Australian high jumper Eleanor Patterson says she didn’t perform at her best in the Commonwealth Games final.
Patterson won gold in the high jump at the Athletics World Championships in Oregon just late July and she admitted such a big win just before the Commonwealth Games may have had an impact.
Eleanor Patterson.Credit:AP
But she congratulated Jamaica’s Lamara Distin for her gold medal win and said she would come back stronger in the remaining events this year and, hopefully, the Diamond League finals.
“It’s bittersweet. I didn’t perform,” Patterson told Channel Seven.
“Lamara was the best athlete on the day. I’m impressed with her and I’m proud of her but I am quite frustrated with myself as I didn’t come here today and perform like I usually do.”
Patterson said she didn’t know what had put her off so badly in Birmingham.
“I’ve had a bit of a sore ankle but no excuses. I was struggling to get my rhythm, I wasn’t switched on enough. I don’t know, it’s just really frustrating. I wasn’t doing my best,” Patterson told Channel Seven.
“There is that come down but I put myself up to a really high standard and I should be able to perform and I didn’t so hats off to Lamara for taking out the gold.
“I’m human. It’s a frustrating day for me. I’m angry at my own performance.”
Before analyzing how Alpine found itself in this state, allow me to stress that the information learned by RacingNews365.com concerning Piastri’s move to McLaren was derived not from a single source, but three different parties – on two continents, in three countries – all with knowledge of the information. Crucially, all provided essentially the same details.
However, we have omitted items such as timelines for fear that these could jeopardize certain insiders in England and Australia. All I will say in this regard is: there is considerable dissent in the team’s ranks, with some choice language peppering the details. Saliently, all pointed to a two-plus one-year deal.
Three burning questions surround the loss of not one but two star drivers within a space of 24 hours – both to lower ranking teams: Why did Alpine not urgently secure its offer to Fernando Alonso once it knew Sebastian Vettel’s seat was vacant?
Forget not that Alonso is a driver who (twice) previously left Team Enstone under a cloud; a driver at the heart of every major F1 scandal this millennium; a driver who repeatedly left chaos in his wake from him; a driver managed by Flavio Briatore, whose reputation precedes him after he quit his role as boss of the same team in the wake of cheating allegations – yet Alpine went about re-signing him with an air of utter casualness.
Then: That McLaren was talking to Piastri was an open paddock secret; that he is advised by Mark Webber – who won Le Mans with a Porsche team overseen by current McLaren team boss Andreas Seidl, and learned the tricks of driver management from Briatore – equally so. Yet neither alarms nor even muted bells appear to have pealed in Enstone or Viry-Châtillon, Alpine’s Parisian base. Talk about sleepwalking…
Finally: what on earth possessed Alpine to issue a media release announcing an alleged driver contract without a single quote from the subject? Not a word; not only was that a sure giveaway that Alpine had lost control over its third driver, but smacked of egoistic desperation to salvage management ‘face’.
Alpine’s hubris coming back to bite the team?
Our information has it that McLaren’s contract with Piastri was signed last Saturday during the Hungarian Grand Prix, ahead of a mooted (by others) deadline of July 31, 2022, then immediately lodged with the CRB, which accepted the agreement as is standard procedure unless conflicts exist. Our sources are adamant that no 2023 Alpine-Piastri contract was in place, only a vague (and expired) option clause in his 2022 deal.
Significantly, Alpine was not informed of said acceptance, simply because there were no conflicts. Australian sources are equally adamant that Daniel Ricciardo has been informed of his de-hiring of him, and that a soft landing is being sought for him.
The bottom line is that hubris about what was smugly (and variously) referred to as a “rich man’s problem” or “nice problem to have” has come back to bite the team, leaving a proud French brand – celebrating the 50th anniversary of its halo A110 model’s world rally championship successes in 2023 – with a choice of Mick Schumacher or Ricciardo. Last-named shunned the team two years ago and serially underperformed since.
From media briefings with carefully selected outlets through vague off-record comments by junior press officers when gravitas was urgently required, to stone-deafness after Piastri’s (pointed) social media statements, and clumsy pointers from team management that Alonso was not contactable – leading the Spaniard to post mocking messages – Alpine has (mis?)managed this entire saga in amateurish fashion.
When approached by RacingNews365.comin the wake of Piastri’s tweet, a team spokesperson stated Alpine was confident about its position and offered no further comment.
Penrith’s 26-6 triumph against Canberra has been overshadowed by the ongoing feud between the rival clubs, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart labeling Panther half Jaeman Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”.
In Saturday’s other matches, Cronulla defeated St George Illawarra 24-18, while South Sydney beat the Warriors 48-10.
Stuart’s comments followed a controversial second-half incident where Salmon appeared to kick Raiders hooker Tom Starling in the groin and the face while being tackled, one of a number of reports from another fiery clash at Canberra Stadium.
Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris was sin-binned for a high-shot on Canberra’s Ryan Sutton that ended his night with a failed HIA, while Raiders winger Nick Cotric served 10 minutes in the bin for a similar hit on Dylan Edwards.
But Stuart had his sights set on Salmon, telling media he did not think the contact was accidental.
“I’ve had history with that kid (Salmon), I know that kid very well,” Stuart told reporters.
“He was a weak-gutted dog as a kid, and he hasn’t changed now, he’s a weak-gutted-dog person now.
“Fisher-Harris … they’re accidents and in this collision game, I understand it.
“Where Salmon kicked Tommy, it ain’t on.”
Those comments were put to a bemused Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, who said he did not believe Salmon would have deliberately tried to kick Starling.
“I don’t think I need to respond to those comments,” Clearly said.
“I know what Jaeman is like, he’s valuable in our club and we love him and that’s all that matters to us.”
But the loss also came with a hefty price for the Raiders, losing star prop Joe Tapine, who did not return in the second half following a first-half rib injury.
His side badly missed him, conceding 26 straight points after Josh Papalii had scored the match’s opening try.
The club had no update on the severity of Tapine’s injury immediately following the match.
Penrith, playing without their star halves pairing of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai along with second rower Villiame Kikau, survived an injury scare of their own with fullback Edwards, playing his 100th NRL game, pushing through pain to put in a clinical display.
Dylan Edwards was among the Panthers’ try scorers against the Raiders.(AAP: Lukas Coch)
Edwards, who had earlier looked ginger after being drilled by Jordan Rapana, responded perfectly with a try on 54 minutes, breaking Canberra’s spirit and capping his 155m, six-tackle bust display.
And he got plenty of help, particularly through back-up playmaker Sean O’Sullivan, covering Cleary in immaculate fashion with a stunning three-try assists and some kicking excellence.
“Seany’s had a great year for us, he’s been exactly what we needed,” Cleary said.
“It’s been good for him and good for us; it’s sort of catapulted his career, when Nathan’s been out he’s been able to do the job.
“The boys have got confidence in him and we’re gonna keep backing him to step up.”
Five-eighth Salmon scored a crafty try in the second half to complete the route, while center Stephen Crichton had earlier marked his return from his sickening ear injury to cross.
The result is a crushing blow to the Raiders’ final hopes because they now sit a game back from the eight-placed Sydney Roosters, although all four of their remaining matches are against bottom-eight teams.
“I’m not walking away from that downhearted, because there was so much effort the boys put in,” Stuart said.
“We’re in survival mode and that’s how we’re going to play and we’re not going to let that result tonight stem the way we’ve been preparing and getting around each other.”
Sharks vs. Dragons
Team stats
play-by-play
Rabbitohs breeze past Warriors
The Rabbitohs blitzed the Warriors in an electric first half.(Getty Images: Bradley Kanaris)
South Sydney’s top-four ambitions remain intact following a ruthless 48-10 victory over the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs made easy work of a hapless Warriors outfit at Sunshine Coast Stadium, effectively having the contest put to bed when they scored six tries to one in the first half.
Adding two more to the Rabbitohs’ tally in the second stanza, star fullback Latrell Mitchell was given an early rest with 18 minutes to play after a perfect game off the tee.
Mitchell kicked all eight conversions, adding two tries and two try assists to go with two line assists and two linebreaks.
Perhaps the pick of his contributions was the sliced cut-out pass that found Izaac Thompson on debut to score his first NRL try and the Rabbitohs’ seventh of the afternoon.
Skipper Cameron Murray was one of nine Rabbitohs’ players to run for over 100 meters and had three try assists in the first 16 minutes before putting Lachlan Ilias over in the third minute.
He also linked up with hooker Damien Cook off a midfield linebreak to set up the hooker for the Rabbitohs’ second.
A deft offload to Tevita Tatola gave the Rabbitohs their third, before Murray put a strong shot on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 25 meters from the Warriors’ line to win back possession.
It led to Ilias setting up Keaon Koloamatangi as Souths piled on 24 points in the first 21 minutes of the match.
Edward Kosi hit back for the away side in their first and only real opportunity of the opening half, but Jai Arrow then found an offload through three tacklers for Mitchell to crash over.
Mitchell then put Alex Johnston in for his 23rd try of the season as the Rabbitohs enjoyed a 36-6 advantage at the break.
It marked the fifth straight match South Sydney had scored 30 points or more against the Warriors.
The Rabbitohs’ dominance continued in the second half with the only blight coming through Shaun Johnson’s try in the 50th minute in a rare attacking opportunity inside South Sydney’s 20-meter line.
Victory over the Warriors saw the Rabbitohs leap-frog the Roosters and Broncos to move to sixth on the ladder, their dominant win also their biggest of 2022.
But the run into the finals is tough for last season’s grand finalists.
Four matches against top eight sides remain for the Rabbitohs, who face Parramatta, competition leaders Penrith, North Queensland and the Roosters to round out the regular season.
Asked to confirm that she’s a seven-time Most Valuable Player recipient, she takes a step back and playfully rolls her eyes: “I ammmmm.”
The Diamonds have a battle on their hands if they’re to win gold at these Games, but there’s a bigger war being waged on the home front for control of the sport.
On one hand, it’s all sparkles: it has just under one million players in Australia, making it the No.1 sport for women, and it is pushing hard for inclusion in the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.
On the other, there’s a crisis of confidence in Netball Australia to navigate the choppy course ahead as rival codes finally wake up to the potential of women’s sport.
“I don’t know where the negativity comes from,” NA chief executive Kelly Ryan tells the herald and The Age. “It’s nothing that I’ll spend time thinking about because I can assure you that 90 per cent of the stakeholders want nothing but success for the sport. Hopefully, the other 10 per cent will embrace it.”
Reports surfaced in June about NA being “on the brink of financial collapse” as it struggled under the weight of crippling debt reportedly worth $11 million following two years of COVID-19 lockdowns.
“Absolutely not,” she said. “I don’t know how people came to that number to be perfectly honest. We had a $4.4 million loss to 2021, and we have $4.2 million in debt and $2.4 million of that debt is associated to the financial support that we gave all the states and territories in 2020 [during lockdowns]. We took out loans to keep the sport going.”
Netball Australia chief executive Kelly Ryan.
In the past month, a consortium, headed by Mental Health Australia chair Matt Berriman, has launched an ambitious $6.5 million bid to buy Super Netball, the domestic competition.
The consortium includes former ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie, Diamonds legend Liz Ellis and businessman James Rushton, co-founder of DAZN, a global sports streaming platform that has shaken up professional boxing.
They are heavy hitters you would expect any code to welcome.
“We feel netball is at that juncture here in Australia, and we hope, whether it is our bid or a competitive one, that it continues to ensure netball is Australia’s No.1 female sport in Australia for decades to come,” Berriman said. “That has always been our motivation. We are actively and positively engaged with Netball Australia regarding our bid.”
Diamonds legend Liz Ellis is among a consortium of heavy hitters looking to take over Super Netball.
Under the proposal, a copy of which the herald and Age has seen, the bid offers to eliminate NA’s debt while also investing $2.5 million into development.
The situation remains delicate. Berriman on Tuesday met with NA chair Marina Go, the former chair of the NRL’s Wests Tigers, but Ryan is being kept at arm’s length from negotiations.
She refused to answer direct questions about Berriman’s bid and remained non-committal about private equity, which several sports and teams, including the All Blacks, have recently pursued.
“We’re delighted there’s interest, but it’s too early to go through the process,” she said. “We don’t have an opinion on whether private equity is the right thing for netball or not. We need to form that opinion before we start working out that particular arrangement. I don’t know enough about it. All I can do is look at what other sports are doing around the globe. It’s a process of understanding of all the sums of all the parts of netball, and not isolating one aspect of it.”
Australia next face an England side, featuring Super Netball alumni Natalie Metcalf and Helen Housby, in the race for gold at Birmingham 2022.Credit:Getty
What’s confused many stakeholders is the changing narrative about NA’s financial situation.
When last season’s Super Netball grand final between the West Coast Fever and Melbourne Vixens was sold to the Western Australia government, it was done so on the premise that NA desperately needed the funds. When reports surfaced about NA’s debt soon after, NA assured stakeholders the situation wasn’t at all dire.
“We put a stake in the ground for the grand finale, we did a deal with the WA government, we had all the facts,” Ryan insists. “We’ve got debt — that’s our reality. But there’s also a reality about making this sport more commercial. The grand finale is a prime example. It has not been positioned from a commercial-revenue driving position before. It’s been the opposite. That’s where our focus is: growing revenue. No part of our business is about cutting costs.”
Other fires are burning. NA is still nutting out collective bargaining agreements with the players’ association for the Diamonds and Super Netball players. Head office doesn’t seem particularly interested in a revenue sharing model.
But the grand finale, which attracted a record crowd of almost 14,000 people, and a TV audience on Fox Sports of almost 250,000, shows there’s strong devotion to netball.
‘We’ve been No.1 in the world since the moment rankings came. But the sport hasn’t come close to merchandising what should sit with that.’
Kelly Ryan
Which is important as all codes clamor for young participants.
According to AusPlay data in 2021, netball remains the leading team sport for women and girls in Australia. Netball had 601,165 participants aged 15 or over and 318,243 participants aged under 14.
According to NA, internal registration data for 2022 suggests participation levels are on track to match, if not exceed, those of 2019 before the pandemic.
“We’re competing with a lot of different sports,” Diamonds captain Liz Watson says. “AFLW, that’s becoming huge. We want to make sure we’re investing in our girls coming through. They need to see that’s our national sport and not lose them at 15, 16 years of age.”
There’s also an ambitious eye on inclusion at the Brisbane Olympics, although former AOC president John Coates has said the IOC prefers sports that can be played by men and women. Bids will be made in 2025 with an answer the following year.
Much like rugby sevens, it could attract a generation of women athletes.
Unlike other codes, particularly the Wallabies and Socceroos, the future of netball remains in the strength of its domestic league, not of its national team.
If Super Netball can replicate the nightclub-like scenes at the NEC Arena this week, with stadiums packed with fans having the time of their lives, you sense the code is going to be OK.
loading
Gold medals never hurt, though. The Diamonds will play England in the semifinal on Saturday morning, local time.
“Does winning gold mean money falls from the sky?” Ryan says. “Definitely not. It doesn’t change where the sport is positioned: we’ve been No.1 in the world since the moment rankings came. But the sport hasn’t come close to merchandising what should sit with that. That hasn’t materialized. We need to tell the story of how good netball is.”
Get all the latest news from the Birmingham Commonwealth Gameshere. We’ll be live blogging the action from 4pm-10am daily.
Tom Wright has been preferred to Jordan Petaia at No.15 for the Wallabies’ Rugby Championship Test opener against Argentina on Sunday AEST while Dave Rennie has pulled a move so far unseen in his 23 previous Tests in charge.
Rennie, bracing for a physical assault from Michael Cheika’s Argentina, has opted for a 6-2 bench split for the first time as Wallabies coach, leaving Reece Hodge and Jake Gordon as the only backline options to enter the fray.
That appears a risky move at any time but considering the number of injuries suffered by Australia’s backs already this year – Samu Kerevi the latest victim earlier this week – Rennie will be walking a high wire in Mendoza.
Rennie will hold a media conference at 8.30am AEST on Friday to discuss his selections.
As reported earlier in the week, Jed Holloway will make his Wallabies debut at No.6 while Melbourne prop Matt Gibbon is on the verge of a fairytale debut backing up James Slipper.
Gordon was the No.9 bench option behind Nic White for the first two Tests against England but Tate McDermott, who has had some minutes as a winger when required during Super Rugby, played in the decider.
Wright steps into a problematic position for Rennie having spent some time there in the Brisbane Test after the concussion suffered by Petaia, who was ruled out of game three, where Hodge wore the No.15 jersey. Tom Banks broke his arm in the Perth game while Andrew Kellaway was injured in training and is still sidelined.
“If that opportunity arises again, I’ll definitely take it with both hands,” Wright said this week when asked about the prospect of being named as No.15.
“I was given an opportunity there through someone else’s misfortune. It will be good to have Jordie back in the mix of selection, and we’re only going to be better off for it as a team, but fullback is something that excites me – you get a few different looks at getting the ball in different parts of the field.”
Holloway has been close to selection and would have played against England but for a calf injury.
The Waratahs flanker will add extra height in the lineout along with Darcy Swain who returns after suspension, and Matt Philip as the locks. Rory Arnold, called up as one of three allowed overseas picks, misses out after a slight calf strain, with Nick Frost on the bench.
Former Argentina center Marcelo Bosch is the special guest with Roar experts Brett McKay and Harry Jones as they preview the Wallabies’ TRC campaign. Listen here or find us on your podcast app of choice.
Quade Cooper returns after missing the entire England series with a calf strain to guide the team from No.10 with Hunter Paisami, as expected, alongside Len Ikitau at inside centre.
Hodge is well-regarded by Rennie for his versatility and can play anywhere from flyhalf out in a pinch.
Gibbon was called up after an impressive performance in the Australia A games in Fiji and following injuries to Angus Bell and Scott Sio in the England series.
Gibbon was involved in a Wallabies camp ahead of the 2019 World Cup and has subsequently undergone a shoulder reconstruction.
The 6-2 bench split means there is no spot for Reds stars James O’Connor and Suli Vunivalu, who made their debut in the dying embers of the Ella-Mobbs Cup decider, while Jock Campbell also must bid his time.
“We’ve had a strong week of preparation over here in Argentina and we are highly motivated to put on a performance that makes our supporters proud back home in Australia,” said Rennie in a statement from RA.
“It’s an extremely special occasion for Jed, Matt and their families and it’s up to the rest of us to make sure it’s a positive memory on their Test debuts.
“Argentina will be full of confidence after their home series win over Scotland and we know we’ll need to be at our best to get a good result on Saturday afternoon.”
Meanwhile Argentina’s coach Michael Cheika made nine changes to the starting team that scored a dramatic late win over Scotland to clinch their July series against Scotland.
Six changes of the changes are in the Argentina forwards where Julian Montoya returns as captain after a back injury to replace Agustin Creevy. .
Forwards Thomas Gallo, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Santiago Grondona and Facundo Isa missed out on starting spots to Manuel Tetaz Chaparro, Francisco Gomez, Matias Alemanno, Juan Martin Gonzalez Samso and Marcos Kremer.
In the backs, Tomas Cubelli replaces Lautaro Bazan Velez, at No.9 Jeronimo de la Fuente is in at 12 for Matias Moroni and Santiago Cordero is named at 14 wing instead of Bautista Delguy.
Wallabies team to play Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza, Sunday, 5.10am AEST
1. James Slipper (117 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (28 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (55 Tests)
4. Darcy Swain (11 Tests)
5. Matt Philip (23 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway*
7. Michael Hooper (c) (121 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (21 Tests)
9. Nick White (50 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (75 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (45 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (17 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (15 Tests)
14. Jordan Petaia (18 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (12 Tests)
replacements
16. Lachlan Lonergan (4 Tests)
17. Matt Gibbon*
18. Taniela Tupou (40 Tests)
19. Nick Frost (2 Tests)
20. Rob Leota (9 Tests)
21. Pete Samu (22 Tests)
22. Jake Gordon (12 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (55 Tests)
*denotes uncapped
Argentina (1-15): 1 Nahuel T. Chaparro, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 4 Matias Alemanno, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Emiliano Boffelli , 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 13 Matias Orlando, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Juan Cruz Mallia.
Reservations: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayvo Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Matias Moroni.
In a battle between two young superstars, it was Coco Gauff who bested Naomi Osaka on Thursday night to reach the quarterfinals of the Mubadala Silicon Valley Classic.
The 18-year old pulled off a 6-4 6-4 victory, as she went toe-to-toe with the former World No.1 in a highly anticipated encounter. Gauff looked poised and confident in the opening set, whereas Osaka showed shades of rust. The Japanese superstar was lacking competitive match play, after losing in the first round of this year’s Roland Garros and skipping the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon.
Regardless, it was Gauff who maintained a good rhythm as she hit five aces and won 13 of 14 points behind her powerful first serve. The Roland Garros runner-up did not face a break point in the opening set, and required only one break of serve to clinch the first set.
With momentum on her side, Gauff quickly obtained another break as she raced to a 3-1 lead in the second set. The World No.11 extended her lead to 5-1, and soon had three match points at 40-0. It was here that Osaka’s championship pedigree kicked in, as the four-time Grand Slam champion fought back to erase four match points and keep her hopes for her alive.
To the shock of the crowd, Osaka broke back, saving seven match points in total as she reduced toe deficit to 4-5. However, Gauff would not be denied, finally sealing the victory on her eighth time of asking, putting the one and a half hour contest to an end.
The sixth seed now faces another dangerous threat in Spaniard Paula Badosa, who battled past American qualifier Elizabeth Mandlik to reach the quarterfinals.
Australia will have plenty of chances to add to its gold medal tally early on Saturday night [AEST] as the action gets underground on Day 9 of the Commonwealth Games.
Australia was on top of the Commonwealth Games medal tally with 50 golds, with England closing in on 47 but that was before Saturday’s events got underway.
Now the Australians have hit 54, with four gold medals in the opening hours. Read on for a full wrap and live coverage of Day 9’s action!
MEDAL TALLY: Aussies JUST in front as Comm Games race comes down to the wire
DAY 8 WRAP: ‘National disgrace’ rocks Comm Games as Hockeyroos survive penalty shootout scare
Australia benefits from BIZZARE rule | 00:29
LAWN BOWLS
Australia could pocket up to 11 more gold medals on Saturday, with Kristina Krstic and Ellen Ryan taking home the first in stunning fashion in the final women’s pairs lawn bowls.
England’s Sophie Tolchard and Amy Pharaoh led at 11-2 at one point but the Aussies refused to go away and won on the final bowl in dramatic fashion.
England skipped out to an early 2-0 lead and threatened to make it 4-0 but a brilliant final bowl from Ellen Ryan knocked two of her rival’s balls out of the way to level it at 2-2.
England responded though with two solid ends to reassert its dominance and kept going from there to take an 11-2 lead but Australia roared back in epic fashion to get it back to 11-10.
Ellen Ryan and Kristina Krstic of Team Australia react during Women’s Pairs – Gold Medal Match. (Photo by Stephen Pond/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Aussie duo kept up the fight, picking up four points on the 13th end to lead 16-12 before England pegged it back and was up 18-17.
Krstic and Ryan though were on the brink of gold medal glory with two leading balls on the 18th end, only for Pharaoh to knock one out with a brilliant bowl on the final ball.
It meant the game finished a draw and would instead go into overtime to decide who would take home the gold.
England was in the commanding position with a few balls left but a pinpoint bowl from Ryan knocked the jack away and kept Australia in with a chance.
Once again it went down to the last ball, with Australia’s gold medal hopes resting on Ryan’s shoulders.
And she came up clutch with a stunning shot to knock England’s leading ball out of the way, sealing gold in a thrilling comeback.
ATHLETICS
‘That is breathtaking’: Comm Games record broken in 10,000m stunner
The gold rush has continued on the track, with Jemima Montag taking out the women’s 10,000m walk in a dominant display.
“That was absolutely breathtaking,” Channel 7’s Jason Richardson said.
Montag paced herself brilliantly throughout the walk and then picked up the pace in the latter stages of the race to get in a comfortable position.
So comfortable that Montag could start celebrating well before she crossed the finish line for gold with a time of 42:34:00 — a new personal best and Commonwealth Games record.
“That was surreal,” Montag told Channel 7 post race.
Jemima Montag of Team Australia celebrates after winning the gold medal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“You just sort of pretend everyone’s clapping for you, even if they’re clapping for the high jump or the hammer throwers walking in and anytime there’s self-doubt, it really gives you a boost.
“I feel like I’m continuing the legacy of really strong Australian race walking and to go back-to-back, winning on the Gold Coast four years ago really changed my life. I didn’t think that at the time but I think with hindsight it did, it set in that self-belief. I have big dreams for two more Olympic games. So today was a special moment.”
Fellow Australian Rebecca Henderson finished fourth and Katie Hayward placed seventh.
Aussie world champ toppled in upset
There was a surprise result on track, with Eleanor Pattersonthe reigning world champion, missing out on gold in the women’s high jump final.
Patterson was coming off a brilliant win at the World Championships and became the first to clear 1.89m in a strong opening to the final.
In the end though she missed three attempts at 1.95m, the top result set by Jamaica’s Lamara Distin, who won gold with Patterson taking the silver medal.
Nicola Olyslagers was initially going to join her but with drawn from the final with a torn calf.
“It could be a few weeks and if I jumped today it was possible to be a nine-month injury,” the 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medalist told Channel 7.
Australia’s Eleanor Patterson missed out on gold. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP)Source: AFP
Elsewhere, Julie Charlton will also be competing in the women’s F55-57 shot put final while there will be four Australians going for gold in the women’s 10km race walk final at 7.30pm.
Later at 8.50pm, ben buckingham and Edward Trippas will be going for gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase final.
The final shot at gold comes in the men’s 1500m final, with Ollie Hoare in action and looking to secure ultimate redemption after a disappointing exit from the world championships.
Hoare was the fastest Australian qualifier after finishing first in heat one with a time of 3:37.57.
Other highlights include the women’s and men’s 4x100m relay heats.
There are lots of high-stakes events too with alex hulley (hammer throw), Sarah Carly (400m hurdles), Catriona Bisset (800m) and Ella Connolly (200m) in their own ends.
GYMNASTICS
The golds kept coming in gymnastics, with Alexandra Kiroi Bogatyreva taking out the rhythmic gymnastics clubs final with a score of 29,400.
Kiroi-Bogatyreva was also in action earlier in the ball final, placing fifth with a score of 28,600 and will be in the final ribbon later in the night.
Eighteen-year-old Lydia Iakovleva will also be in the rhythmical gymnastics hoop final after finish seventh (107.150) in the all-around final on Friday.
netball
The ultimate grudge match sees Australia’s Diamonds face England in the netball semi-final. You can read Nat Medhurt’s full preview ahead of the fiery semi-final here, with the game set to begin at 11.30pm.
If Australia is successful, it is Jamaica they will face in the end.
Jamaica’s stunning run continued as they dominated the Silver Ferns to take a 67-51 win and book their spot in the gold medal match for the first time at the Commonwealth Games.
Jamaica were the surprise top qualifiers in their pool after shocking Australia and it looks like
the Diamonds will again need to try to find a way to shut down Jhaniele Fowler.
The world’s best shooter dominated in Jamaica’s 57-55 win over Australia in the pool stage, finishing that match with 47 goals from 50 attempts and was even better against New Zealand.
The West Coast Fever star shot a perfect 54 goals from 54 attempts in the win.
Jhaniele Fowler starred in the win. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TABLE TENNIS
Two Australian pairs (chunyi feng & Yangzi Liu and Jian Fang Lay & minhyung jee) were both successful in their Round of 16 matches for the women’s doubles table tennis.
They will face Singapore and Nigeria respectively in the quarter-finals at 1am.
Later in the night, Liu will continue her bid to become the first Australian woman to win a Commonwealth Games singles medal when she competes in the semi-final.
There will be guaranteed gold in the morning too, with an All-Australian for table tennis final between Li Na Lei and qian yang.
BOXING
There are lots of medals up for grabs in the ring, withfive Australians into the semi-finals. first-up, kaye scott is through to the gold medal fight after winning her women’s light middleweight boxing semi-final against Alcinda Helena Panguane on points.
Callum Peters will also put on the gloves for the men’s middleweight semi-final later in the night at 9.15pm, taking on Simnikiwe Bongco.
Edgardo Coumi is in action at 2am against Lewis Williams of England in the men’s heavyweight division while Australian middleweight Caitlyn Anne Parker faces Tammara Thibeault.
History will be made on Sunday morning regardless of the result as tina rahimi becomes Australia’s first Muslim woman boxer to take home a medal at the Games.
She will fight Elizabeth Oshoba in her featherweight semi-final.
DIVING
The swimming may be over but there was more success in the pool for Australia as Annabelle Smith and Madison Smith claimed gold in the women’s 3m synchronized springboard diving final.
Later on, the women’s synchronized 10m platform final sees Emily Boyd, Nikita Hayes, Charlie Petrov and Melissa Wu all in action.
CRICKET
There is plenty to look forward to in the early hours of Saturday morning too, with Australia’s women’s T20 cricket side battling New Zealand in a semi-final at 3am.
VOLLEYBALL
A dominant quarter-final performance has Mariafe Artacho del Solar and Taliqua Clancy one step closer to gold.
Their next challenge will be Vanuatu in the women’s beach volleyball semi-final at 6am.
HOCKEY
There will be more semi-final action, with Australia up against longtime rival England in the men’s hockey, with the time for that game to be confirmed.
SQUASH
There is plenty of action on the squash court too, kicking off with cameron pilly & Rhys Dowling and Zack Alexander & ryan cuskelly in the men’s doubles quarter-finals.
The mixed doubles semi-finals later in the day will feature donna lobban and pilley while Jess Turnbull and Alex Haydon team up in the mixed doubles plate quarter-final.
wrestling
There is lots to look forward to in wrestling too, with Naomi DeBruine (women’s 50kg, women’s 53kg and women’s 76kg) in action along with justin holland (men’s 57kg) and Tom Barnes (men’s 74kg, men’s 97kg).
FULL SCHEDULE — DAY 9
Lawn Bowls and Para Lawn Bowls, 5.30pm
Hockey, 6:00 p.m.
Netball, 6.00pm
Table Tennis and Para Table Tennis, 6.30pm
Athletics and Para Athletics, 7.00pm
Diving, 7.00pm
Rhythmic Gymnastics, 7.00pm
Boxing, 7.30pm
Wrestling, 7:30 p.m.
Badminton, 8:00 p.m.
Cricket T20, 8.00pm
Squash, 9.00pm
Boxing, 11.30pm
Netball, 11.30pm
Follow all the action live below! Can’t see it? Click here!
Ricky Stuart launched a stunning tirade at Panthers five-eighth Jaeman Salmon after he was placed on report for a kick aimed at Raiders hooker Tom Starling.
In the 60th minute Salmon lashed out with his boot after he was tackled by Starling.
“He has got one in the lunch box and one on the chin,” Michael Ennis said.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Stuart was fuming at Salmon in a stunning outburst in his press conference after the 26-6 defeat.
“The James Fisher-Harris and Joe Tapine tackles are accidents and in this coalition game I understand that,” Stuart said.
“But where Salmon kicked Tommy (Starling), it ain’t on.
“I have had history with that kid (Salmon). I know that kid very well.
MORE NRL NEWS
BIG HITS: Brave Edwards leads Panthers to victory as Raiders’ finals hopes fade
GONE: Dragons shock call to sack NRL great as coaching clean out continues
WHISPERS: Titans’ odd man out revealed, four clubs plot raid for Cowboys star
RESURGENCE: How Dogs escaped Baz’s ‘shackles’ as roster calls wake sleeping giant
Jaeman Salmon and Ricky Stuart.Source: FOX SPORTS
“He was a weak gutted dog as a kid and he hasn’t changed now. He is a weak gutted dog person now.”
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary was asked about the tackle and Stuart’s comments in his press conference.
“I don’t know, it is hard to see on our small screen,” Cleary said.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Latrell scores two dozen points v NZ | 00:43
“I can’t imaging Jaeman would have deliberately done that, but I honestly didn’t see it.
“I don’t think I need to respond to those comments (from Stuart.”
“I know what Jaeman is like and he is valuable in our club and we love him, so that is all that matters to us.”
The Sharks have taken the upper hand in the cross town derby, leading 18-12 at halftime.
In the absence of Matt Moylan, Braydon Trindall has stood up with a try and a try assist.
Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey was also sent to the bin for a professional foul before Tautau Moga scored for the Dragons.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
MATCH CENTER: Cronulla Sharks vs St George Illawarra Dragons, live scores
45TH MINUTE
The Dragons have hit back, courtesy of a floated pass from young gun Junior Amone to find Tautau Moga.
The Sharks tryline defense had held the Red V out, prompting the five-eighth to look out wide and turn Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo around.
26TH MINUTE
Sharks half Braydon Trindall sliced through the Dragons line to score, handing his side the lead.
Trindall was a late replacement for Matt Moylan, who was ruled out due to a quad injury.
According to Fox League’s Lara Pitt, the 31-year-old playmaker will be fit for Round 22.
But only moments later, Trindall again charged at the line, finding Teig Wilton with a short ball to cross with his first tough.
“Braydon Trindall again, at speed, runs to the line… just look at him, takes off,” Alexander said.
“Braydon Trindall has been the man in this first half.”
“The man who is really shining in the absence of Matt Moylan,” Ginnane said.
Only moments later, Blayke Brailey was sent to the bin for a professional foul.
12TH MINUTE
Dragons veteran Tariq Sims was sin binned for an ugly high shot which forced Sharks gun Connor Tracey to be stretched off the field.
Sims shoulder made direct contact with Tracey’s chin and as a result was given his marching orders.
Fox League’s Dan Ginnane was shocked Sims wasn’t sent off.
“That would be the minimum there and that is a best case result for the Dragons,” Dan Ginnane said.
3RD MINUTE
Sharks marquee star Nicho Hynes opened the scoring only three minutes into the contest, throwing a big dummy before ducking underneath the tackle of Tariq Sims.
The scores sit level at 6-6 in the cross-town derby — and the playmaking responsibility sits on Hynes’ shoulders in Moylan’s absence.
“There is plenty of responsibility on Nicho Hynes tonight,” Greg Alexander said.
“Throws the dummy, gets on the inside of Tariq Sims, and Sims can’t stop him.”
Moments later, Dragons forward Jack De Belin was able to collect a bouncing Ben Hunt kick to score his side’s first.
Sensationally, the star forward is only one try away from being the club’s leading try scorer.
PRE-MATCH WRAP
Craig Fitzgibbon will be without one key playmaker for the club’s local derby — Matt Moylan.
Braydon Trindall has been drafted in to replace the 31-year-old, pairing marquee player Nicho Hynes in the halves, while Lachlan Miller moves onto the bench.
Young gun Kade Dykes will also make his debut at the back after impressing for feeder club Newtown Jets, replacing Will Kennedy after a syndesmosis injury.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Meanwhile, Anthony Griffin has made changes of his own, with Billy Burns coming out of the side in place of veteran Josh McGuire.
Fitzgibbon’s Sharks will be desperate to come away with the points, currently sitting equal with the Eels after a win against Manly.
If Cronulla can beat their cross-town rivals they will sit in third, above the Melbourne Storm on 14 wins.
MORE NRL NEWS
GONE: Dragons shock call to sack NRL great as coaching clean out continues
WHISPERS: Titans’ odd man out revealed, four clubs plot raid for Cowboys star
LATE MAIL: Storm considered big Munster switch; Panthers to unleash sensation
RESURGENCE: How Dogs escaped Baz’s ‘shackles’ as roster calls wake sleeping giant
Catch all the action below in our live blog, if you can’t see it click here!
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
With two established stars electing to leave and one of the most promising up-and-comers apparently refusing to drive for the team that’s bankrolled his junior career, questions are starting to be asked about what’s going on at Alpine.
First of all, Daniel Ricciardo announced ahead of the delayed 2020 season that he would leave the French outfit – then running under the Renault marque – at season’s end to move to McLaren for 2021, prompting then-team principal Cyril Abiteboul to question Ricciardo’s loyalty.
Then on Monday, Fernando Alonso felt the F1 paddock into a frenzy announcing he was jumping across the English channel to join Aston Martin for next season – a big step down the grid on this year’s form.
READMORE:Phil Gould responds to whispers of Bulldogs reunion with former Canterbury half Josh Reynolds
READMORE:Adelaide Crows players exploring legal action after explosive claims made by Eddie Betts
READMORE:Australian boxer Alex Winwood left devastated after games ‘outrage’
It seemed perfectly set up then for Oscar Piastri – the Alpine reserve driver whose development they’ve invested millions of dollars into – to slide into Alonso’s seat.
Alpine had, remember, promised the 21-year-old Aussie to seat somewhere on the F1 grid for 2023.
In a press release devoid of any quotes from Piastri, Alpine duly announced him as their 2023 driver, before Piastri posted his now-infamous Tweet declaring the announcement was false, and he would not in fact race with the Enstone squad at all.
Fernando Alonso in a press conference at the Spanish Grand Prix. Photo: Bryn Lennon (Getty)
If someone who’s never started a Formula 1 Grand Prix is refusing to drive for your team, surely it begs the question why.
So is the problem the main team? Otmar Szafnauer only joined the team-ironically from Aston Martin-at the start of the year, so to say he’s the problem would likely be unfair to him, and would not account for Ricciardo’s departure from him.
Cyril Abiteboul was a polarizing figure in the paddock, and his loyalty comments on Ricciardo’s departure were known underneath to have divided those working him. After all, he had shown little loyalty in sacking Nico Hulkenberg and Jolyon Palmer before Ricciardo’s arrival.
Renault fired Abiteboul ahead of the 2021 season citing a difference in cultural fit, and they ran the 2021 season without a full-time team principal.
Daniel Ricciardo driving for Renault – now Alpine – in 2020. Photo: Mark Thompson (Getty)
If the problem is cultural, it will take years for Szafnauer to develop one of his own.
What seems more likely in this situation though, is the ineptitude of the team’s other senior staff, particularly those responsible for negotiating contracts. Having only come along this year, Szafnauer would have had zero say in that of Piastri or Alonso.
In F1 land, July 31 is a date many contract extensions or options are to be actioned by. Not doing so usually means the driver concerned becomes a free agent come August 1.
Alonso wanted two years in the race seat of an F1 car. Alpine wanted two years as well – but only one in their F1 squad. They wanted the second year to be at the wheel of their new LMDh prototype in the World Endurance Championship.
So sure they were Alpine that Alonso would not find anywhere offering what he wanted, that they had all the power in the negotiations, they seemingly let the deadline pass.
Oscar Piastri in action for Alpine during a test session. (Getty)
Unbeknownst to them, their complacency allowed the two-time world champion to go tire-kicking, only for the Spaniard to stumble across exactly what he was looking for.
Eggs, faces, Alpine.
As for Piastri, Alpine believed they have a cast-iron contract that would see him in one of their cars next year. Having said that, in the world of F1 cast-iron contracts can be melted by cold hard cash.
For Piastri to so publicly denounce his employer, he and his management are either positive that Alpine contract is not so cast iron, or his 2023 bosses – Zak Brown at McLaren – are ready and willing to burn a lot of cash to bust him loose.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
Incredible exhausts: The worst crashes in motorsport history
