Barry's Blog

NRL GRAND FINAL STORM: Billy Slater, Suliasi Vunivalu, Will Chambers, Curtis Scott, Josh Addo-Carr, Cameron Munster, Cooper Cronk, Jesse Bromwich, Cameron Smith (c), Jordan McLean, Felise Kaufusi, Tohu Harris, Dale Finucane. Interchange: Kenneath Bromwich, Tim Glasby, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Slade Griffin, Ryley Jacks, Robbie Rochow, Joe Stimson, Young Tonumaipea. COWBOYS: Lachlan Coote, Kyle Feldt, Justin O'Neill, Kane Linnett, Antonio Winterstein, Te Maire Martin, Michael Morgan, John Asiata, Jake Granville, Scott Bolton, Gavin Cooper (c), Ethan Lowe, Jason Taumalolo. Interchange: Ben Hampton, Coen Hess, Corey Jensen, Shaun Fensom, Ray Thompson, Javid Bowen, Braden Uele, Matthew Scott. http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-grand-final-teams-named-20170926-gyp4lc.html MY OPINION This is a match between the best side in the league and the team who have got their form set at the right time to peek at the end of the season. If I was to guess I would have t...

AFL GRAND FINAL RICHMOND Grimes, Ranch, Ellis, Houli, Astbury, Vlastuin, Mc Intosh, Cotchin, Townsend, Lambert, Martin, Caddy, Butler, Riewoldt, Rioli ADALEDE Liard, Hartigan, Lever, Seedsman, Talia, Brown, Mackay, Sloane, Atkins, Cameroon, Jenkins, Betts, Lynch, Walker, Douglas MY OPINION I want Richmond to win this grand final but think the game will be a lot closer than people thin. I would be genuinely surprised if either teams have the confidence to win this game by more than 10 or lead any quarter by more than 12. Adelaide were on top of the ladder but only a win away from Richmond in third  and I think both sides will have belief because of how well they have done this season.  

SUPER LEAGUE SEMI FINAL CASTLEFORD 23-22 ST HELENS GALE DROP GOAL PUTS CASTLEFORD IN FINAL Zak Hardaker crossed for Castleford's opening try after 48 seconds but scores from Regan Grace and Morgan Knowles gave Saints a 10-8 half-time lead. After weathering a spell of St Helens pressure, Castleford went 10 points up with tries from Gale and Adam Milner, before a thrilling climax. Tommy Makinson and Percival brought the visitors back within two points and Justin Holbrook's side looked destined for a record 11th visit to Old Trafford when Ryan Morgan touched down with three minutes left to play. However, they gave away a cheap penalty a few seconds before the hooter and Gale held his nerve - on two occasions - to seal a famous victory. Luke Gale's drop-goal in golden-point extra time settled an enthralling semi-final http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/41402940 MY OPINION Saints pulled back a big lead but Castleford they showed that they had...

UEFA EUROPA LEAGUE GROUP E ATALANTA 3-0 EVERTON GREAT GOMEZ The home side dominated from the outset, taking the lead when Everton failed to deal with a corner, with the ball ricocheting off Phil Jagielka's hip and falling to Andrea Masiello to poke in. Alejandro Gomez doubled the lead with a stunning curling strike, before Bryan Cristante drove through the Toffees' defence and placed the ball into the corner as the hosts went into half-time 3-0 up. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41227367 MY OPINION Everton have had a bad season so Far and a result like this could put the pressure on Ronald Koman and whether or not he will be there in a few weeks but a win can change everything and we have seen this happen on many occasions. LIMASSOL 1-1 LYON SADRIANO SAVES LOVELY LIMISOL 52 Penalty conceded by Jander  with a hand ball in the penalty area.  Memphis Depay  converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the bottom ri...

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP A BASIL 5-0 BENFICA OBERLIN CHANGED THE GAME FROM THE BENCH Oberlin played a key role in Michael Lang's breakthrough goal before adding a brace of his own either side of the penalty he won for Ricky van Wolfswinkel to convert. Rui Vitoria, hurting from a home reverse, while his attempts to outsmart Basel - dropping Switzerland international Haris Seferovic - blunted the attack. Although the hosts, two up after 20 minutes, thrived on defending their lead, further goals were always likely with Oberlin on the pitch and Andre Almeida's dismissal for an outrageous challenge on Raoul Petretta - shortly after the third - ended the game as a contest. Blas Riveros - Petretta's replacement - netted a fifth to complete Benfica's humiliation. http://www.goal.com/en/news/8/main/2017/09/27/38994392/basel-5-benfica-0-oberlin-inspires-as-hosts-end-winless-run MY OPINION This was a disaster and in my view Benfica are the fir...

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP E SEVILLA3-0 MARIBOR YIPPEE YIPPEE YEDDER Ben Yedder made no mistake from point-blank range after being teed up by the excellent Joaquin Correa 27 minutes in. It took Ben Yedder just 11 minutes to double his tally, drilling a low effort in off the post to put Sevilla in cruise control. Yedder hit his third goal in the second half  drilling in from the penalty spot. http://www.goal.com/en-za/news/4563/main/2017/09/26/38968022/sevilla-3-maribor-0-ben-yedder-hat-trick-moves-berizzos-side-top- MY OPINION This was a very easy win for Seville and there ambition of reaching the last 16 is a lot easier. They have got a star who can make that difference and change a game in an instant but this is not the most difficult group. I would be surprised if they cannot get their act together. As for Maribor they might be out already. SPARACK MOSCOW 1-1 LIVERPOOL CORTINHO SAVES LIVERPOOL POINT Spartak went ahead agains...

FA PREMIERE LEAGUE ARSENAL 2-0 WBA LACAZETTE LOVES THE EMEMEITS West Brom, on the night midfielder Gareth Barry broke the Premier League appearance record Lacazette who has scored in each of those home wins - headed into an open net in the 20th minute after West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster tipped Alexis Sanchez's free-kick onto the crossbar.# After the break, Arsenal were themselves rightly awarded a spot-kick when Allan Nyom barged over Aaron Ramsey close to the byeline. Lacazette stepped up and calmly slotted into the bottom right corner his fourth goal http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41302628 MY OPINION Arsenal will be pushing for fourth I have got no doubt about that. A4rsenal are supposed to be a club that are progressing but if you kee4p a manager in long enough you will feel like you are going backwards. West Brom have got a coach that can get them out of the situation that they are in.  

SENIOR WOMENS ALL IRELAND FINAL DUBLIN 4-11 0-11 MAYO AHERNE ALL READY FOR ALL IRELAND The winners forward lines were rampant throughout. Captain Sinead Aherne led by example with nine points (7f) , while Niamh McEvoy and Carla Rowe scored 1-01 each and Player of the Match Noelle Healey was a constant thorn in Mayo’s side. A dogged defence led by Sinead Goldrick and Niamh Collins limited the impact of Mayo talisman Cora Staunton, and though their opponents were in contention until the last 10 minutes, three late goals from substitute Sarah McCaffrey (2) and the tireless Carla Rowe put the result beyond doubt . Mayo had started the brighter, Staunton, playing in her seventh final, cancelling out Aherne’s opening free with a fisted point within three minutes. https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0924/907178-dublin-v-mayo/ MY OPINION You can’t help but feel sad for mayo after losing both the men’s and women’s All Ireland finals, If Dublin have been good enough...

AFL SEMIS RICHMOND 103-67 GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY RIOLI SHOWS HE IS TOP CLASS Josh Kelly was important for the visitors with a goal and 17 possessions to halftime, but a brilliant goal to Rioli put the Tigers up by a point at the main break. Then the Giants’ resistance crumbled as Rioli and Martin had the yellow-and-black faithful in raptures as the Tigers broke the game open. Daniel Rioli played the best game of his short career, kicking four goals, including two in the pivotal third term. Red-hot Brownlow Medal favourite Dustin Martin, meanwhile, sprang to life after a quiet first half by his standards with three goals in a row. Trent Cotchin, outstanding with 26 possessions, faces a nervous wait for the match review panel’s assessment of his first-quarter hit on Dylan Shiel. Cotchin’s shoulder made contact with Shiel’s jaw as he tried to take possession. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/23/richmond-break-35-year-drought-to-storm-into-first-grand-fina...

Wakefield defeated Wigan to rule out any Chance of the Warriors reaching the Semi-finals. Leeds Hammered Huddersfield to secure a home semi-final spot with Hull FC defeating Castleford which will not bring them confidence going into their home semi-final with St Helens.   Leigh and Catalan will play in the Million pound game Warring thump Hull KR but they have still got enough to finish in third and be promoted, Widnes seal super League safety by beating the Catalan Dragons going up with Warrington who have a perfect record ROOSTERS 16-29 COWBOYS LOVELY LOWE  Morgan's clinic began with a sixth-minute 40/20 and his kicking game set the tone early, pinning the Roosters in their own half. At one point, due to a combination of their own errors and excellence from North Queensland, the Roosters were not allowed to touch the ball for approximately eight minutes. That period included a penalty goal for Ethan Lowe, a kick-off sailing dead on the full an...