World Footy News

Ireland's women came out today and showed why they were favourites going into the IC, the Banshees defeating the PNG Flame by 67 points.

Despite the coach’s warning not to take anything for granted, the favourites for the Women’s Division came onto the field looking like champions. The brave PNG Flame put up a brave fight, but they were no match for the mighty Banshees who collected 4 goals in the first quarter.

During the half time break the Flame’s coach told the girls to be more attacking, and that they did, hoping for an early counter, and got the goal they needed. But before they could make an impact, Ireland came smashing back. But a run of misfortune for the Banshees, their first attempt was deemed touched off the boot for a behind and the second hit the post. After the ball was finally cleared from the PNG 50, there was a tough midfield battle before Ireland got their break and got their goal. The Flame tried to counter, and the ball was locked in the Irish 50 until the siren went, but nothing to show for their efforts.

The final time slot at Blacktown on Saturday night saw China, fresh from a win over India, take on the improving Peace Team.

The match started fairly evenly, with both sides looking like they could make an impact. The Peace Team were bigger, but the Chinese Red Demons were pushing hard. It stayed that way until halfway through the first quarter when the Peace Team finally broke through and got the opening goal. From then on, it all seemed to go the Peace Team’s way, except for a controversial behind, just before the siren, which seemed like a great goal for the Peace Team’s Abualthon.

China came out fighting after the break, but the Peace Team looked more threatening and the ball ended up back inside the Chinese 50m. But the plucky Chinese refused to back down and despite their efforts, it took the Peace Team 13 minutes to add to their goal tally, after several forward thrusts resulted only in behinds. Finally the pressure paid off though, and they got another goal just before half time.

Men's Division 1

While there's been plenty of improvement across the board, the IC11 has shown again the gulf between the big 3 of PNG, New Zealand and Ireland and the rest of the field - the Big 3 having won one International Cup each to date, and always finishing top 4.

Number 4 at this point still looks likely to be South Africa, as was the case in 2008, although the Lions will be up against a USA side tomorrow who are eager to prove they can match it with the best of them.

Wednesday's matches will see the top four sides of Division 1 go into semi-finals, with the winners to play for the International Cup the following weekend. Those four will be PNG, New Zealand, Ireland and one of either South Africa or the USA.

The next group will be the teams finishing 5-8 on the table; Denmark, Great Britain and Nauru already being confirmed to be in this group, and the loser of South Africa vs USA to join them.

The only Division 1 matches already set (unofficially) for Wednesday are those which will decide who plays for 9th and who for 11th - these will see Canada clash with Japan and Sweden against Tonga.

Men's Division 2

In Division 2, it looks likely that France will meet Fiji in the Grand Final on Friday, unless on Wednesday either China can pull off a major upset over the Fijians, or the Peace Team do the same over the French. A more even match-up should be India vs Timor-Leste, with both sides coming off a number of heavy losses compounded by major injuries, and eager to break through for their inaugural international win.

The French Coqs have continued on their winning way, destroying India by 91 points to take top spot in Division 2 today.

After an initial 10 minute filling-out period, the match got seriously underway, with the Coqs scoring the first two goals through Ludovic Galiana and Grégoire Patacq. Despite kicking with slight breeze, the French couldn't kick any further majors in the term, whilst the Tigers got one through Kaliasanthan to quarter time. Rakesh Ghosh was keeping the Indians in the match, working hard around the packs, and Jay Himat marking well in defence.

Today’s game between Fiji and Timor Leste  was a Division 2 mismatch.  The highly favoured Fiji were very close to making Division 1 last weekend, and showed their abilities tonight against the undermanned Timor Leste team winning by a massive 135 points at BISS Oval 2.

Although there was some moisture around from recent heavy rains conditions were much more favourable than the last round and allowed Fiji to shine.  The Tribe set the scene with a goal in the first minute and another a minute later.  Timor Leste tried to slow the game down but to no avail, as Fiji finished with 8.1 for the quarter and Tiimor Leste unable to score.

Ireland's Green Machine saw off Denmark by 63 points today, in a sometimes heated encounter that saw a number of players either get sent off or leave the ground injured. Denmark have impressed at the IC11 so far, looking well-drilled and exciting up forward, but today Ireland’s ball use around the ground and smart forward setup set them apart.

Ireland went into today’s game without squad listed o’hAilpin, Stynes and Meredith who are all likely playing club football in Melbourne. The game got off to a tough start and within minutes Joachim Secher went down with a dislocated shoulder. Ireland weren’t winning in the middle but McManus put the first goal on the board for Ireland.

Scores will be updated every quarter throughout the day. We suggest you refresh your browser regularly to see the latest. Match reports will follow later in the day and into Sunday. Please note that we are very stretched with simultaneous games across Sydney so may not have full match reports for all games.

Wednesday 17th August saw two games in Sydney's west at Auburn - not as far out as Blacktown, home of the GWS Giants, but still well away from the CBD.  These are the final reports from Game Day 3, and with Game Day 4 squared away tomorrow it's on to the final group of matches in Sydney - Game Days 5 (Saturday) and 6 (Sunday).  These reports thanks to Kym Kovan.

Fiji Tribe vs Peace Team

The first match at 12pm was a Division Two game with one of the favourites Fiji up against the inspirational and improved Peace Team.  That was followed at 2pm by top four fancy South Africa against Japan who were brave in scraping into Division One but most likely out of their depth thereafter.

It was off to Mona Ovals, Auburn. Home of the Auburn District Cricket Club and straight from the English countryside, complete with white picket fences. An ideal venue for Footy. Unfortunately it also had the English weather, it rained, then it drizzled and then it rained again. But on the ground it was anything but "traditional" English, a truly multicultural space.

Saturday August 20 - Blacktown International Sportspark - Men's

Also being played at Oval 1 is the NEAFL match between Brisbane and Sydney Reserves at 1pm

10am - Div 1 - New Zealand v Canada - Oval 1

12pm - Div 2 - France v India - Oval 2

2pm - Div1 - PNG v Nauru - Oval 2

4pm - Div1 - Ireland v Denmark - Oval 2

6pm - Div 2 - China v Peace Team - Oval 1

6pm - Div 2 - Fiji v Timor-Leste - Oval 2

Auburn Mona Park Ovals - Women's

To be played after two Sydney Women's AFL matches

1pm - PNG vs Ireland

3pm - Canada vs USA

Sunday August 21 - ANZ Stadium - Men's

To be played as a curtain-raiser to Sydney Swans v St Kilda

10.40am - Div 1 - South Africa v USA

The Thursday night late game at Blacktown saw the impressive US Freedom women's side take on the very young Papua New Guinean Flame.

Clearly out to prove something after their defeat at the hands of the Northern Lights, the PNG Flame came out fighting today. Though young and slender, they showed no fear in the face of much bigger girls and played very tough football. The USA Freedom came back hard as well, smashing through the Flame’s midfield, but the PNG girls banded together, and the Freedom backed off with just two behinds to show for their efforts.

PNG were determined to get on the scoreboard early, and immediately countered, showing off their undeniable skill in moving the ball quickly up through the midfield, but were unable to make it through the Freedom’s tall back line. After a tough fight in midfield, the Americans finally managed to get a goal, and despite their efforts, the PNG girls looking threatening a few times, the Freedom defence held strong.

At Holroyd on Wednesday PNG and Tonga both showed their passion pre-match with impressive displays. Hopefully the video below can convey some of that to those that haven't been able to make it to the matches so far.

Brendan Beno is a star young player for Papua New Guinea at the 2011 AFL International Cup.  Having just turned 17 he has already kicked 7 goals in 3 games and remember these are shortened length, especially on the opening day.  From Bougainville, at 173 cm and 62 kg he's lightly built but boldly wears the number 1 jumper.  Now he's about to swap that for a Brisbane Lions Guernsey.

When we started to research Beno's involvement with Brisbane this evening we contacted AFL Asia Pacific Manager Andrew Cadzow for comment, only to have him point out that the Lions had just made the call on his services and even run an article on him, a remarkable coincidence in timing.

Beno (pictured at left shooting for goal) also starred for the South Pacific in the NAB AFL Under 16 Championships earlier this year, showing then that he knows where the goals are.  Happily for the Brisbane Lions they had already snapped him up on an international scholarship and with their Reserves playing at Blacktown International Sportspark Sydney (BISS) this Saturday it occurred to all involved that it would be the perfect chance for the young Mozzie to play his first game for the Lions.