Welcome to this week’s column. I realise I am terribly late with my Rugby World Cup preview, and the KSL also returned this week, but, as you know, I’m struggling for time at the moment – the World Athletics Championships have nearly passed me by completely! I will do the best I can to keep up, but I’m giving my apologies now if I fall short. The good stuff just keeps on coming with the Solheim Cup and the Netball Quad Series still to look forward to.
So, less blathering, more reporting. This week’s stories come from rugby, golf, athletics, tennis, hockey, netball, football and cricket.
Firstly to the football and the final of the Women’s Euros.
Football
Women’s Euros Final
Netherlands 4-2 Denmark
What a fitting final to grace an excellent tournament! It had everything; goals, tackles, great defending, great goalkeeping, mistakes and a fabulous crowd.
The largely orange crowd were silenced after six minutes when Nadia Nadim slotted home a penalty, but the Dutch were level four minutes later Vivianne Miedema poked in from close range.
Player of the tournament, Lieke Martens scored the Netherlands’ second with a 20-yard strike. But five minutes later the Danes were level again through Pernille Harder.
2-2 at half-time after a breathless, end-to-end 45 minutes.
The second-half was just as competitive. Six minutes after the re-start through a Sherida Spitse free-kick. Denmark gave everything they had to come back, but in the 89th minute Danish hearts were finally broken when Miedema got her second.
Netherlands were the best team overall, no doubting that. England’s Jodie Taylor received the Golden Boot for her five goals.
Other football news
It was announced on Wednesday that the English FA will bid to host the 2021 Women’s Euros. England last hosted the tournament in 2005 and the current boom in the women’s game has prompted the FA to bid again.
FA Chief Executive, Martin Glenn, said,
“The Lionesses’ performances at the Euros this summer gave the country great pride. It also showed the significant impact that hosting a major European tournament can have on growing and developing women’s football.”
Can’t wait for unreconstructed man commenting on this.
The bidding process begins in September, with a decision due in 2018.
The FA has also announced that it is looking into fielding a women’s GB side at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Let’s hope the home nations come to an agreement in time, after their singular failure to do so for Rio.
Women’s Under-19 Euros
Hot on the heels of the Euros comes the under-19 version, which is taking place in Northern Ireland from 8-20 August.
Eight teams have qualified for the finals – split into two groups of four.
Group A: Germany, Spain, Northern Ireland, Scotland
Group B: Italy, France, Netherlands, England
The first round of matches produced the following results:
Group A:
Scotland 0-3 Germany
It could have been more for Germany had it not been for the excellent display from Scots goalkeeper Rebecca Flaherty. Germany took the points with goals from Giulia Gwinn (19), Annalena Rieke (39) and Ereleta Memeti (80).
Northern Ireland 0-2 Spain
Likewise Spain were too strong for the host nation. Lucia Garcia scored the first on the half-hour with captain Patricia Guijarro scoring on 53 minutes to seal the win.
Group B:
France 0-2 Netherlands
The Netherlands scored an impressive win over Cup-holders France with two goals in the first-half. Victoria Pelova opened the scoring after just 10 minutes and an own goal from Julie Piga sealed the points for the Netherlands.
Italy 1-2 England
Two goals from Georgia Allen in the second-half were enough to take the points against Italy. Italy pulled one back in second-half injury time through Annamaria Senturini.
The second round takes place on Friday 11 August.
Women’s Rugby World Cup
Having watched most of the first round of games, I can, with some relief, say that my original thoughts as to the ultimate destiny of the Cup have not changed significantly. There were some unsurprisingly big wins as minnow were rolled over, with the undoubted highlight of the round being the game between Ireland and Australia.
England and New Zealand are the teams to beat and everyone will be looking to overturn them. Canada and France will also be in the mix and as dark horses we have to include Ireland. Can the “Netherlands effect” work in their favour? It certainly helped at the first game against Australia. Actually Australia were a good deal sharper than I expected and their sevens speed will be an asset, but I do question their ability, with so many sevens players in the squad, to last 80 minutes on a regular basis.
Right, on with the scores:
England 56-5 Spain
Clinical, but not perfect for England
England ran in 10 tries in their first game with four for Kay Wilson. The other tries came from Emily Scarratt, Amy Cockayne, Harriet Millar-Mills, Alex Matthews, Lydia Thompson and Megan Jones. Conversions came from Kay McLean (2) and Emily Scarratt.
Spain’s dogged persistence finally paid off towards the end of the first half as they scored from and England handling-error through Diana Gasso.
Although this was a good first result for England they know they will have to tighten up in certain areas if they are to progress. They had 88% of territory, making 911 metres compared with Spain’s 258. But the kicking was not too sharp and the line-outs positively ropey. Their next game is against Italy on Sunday.
New Zealand 44-12 Wales
It was a tough start for Wales and by half-time they were 20-0 down. Sioned Harries and Melissa Clay went over for Wales, but they were undone by merciless attacking speed from the Black Ferns, whose tries came through Winiata (3), Waaka, Wickliffe (2), Woodman and Blackwell.
USA 24-12 Italy
A tight game saw the Eagles claim the win with four tries to Italy’s two. Kris Thomas scored the USA’s first after just two minutes with Kimber Rozier adding the conversion. Rozier went in for a try of her own on 17 minutes, but missed the conversion, to make it 12-0 to the USA. Nine minutes later Italy were back in with scoring through Lucia Cammarano, which was converted. In the second-half Thomas and Gustaitis went in for the USA. Italy pulled one back with a late try from Giordano after Thomas had been yellow-carded. A good confidence-building win for the USA.
Canada 98-0 Hong Kong
A crushing win for Canada, not really doing anything for the game, but Hong Kong have to start somewhere. I fear for Hong Kong as things don’t get any easier as they face the Black Ferns next on Sunday 13 August.
Ireland 19-17 Australia
What a match! Gosh, so tempting it is to trot out a whole line of clichés – they went toe to toe, knocking lumps out of each other, no quarter asked or given, etc. But it’s also all true! Before the game I thought Ireland, even without Niamh Briggs, would have it in the bag against such and inexperienced 15s side. But Aussies never know when to quit (another cliché) and it was mighty tight to the end.
Ireland took the lead with at try from Larissa Muldoon, converted by Nora Stapleton. But Australia hit back with a try of their own from Mahalia Murphy. In what soon became a kicking nightmare for Australia, the conversion was missed by Samantha Treherne as the ball fell from the kicking tee just as it was about to be kicked.
After half-time Australia silenced the crowd by going in front with a try from Shannon Parry but there was further embarrassment in the kicking department as Treherne then took, what I would consider, to be one of the worst kicks I’ve ever seen. We all laughed at the time, but in the end the difference was two points.
Ireland went back in front with a converted try by Ciara Griffin. And when they scored again with ten minutes to go, the try by Sophie Spence adjudged legitimate by the TMO, Ireland were well ahead and the Aussies seemed to be tiring.
But it was Australia who were to have the last word, prop Hilisha Samoa tunnelling her way through a pile of Irish bodies to get over the line.
The TV coverage kept cutting to poor Niamh Briggs in the stand who was clearly playing every ball. I hope she has some less-close matches to watch otherwise she’ll have no nails left.
France 72-14 Japan
Japan were touted as a possible outside threat before the tournament began, but this first game surely showed that they still have some way to go before being competitive in the big arena. Twelve tries for France saw them win easily and a red card for Makiko Tomito for Japan in the second-half did not have improved the situation.
Live coverage is on ITV4. It’s quite good (thank goodness for Maggie Alphonsi) – sorry can’t be more enthusiastic than that. And as beggars can’t be choosers, I’d encourage you to tune in.
Tennis – Rogers Cup
There was disappointment for Heather Watson this week as she pulled out with injury in the first round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
She was behind 6-1 4-1 to Naomi Osaka of Japan when she forfeited the match with a shoulder injury.
The quarter-finals take place on 11 and 12 August and the line-up is as follow:
K Pliskova (1) v C Wozniacki (6)
S Stephens v L Safarova
E Svitolina (5) v G Muguruza (4)
C Garcia v S Halep (2)
Athletics – World Championships
I think it’s safe to say that this has not been a vintage World Championships for Team GB.
So far we have only one medal – a gold for Mo Farah in the 10,000m.
Best results for British female athletes:
Laura Muir was a whisker away from taking a bronze in the 1,500m as she came in fourth.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson came in fifth in the heptathlon after really blowing her chances on the first day.
Holly Bradshaw came a creditable sixth in the pole vault but was not far away from getting a medal.
Sophie Hitchon came seventh in the hammer and Eilidh Doyle eighth in the 400m hurdles.
We still have potential medallists though on Friday 11 August with Dina Asher-Smith qualifying for the 200m and Lorraine Ugen in the long jump final.
There are plenty of events still to come through the weekend, so keep watching. Blanket coverage on the BBC.
Netball
The netball Quad Series begins at the end of the month with England’s first game against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday 26 August at 6am.
They then play New Zealand in Auckland on Wednesday 30 August (8.30am) and South Africa in Invercargill on Sunday 3 September (3am).
Australia have already suffered a blow with top (and scariest) defender Sharni Layton pulling out of the squad, having been diagnosed with physical and mental exhaustion.
England have named a full-strength squad:
Ama Agbeze (captain), Jade Clarke (vice-captain), Joanne Harten (vice-captain), Sara Bayman, Eboni Beckford-Chambers, Eleanor Cardwell, Beth Cobden, Kadeen Corbin, Stacey Francis, Jodie Gibson, Serena Guthrie, Helen Housby, Geva Mentor, Chelsea Pitman.
Reserves: Summer Artman, Sasha Corbin, George Fisher, Natalie Haythornthwaite
Hockey
Just a quick notice! The public ballot for tickets to the 2018 World Cup, to be held in London from 21 July -5 August opens on 19 August. Follow this link to register – it’s a short window, the ballot closes on 6 September.
Golf
Solheim Cup
The teams, including the captains’ picks, are in! The Solheim Cup is nearly upon us. The USA are the current holders, having won in Germany in 2015, 14½-13½.
Europe captain Annika Sorenstam had four wildcard picks and chose Anna Nordqvist (Swe), Madelene Sagstrom (Swe), Caroline Masson (Ger) and Emily Pedersen (Den).
Julie Inkster had two wildcard picks for the USA and chose Austin Ernst and Angel Yin. Although not originally included, Paula Creamer has now been drafted in, as Jessica Korda has pulled out through injury.
The teams in full:
Europe: Charley Hull, Georgia Hall, Jodi Ewart Shadoff, Mel Reid, Florentyna Parker, Carlota Ciganda, Karine Icher, Suzann Pettersen. Wildcards: Anna Nordqvist, Caroline Masson, Emily Pederson, Magdalene Sagstrom.
USA: Lexi Thompson, Stacy Lewis, Gerina Piller, Cristie Kerr, Paula Creamer, Danielle Kang, Michelle Wie, Brittany Lang, Brittany Lincicome, Lizette Salas. Captain’s Picks: Austin Ernst, Angel Yin.
The Solheim Cup takes place at the Des Moines Country Club in Iowa from 18-20 August and is live on Sky Sports.
British Open
Kim In-Kyung of Korea has won the British Open at Kingsbarns in Scotland at the weekend. She won by two shots over Jodie Ewart Shadoff of England, finishing on -18. Michelle Wie of the United States took a share of third with Caroline Masson of Germany and Georgia Hall of England as they finished on -13.
Kim had a six-shot lead going into the last round, but in the end she had to hold on as Ewart Shadoff shot a storming course-equalling round of 64 to pull the deficit back to just two shots.
Cricket
Kia Super League
The second season of the Kia Super League gets underway this week. Each team still only plays each other once, with Finals Day this year at Hove on 1 September.
The ECB has revealed this week that next year’s competition will be expanded so that each team will play a more usual format of home and away ties. This good news comes in the wake of an earlier announcement that the ECB has shelved plans for a similar women’s 50-over completion. When the T20 competition was announced, the ECB said its plans were to extend it to a 50-over competition in a matter of a couple of years. This is a massive U-turn and somewhat of a slap in the face for a country that has just won a 50-over World Cup.
Not sure how many times I’ve said this, but the various governing bodies have to stop using women’s sport as a guinea pig – so many initiatives announced, so many either dropped before they’ve started or after a limited time – see the RFU and its contract scandal, for example.
The ECB obviously want the women to be concentrating on T20, when really it is the grassroots county game that needs the money. Where will the much vaunted “pathway” be for county players to get into the England one-day side? It’s a huge jump.
The odds are it will all change again in 2020 when the men’s “franchises” (hush my mouth, dirty word) for the T20 Blast will be revealed. It is thought that the women’s Super League will then be revamped in line with these franchises.
Anyway, it all began again on Thursday 10 August with a somewhat underwhelming start at the Ageas Bowl as reigning champions the Southern Vipers took on Western Storm.
Western Storm 70 all out (18.5 overs)
Southern Vipers 73/1 (9 overs)
Not a storming start (sorry) to the KSL as the Vipers thrashed the Storm, knocking off their target in just nine overs. Not even the missing Anya Shrubsole could have turned this round.
Top scorer for Storm was opener Georgia Hennessy, who dug in in the face of the carnage around her.
England captain Heather Knight, made only one before being bowled by Linsey Smith. The only other player to make double figures was Fran Wilson who made 10.
In an attempt to up the scoring to make some kind of defendable total, Storm suffered three run-outs towards the end of the innings, including that of Sophie Luff who was dismissed by a direct hit from Charlotte Edwards.
In response the Vipers made it look all too easy. They have a truly scary batting order, which was not needed on this occasion. Hayley Matthews was the only wicket to fall as she hit out with freedom in attempt to get the game won. She was caught by Hennessy off the bowling of Stafanie Taylor for 15.
New Zealand captain Suzie Bates (47) and Georgia Adams (3) saw them home.
Coverage is on Sky and BBC TMS.
And finally,
I still must try harder to stop reading the comments sections, particularly on the BBC. I thought the rugby had cracked it and it was accepted that the women’s game is a quality product (not that I care whether you accept it or not), but this is not the case. Cue the usual misogyny on the BBC comments sections. Bored now.
Sorry, no column next week as I’ll be working elsewhere. Don’t forget, if you’ve enjoyed reading the column please share it with your networks. I’m also happy to discuss any (non-troll) aspects of women’s sport.
Penny Hopkins 