Weekend sport wrap

SBS World News Radio: It was an exciting weekend in sport, with close finishes in many contests and plenty yet to look forward to.

Weekend sport wrapWeekend sport wrap

Weekend sport wrap

We start with AFL, and the competition's biggest team from the nation's biggest city.

Not too long ago, you could have been forgiven for calling the Sydney Swans the sinking Swans.

After playing in the Grand Final last year, they lost their opening six matches of this season, and looked to be consigned to irrelevance for 2017.

But you can never quite tell the future in sport.

And the Swans have won six of their last seven matches after that zero-from-six start to put themselves on the verge of the competition's top eight teams.

Their latest triumph bordered on the miraculous.

Trailing Essendon by 19 points with four-and-a-half minutes to play, the Swans rallied to win by one point.

Gary Rohan was the hero, kicking a goal after time had expired to clinch the win.

Swans coach John Longmire sees his side as masters of their own fate.

"You know, there's been a six-week block here, seven weeks now, we've played some pretty good footy. But, we've certainly shown at times we've dropped away from that, whether it was the first half last week, or different times. And (it's) just such a close season and you need to make sure that you're absolutely humming all the time. And you get things right, like we got right tonight, and things went our way."

Longmire is right about it being such a close season.

In total, 16 games so far this season have been decided by a margin of three points or less.

The whole of last season, that number was only 15.

This weekend alone, apart from the Swans' match, Geelong came from behind to defeat Fremantle by two points, Melbourne beat West Coast by three points, and the Western Bulldogs beat North Melbourne by just one point.

The Greater Western Sydney Giants are the competition's new leaders, beating the Brisbane Lions to go top after previous leaders Adelaide were surprisingly defeated by Hawthorn to start the round.

Similar excitement for rugby league fans this weekend.

Even though some stars were missing from their NRL teams due to the brutality of last week's State of Origin encounter, there was still plenty to see.

The Sydney Roosters again took a home game to Adelaide, and were rewarded with a come-from-behind win in extra-time over the competition leaders, the Melbourne Storm.

The Storm were missing many of their State of Origin stars, but a State of Origin player who did play, New South Wales halfback Mitchell Pearce, kicked the winning field goal in extra-time for a 25-24 win.

The Storm are still in first place, but the Roosters are now only two points behind them in second.

The next day, the St George Illawarra Dragons got booed off at half-time on their home ground when they were trailing lowly Newcastle.

But four unanswered tries in the second half fixed matters, the Dragons prevailing 32 points to 28.

Dragons captain Gareth Widdop has told Fox Sports the result is all that matters ... for now.

"It would be nice to put both ends - attack and defence - together. Today, we scored a lot of points, which we've been struggling (with) the last few weeks. Great to get the two points - but just happy to get the win."

And in rugby union, Australia has bounced back from last week's defeat to Scotland with a victory - albeit a slightly unconvincing one - over Italy.

40-29 was the final score in Brisbane.

But despite the trials and tribulations of the sport in this country this year, Australian coach Michael Cheika believes his side can beat the world champion New Zealand team when the rivals clash later this year.

"Well, I believe it. I suppose that's where it's got to start, hasn't it? And I don't blame other people for not (believing Australia can beat New Zealand). I don't blame people, based on what's happened this year overall, whether it be in Super Rugby or in our games here, I don't blame blame people if they wouldn't believe it. We've got to show it on the field, and we will."

Believing is one thing.

The time for doing starts on August 19 when the two countries open The Rugby Championship by playing each other in Sydney.

 






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