Get the appAustralia beat Fiji 36-22 at Lang Park in a close clash, with a late Jacob Preston try sealing the win. Samoa scored 50 unanswered second-half points to overwhelm Papua New Guinea. England beat France 82-0 in Perth, while Tonga beat Lebanon and held firm defensively. Crowds were strong across the tournament, including a sell-out of 26,800 in Christchurch. Australia have reached the semi-finals.
Teams from Korumburra, Wonthaggi and Leongatha won five titles at the 41st Korumburra Junior Basketball Tournament over the weekend of October 17 and 18. A total of 166 teams played across six stadiums in Korumburra, Leongatha, Wonthaggi, Poowong and Warragul. Korumburra's Under 19 Girls won the A Grade title, beating the Traralgon T-Birds 38 to 22. Wonthaggi Coasters' Under 18 Boys completed an undefeated campaign with a 31 to 25 win over Warragul Warriors. Association president John Murdica said the event is an important annual fundraiser and benefits local communities.
Port Stephens Stingrays Sonics reached the grand final of the South Coast Classic after a one-point semi-final win, but lost by 12 points to Notorious Basketball Academy. Both Port Stephens under-18 boys teams made the semi-finals, with the original Stingrays team also facing Notorious and losing by five points. Coach Janice Hilton praised the teams' sportsmanship and performance, naming standout players from both sides. The weekend also saw discussions about potential basketball development in the region.
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Get the appThe Rugby League World Cup has cut its field from 16 teams to 10 for the third tournament in a row. The writer argues the smaller field removes weak group matches and suits the modern game. Tonga and Samoa have drawn large crowds in recent Test matches, and Samoa and Tonga have already sold out their group stage clash at Parramatta Stadium. New Zealand, with Kalyn Ponga making his Test debut, is seen as a strong contender, while Australia remains favourite but is not invulnerable. The writer says the tournament has never looked so open at the top.
No Bull has won the 2026 Weipa Billfish Tournament for the fifth consecutive year. The team tagged 10 fish over the weekend of 3 to 5 October, ahead of Happy Ours and Get n Any. Thirteen boats took part, recording 65 strikes, 50 hookups and 33 billfish tagged. Weipa Billfish Club president Darryl French said unusual weather made mornings challenging, though conditions improved in the afternoons. He said the event and the local fishing scene had made game fishing more affordable and accessible, as trailer boats can reach the fishing grounds close to shore.
Sarah Fessey and Michelle Tredinick won the pairs championship at Molong Bowling Club on Saturday 10 October. They beat Alex Weekes and Gus Weekes in the afternoon final after earlier defeating Ian Gosper and Margot Brown in the semi-finals. On Sunday, the over and under 60s competitions opened with their first rounds. In the under 60s division, Les Hoppa and Luke Neil beat Kaleb Weekes and Jett Weekes, and Sarah Fessey and Steven Shannon beat Jason Drew and Nathan Neuenhaus.
Guido and Franco won the men's doubles title at the Dural Bocce Club's annual championship on August 15, narrowly beating last year's champions, Tony and Mario. In the ladies' draw, Anna and Silvana took the title, with Mary and Rosa finishing second. Players nominated their own partners for the event, which eight men's teams and three ladies' teams contested. Newcomers are welcome to try bocce at The Dural Club on Tuesday mornings or Friday evenings.
Jim Lucas took first place in a golf event at the Carpentaria Golf Club on 11 October, scoring 47 gross and 16 nett. Bernie Salam finished second on a countback with 61 gross and 17 nett, one shot behind the winner. Luke Marston and Lily Pembar won the men's and women's longest drive prizes. Nisa Hoffman regained the Hoffmans title after eight weeks. The Dawnbusters Championships take on the back nine on 18 October, with tee-off expected around 7 am.
Four bowlers have reached the final stage of the Nominated Pairs Tournament after weeks of close matches. On Saturday, 19 September 2026, Stuart Yeend and Phil Laing will play Graeme Giles and Rob Whiddon in the Big Match. The club has congratulated the four players for earning their places. Further events follow, including the Women's Major Singles from 6 October 2026 and the Men's Major Singles from 24 October 2026. Free lessons are also on offer from qualified coaches for anyone interested in taking up bowls.
Champion golfer Graham Marsh has returned to Kalgoorlie, his birthplace, for the WA PGA Championship. Marsh designed the Kalgoorlie Golf Course, which opened in 2010 at a cost of $18.5 million. He says the course is the first of its kind in Australia, with a desert setting and recycled water. The course has faced criticism over the cost to ratepayers and ongoing water shortages. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has committed to sponsoring the tournament until 2031.
The 2028 Copa America is expected to take place in the United States, with dates likely set for mid-June to mid-July. This would mark the third time in five editions that the tournament is held in the US. The competition will feature 10 CONMEBOL member nations, plus potential guest teams from CONCACAF. Argentina will aim to secure their third consecutive continental crown without Lionel Messi, who retired internationally in late 2026. The 2028 Summer Olympics, also in the US, may overlap with the tournament's schedule.
The Nominated Pairs Tournament has reached its final showdown, with four players earning their spots after weeks of competition. The club has praised their performance and congratulated them. The Women’s Major Singles and Men’s Major Singles events are upcoming, along with two carnivals sponsored by the Dural Club and Living Choice. The club’s pennant teams have completed two of six rounds, with mixed results and fierce competition ahead.
The 2026 Swiss Darts Trophy, the penultimate Euro Tour event, will see 48 qualifiers compete in Switzerland. Sixteen seeded players receive automatic advancement to Saturday's second round, while others start on Friday. The tournament progresses through Sunday, culminating in the final. Matches follow a best-of-leg format, with later rounds requiring more legs. Prize money details are available via Wikipedia, though draw and bracket information remains pending.