s line-up.
Ben Mowen was captain, but Cooper took the lead in honour of his 50th game. Then he played like a leader – with the usual similarities to a clever kid playing in the park. And for the most part, they worked.
Wales coach Warren Gatland cried foul of English referee Wayne Barnes’ call on a possible forward pass that ended up being a clincher for Australia’s 30-26 win in Cardiff, but few doubt the improvement in the Wallabies.
In the end, Australia has no beaten the proud rugby nation nine times in a row.
Gatland, the New Zealander who coached the Wales-heaving Lions to victory in Australia this year, was gracious though: “It was a great game of rugby if you were a neutral or an Australian. It was a real Test match out there.”
Mowen hailed Cooper as outstanding after his kicking game was sound and he seemed to break apart the Welsh line at will with his speed and step, then pull off ridiculous flick passes, one of which led to the first try.
“I thought Quade was outstanding in his 50th game,” he said.
“Not many people can execute that in touch-footy in the back-yard, let alone at the Millennium Stadium in those sort of circumstances.
“You can’t say enough about what sort of bloke Quade is and what contribution he’s made.
“He has turned into an outstanding leader, and when he is performing, generally the team is performing very well. That shows a lot about the respect he carries in the group.”
After Australia dominated the first term, Wales fought back and when giant winger George North got the ball in hand anything could happen. It did near the end when his solo try got the reds to within four points.
Cooper was sin-binned late on, but the Wallabies were able to hold on a man down.
Images via Getty
SAT/SUN 5
Ashes news: Clarke rolls ankle, PA MC a DH, Stokes and Faulks stake claims and more
So England have done their best to lull Australia into a false sense of security with a limp effort from those who played in their tour match at the scenic Traeger Park in Alice Springs.
But surely they won’t fold like cheap suits again.
Here are some of the top headlines doing the Ashes rounds as we head into the second Test at the Adelaide Oval starting Wednesday night UK time. And here’s a treat, some of them are even about cricket and not just talking about it.
Not this first one though.
Anderson chirps up and admits he’s a sledger and proud
After all and sundry condemned the Aussies extra yappy approach to the first Test at the Gabba, particularly Michael Clarke who got fined for warning James Anderson of the inherent risks of batting against Mitchell Johnson, the bowler wrote a column in the Daily Mail.
He said: “Certainly in the past few years I’ve developed [sledging] as a skill and it has helped me take the wickets I have.”
“I have absolutely no problem about any of what the Australians were doing on the field, I probably dish it out more than most in the field, so I generally get it back more than most. I expect it and accept it.”
Hallelujah! Someone from the other side finally said it, after Johnson, Lehmann, Rogers and others said something similar.
Now if only they’d all shut up and get on with it.
Rankin and Finn bowl themselves out of Adelaide
Boyd Rankin, the Irishman playing for England and Wales, and Steven Finn were given a shot at impressing against a modest Chairman’s XI in Alice Springs but bowled so well England are considering a second spinner for the second Test.
The drop-in pitch will be much harder graft for the bowlers than lively Brisbane, meaning the ACB should get maximum five days ticket sales but also have the potential of a bore draw.
Bowling all-rounder Ben Stokes is the smokey for England, with the red-headed paceman a chance to come in at No 6, Joe Root moving up to No 5 and Ian Bell facing a newer ball at No 3 to replace Jonathan Trott. Stokes can handle a bat OK, maybe even at No 7 after Matt Prior, but would be there for extra pace option would be why he’s there. Or batsman Gary Ballance, who got 55 in Alice, could come in as a straight batting replacement.
Faulkner in the frame for Aussies
England has Stokes, Australia has James Faulkner. If it was an ODI both would be walk-up starters, but Darren Lehmann’s said the bowling all-rounder’s left-arm seamers could come in handy as they take on a pitch that won’t offer much help.
Uh oh! Clarke rolls ankle training in Adelaide
Other than some sort of natural disaster or the entire England top order learning how to leave Mitchell Johnson’s bouncers, the worst possible news for an Australian this week is Michael Clarke doing anything to harm himself.
Te first Test centurian scared the bejesus out of his team’s staff when he rolled his ankle running on Adelaide Oval while we slept.
He left the field and reports say he wasn’t 100 per cent when he came back. But he did bat in the nets in the afternoon. Phew.
PA man says he likes Monty so silly accent’s OK
David Nixon was named as the announcer sacked on the spot during the Alice Springs tour match after calling Monty Panesar’s name with an Indian accent.
It’s all a bit idiotic. Panesar is from Luton and the way he speaks has little resemblance to India – the South African accent of Kevin Pietersen on the other hand…
How Nixon thought this was appropriate though is the real worry and Cricket Australia rightly gave him the flick.
A CA spokesperson said: “Cricket Australia deemed the conduct of the PA announcer as inappropriate and as such he will take no further part in the match.”
“There will be no further comment from CA until a review of events has been completed.”
Nixon took to his Twitter account to explain that his ‘style’ did not work with the broadcaster.
He wrote: “Really? I love Monty P – cult hero. He should bat 3. My style didn’t fit theirs. That’s all.
Really? I love Monty P – cult hero. He should bat 3. My style didn't fit theirs. That's all. RT @sjrohweder: ABC's David Nixon stood down
— Navid_Dixon (@David_Nixon) November 30, 2013
NEWS
Flume and Tame Impala clean up at an ARIA Awards that wasn’t even snobby about former Idol acts
The Australian Idol curse was broken at the 27th Annual ARIA Awards, with artists previously scoffed at by the industry getting top gongs, but the night belonged to two acts that do it all – write, produce and perform.
Flume, aka Harley Streten, a 22-year-old electronic producer who’s taken the music world by storm was the biggest winner claiming best male, best dance album and breakthrough artist awards, adding to the earlier presented producer of the year gong at the ARIA Artisan Awards.
Flume plies his trade behind a desk on stage or at his family’s house in Sydney’s northern beaches, where he made his self-titled debut.
The other all-encompassing artist with ‘cred’ that industry types like so much was Tame Impala, the psychedelic rock act from Perth led by Kevin Parker, who took out album of the year, best group and best rock album for their Lonerism LP – no bedrooms for them though, it was recorded in his home in France where he’s based as the band continue their assault on Europe.
But a soft spot must be left for Guy Sebastian, the first winner of Oz Idol, and Jessica Mauboy, who finished runner-up in another series of the talent show that pins acts to a big Sony contract and until now has tainted them at awards ceremonies.
Usually only winning public-voted awards, which Sebastian did taking the year’s best Australian live act award, he also got the industry-voted pop release of the year gong for Armageddon.
Mauboy, also an actress after starring in musical The Sapphires, got the even bigger honour of female artist of the year ahead of long-time critics’ darlings Missy Higgins and Sarah Blasko.
And for those still pining for the Eighties, or just wish you were old enough to remember them, Air Supply were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Scroll below all the winners listed below for a tasty treat of their finest work.
Flume, Flume
Best Male
Best Dance Album
Breakthrough Artist – Release
Producer Of The Year
Tame Impala, Lonerism
Album Of The Year
Best Group
Best Rock Album
Guy Sebastian, Armageddon
Best Pop Release
Best Australian Live Act
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Push the Sky Away
Best Independent Release
Best Adult Contemporary Album
Jessica Mauboy, To the End of the Earth
Best Female Artist
Matt Corby, Resolution
ARIA Song Of The Year
Russell Morris, Sharkmouth
Best Blues and Roots Album
Justine Clarke, A Little Day Out with Justine Clarke
Best Children’s Album
Tom & Alex, The Bits We’re Least Ashamed Of
Best Comedy Release
Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, Wreck & Ruin
Best Country Album
Karnivool, Asymmetry
Best Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Album
Illy, Bring It Back
Best Urban Album
Samantha Jade, Firestarter
Best Video – Directed by Christopher Frey
One Direction, Take Me Home
Best International Artist
Air Supply
ARIA Hall Of Fame
‘I love you boys’: Finals words of shark attack victim with ‘a smile so big it tears through a saddened heart’
The loved ones of tragic shark attack victim Zac Young, who died aged 19 near Coffs Harbour in NSW, have made it clear they don’t want to see a shark cull despite what happened to the young bodyboarder.
Young died after being bitten on his legs while surfing a reef break called The Well – his friends were able to get him to shore but he went into cardiac arrest and died soon after.
A memorial was held at Port Macquarie High School where his brother Michael bravely spoke: “All of us know you have left for now, but you will always be alive in our hearts and we will smile every time you cross our minds.”
“In the wise words of Zachy: ‘Don’t cry, keep your eyes dry, and get by’.
“You were loved by so many because you loved too much. A smile so big it tears through a saddened heart.”
Another friend, Dave Malvern, said Young’s final words were: “I love you boys.”
A search was underway for the offending shark, with beaches in the area closed for lengthy periods, but Michael was adamant there shouldn’t be a cull and Zac’s death was a “freak” incident.
“The Young family has grown up with the ocean as surfers, divers and fishermen since most of us could walk,” he said.
“We understand nature and the freak nature of this tragedy. Although we believe in the tagging of large sharks, we do not wish for this to result in any sort of cull.”
8 Guilty pleasure, water cooler fodder, scandalous gossip – call it what you like but supermodel Kerr has hooked up with billionaire Packer
We were thinking of the headline, James Packer really likes Gunnedah! But were worried not enough of you knew your NSW country towns. You can say you don’t want to read about this stuff all you like, but when an Australia supermodel – in this case Miranda Kerr – hooks up with a billionaire heir – in this case James Packer – we can’t ignore it.
Today’s Woman’s Day magazine screams the headline “Head over Heels: The Billionaire, The Supermodel and Their Red Hot Romance”.
Now we’re probably as grain of salt about such things as you are, with the cover image a slice and dice effort – of course it is, they’re not public yet – but they seem pretty sure about it.
So now you can say what you’ve been thinking – Orlando Bloom to James Packer. Yep.
The magazine which broke the story by its deadline on Thursday but was unable to keep it from the papers, quotes a mate of James quoting James saying: “I’m seeing Miranda Kerr.”
“Miranda may come across as an Earth Mother but she loves the high life and James can provide the sort of lifestyle and security very few could give her,” another friend is quoted in a teaser for their full story on womansday.ninemsn.com.au
Packer split with his wife of six years and mum of three kids Erica Packer in September.
A month or so later the ridiculously good looking couple Kerr-Bloom (or Orlanda as we prefer), separated after three years and one child, son Flynn.
It’s no real stretch linking them together – the couples have been on holiday together in Tahiti.
But it’s pretty freaky that Australia’s most eligible billionaire – when he’s single anyway – would go for two suiters from the same little town (less than 8000 people).
Images via Getty
