Reds vs Kaplan
Regardless of what whether or not the Red's were beaten by a better side, the Sharks, this was a game where the officials had too big an influence on the game. To start with the Red's were missing Quade Cooper, who was suspended for one week because the guy carrying the ball fell as he was about to be tackled and was "hit high". In the same week we saw Sam Kasiano of the Bulldogs in the NRL charged and then let off on a very similar incident. The red's decided not to challenge but maybe they knew that things weren't not going to go there way. Their decision may have been influenced by the fact that SANZAR appointed a South African ref and sideline official for a game where the away side was from South Africa. Surely in a game of this level a ref from New Zealand was needed. Also the Red's were dealt a cruel blow with an injury early to Lucas and then moved Genia to flyhalf where he was not his elusive and attacking best. Once the game got started it was clear the Red's were without a chance. Blatant forward passes, and an offside play for an intercept were missed and although the Sharks were continually penalised and warned for repeated infringements in the ruck when defending their tryline, Kaplan only seemed to remember he had a yellow card in his pocket in the 79th minute. In the 2nd half there was the disallowed try that I am still scratching my head as to why it was not allowed. For me it is at a point with this referee that if I see he is officiating a game, I will not watch it.
Scott Chokes??
Will Adam Scott forever be remember in the same vain that Greg Norman is. A choker. With four holes to go and a 4 shot lead the British Open was his to lose and with 4 consecutive birdies he did. But golf is a game where you can go back to any shot over 4 days and maybe his bogey on the 18th in the first round that would have given him the course record was the key moment. Either way he still played a great 4 days and this may make him more determined in the future and could be the catalyst he needs to win a lot of majors.
Magic Win
Congratulations to the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic on winning the ANZ Championship and becoming the first New Zealand side to win the title. Whilst I did not watch the game personally, I was getting constant updates on social media and understand it was a very exciting match. What is disappointing is the coverage in the media today. Any details on the game are well hidden on sports sites and the game of Netball deserves more. While the media focuses on the bigger entities of football and is over-focused on the Olympics they are missing the opportunity to grab hold of and dominate a very large market. It was not until I wrote my first article on Netball and then saw how big the following is online and in social media that I realised the marketing potential. It is just a shame that the large media companies do not give the credit that is deserved in their write ups in the following days.
Only a short wrap but stay tuned for some interesting articles on NRL and a story or two on the Cane2Coral Fun Run which will be held on the 5th August and will be raising money for Cancer Council Queensland, Bundaberg Surf Life Saving, Ronald McDonald House and many local charities in the Bundaberg region. .
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