Weekend sport wrap

SBS World News Radio: While the country catches its annual dose of Melbourne Cup fever, there's plenty else going on in the world of sport, particularly in football and cricket as summer approaches, and Aussies are working hard in the northern hemisphere winter.

Weekend sport wrapWeekend sport wrap

Weekend sport wrap

We start with football.

Since their inception, and the A-League's inception, Sydney FC has been thought of as the team that should be the league's glamour club.

But despite winning the competition twice, the image hasn't always matched the reality for the side in sky blue.

There's a long way to go in season 12 of the A-League, but the early signs are this version of Sydney FC may be living up to the star billing.

Sydney is top of the standings with four wins from four matches to start the season and they're yet to concede a goal in any of those four wins.

They beat Newcastle 2-0 this past weekend.

Sydney FC midfielder Brandon O'Neill is taking a balanced view of his side's early success.

"We're working very hard without the ball. With the ball, we're trying to go forward as much as we can. And we're scoring goals and conceding none, which is the main thing in football. In saying that, though, we can improve in areas. I still think we've got a lot of improvement to do- myself included."

In rugby league, Australia has, as expected, started its Four Nations campaign with a victory over minnows Scotland.

But, in winning 54-12, they may have presented coach Mal Meninga with a selection dilemma.

Australian fullback Matt Moylan, on debut for his country, set up at least four of the team's ten tries, and was the consensus best player on the field.

But Darius Boyd is all but certain to return to the lineup at fullback for next week's game against New Zealand, meaning there might be no place for Moylan, despite his great performance.

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga says possibly having to leave out fantastic players is just part of his job.

"That's the beauty of this team, you know. We're 24-deep, all great players and all deserve to be here. It's nice to have everyone playing really well and putting that pressure on."

The summer of international cricket in Australia starts this Thursday in Perth, with the first of three Tests between Australia and South Africa.

It might well be the last Test ever played at the WACA Ground, a venue known for its friendliness to fast bowlers.

And fast bowling is a part of the game both Australia and South Africa traditionally specialise in.

One of Australia's fast bowlers, Josh Hazlewood, knows any benefit from the fast Perth surface may go both ways.

"The South Africans obviously have some geat quicks as well. So, if it helps us, it's going to help them as well. But we'll be doing our best to bowl well on this WACA wicket, and use the conditions, if there are some."

And about that horse race that stops the nation...

The bookmakers' odds show there's support for the likes of Hartnell, Oceanographer and Jameka to win this year's Melbourne Cup, as well as an Irish-trained horse with the very Australian name of Bondi Beach.

Somewhat back in the pack is Excess Knowledge, trained by the famous Australian trainer Gai Waterhouse.

She's told Channel Seven she's confident in Excess Knowledge's preparation, despite her outsider status in the race.

"I don't think there's one standout. I think it's a very consistent field. I think there's good depth in it. You know, you've just got to take all of it into account. But I know that our stable has got our horse right at the right day."

Race time is 3pm Tuesday afternoon; the distance, the usual two miles, or 3,200 metres.

First prize is $3.6 million.

 


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