Holiday Sport Report
The Biggest Sporting Headlines Over The Past Month.
T. G. George
SINCE THE CLOSING OF SHORE WEEKLY RECORD SUBMISSIONS, there have been a plethora of sporting events that need to be recapped. This article will bounce across the largest sporting headlines over the past month.
In the men’s US Open, rising star and world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, was one of the favourites to win. He displayed dominance until the semi-finals, where he was overcome by Medvedev. In typical Djokovic fashion, he sealed the victory in the final, only losing two sets in the entire tournament.
In the women’s US Open, Iga Swiatek, from Poland, was the favourite to win her second successive title in New York. However, she was shockingly knocked out in the round of 16 to Ostapenko from Latvia. With this loss, her world number one rank of 73 consecutive weeks may potentially fade away. In the final, American 19-year-old, Coco Gauff, was able to beat world number two, Sabalenka.
Coco Gauff
The football season is in its early stages in Europe. In the Premier League the North London rivals, Spurs and Arsenal, sit equal first, both with 20 points and a 10 goal difference. In the LaLiga, Barcelona and Real Madrid battle it out for first alongside Girona, the massive underdogs who have slipped into the mix amongst Spanish football royalty. Elsewhere, AC Milan, Monaco and Leverkusen sit first in their respective leagues. The Champions League also commenced with a delightful 4-3 match between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. RC Lens were also able to orchestrate a thrilling 2-1 victory over English giants, Arsenal.
In the Women’s Super League only three match days have taken place, but Sam Kerr’s Chelsea sit first, a stark contrast from the men’s team performances. In the National Women’s Soccer League, the Portland Thorns sit at the top after 21 of 22 match days, setting themselves up for the playoffs ahead. The controversial but undeniably revolutionary US star, Megan Rapinoe, played her final game for OL Reign in front of a record attendance, finishing off her 17 year career.
Megan Rapinoe
The biggest sporting event currently taking place is the Rugby World Cup. I will keep it brief, given the Wallabies abysmal performances, losing to both Fiji and Wales. Blowouts have been rife, as New Zealand topped Italy 96-17 and France beat Namibia 96-0. As of 15/10/23, New Zealand defeated Ireland, 28-24, in a gripping knockout classic. Argentina also won their quarter-final clash against Wales, 29-17.
Ardie Savea scoring vs Ireland
The NBA is currently in the preseason. Although a comparably quiet offseason to previous years, the Portland Trailblazers, Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks completed a blockbuster 3-team swap. This saw Damian Lillard shipped to the Bucks, Deandre Ayton and Jrue Holiday to the Blazers, and Jusuf Nurkic to the Suns. Elsewhere, Jimmy Butler has been battling his inner demons, but is ready to suit up for another fiery Miami Heat season.
Jimmy Butler
The NFL has also taken place over the holidays. The biggest move of the offseason saw 4-time MVP, Aaron Rodgers, join the jinxed New York Jets. In his first game, he tore his Achilles tendon, a season ending injury. The Eagles and 49ers remain undefeated after 5, but the Dolphins, Lions and Chiefs also pose as serious Super Bowl contenders.
The highly prestigious Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup were in full flow over the holidays. These are the male and female golf tournaments, between the best of Europe and the USA. On Rome soil, men’s team Europe, with the likes of Rory McIlroy, Victor Hovland, and Jon Rahm, were able to illustrate a convincing win of 16.5 points to 11.5. Despite possessing world rank number one and two, Lilia Vu and Nelly Korda, the women’s team USA had to settle with a 14-14 draw with Europe, meaning Europe retained the Solheim Cup.
Team Europe
Evidently, the world has been blessed with some fierce sporting competition over the past month. Fortunately, Australia was also gifted with two historic Grand Finals in both the AFL and the NRL.
In the AFL, Collingwood and Brisbane, placed 1st and 2nd respectively, fought their way into the Grand Final. With 100,024 spectators in attendance, and nearly five million at home viewers, these two powerhouses put on a show. The first half was high scoring, with Collingwood leading 63 – 57. The second half was more cautious from both sides, and Collingwood were able to defensively hold onto a 90-86 win. The Norm Smith Medal went to Collingwood’s Bobby Hill, a unanimous choice, kicking four goals and having 18 disposals.
In the NRL, the Brisbane Broncos took on the two time defending champions, Penrith Panthers. The match had a fiery tenacity, as Accor stadium raged, and both sides flung themselves at each other. It was a tense affair in the first half, but Ezra Mam lit up the second half with three remarkable tries. When the game looked all but over, Nathan Cleary broke through, setting up Moses Leota. Five minutes later, Stephen Chrichton made a storming run for the corner, slamming the ball down to put the Panthers within four. On the back of sustained pressure, Nathan Cleary stepped inside and ran under the posts in the 76th minute, sealing an incredible comeback. The Penrith Panthers subsequently became the first team to 3-peat since the Eels in the 80s, with Nathan Cleary winning his second Clive Churchill Medal.