THE LEDGER: Aussies Fought Kiwis All Over the Damn Place Last Week

Last week New Zealand broke an agonising five-week drought to notch their first victory over Australia in the international sports media's only regular feature focuses on the bitterest, most pervasive rivalry since the Cold War.

The troops have rallied on both sides of the Tasman, with Kiwis keen to defend their hard fought title — and the Aussies eager to win it back.

Let this round of sport's greatest blood feud continue.

CRICKET

The annual Scrooge McDuck gold coin silo that is the IPL is all wrapped up for another year, with today's final between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Sunrisers Hyderabad taking place in Bangalore. Outside David Warner, it was a season that saw Australasian cricketers do poorly in the sub-continent.

Former big blaster Brendon McCullum failed at every hurdle, while new Black Caps captain Kane Williamson saw limited time at the crease. Even Aussie captain Steven Smith struggled before injury curtailed his playing time.

Heading into this week, Warner notched a brutal 93 not out to guide the Sunrisers through to the final. For that, and his consistent performances all season, Australia is off the mark early.

WINNER: Australia.

FOOTBALL

For Australians in sport, nothing hurts as much as losing to the English.

That was unfortunately the case this week, as the Socceroos went down 2-1 to England in Sunderland. Manchester United strikers Wayne Rooney and Marcus Rashford got the goals for the hosts, while Aussies only got on the board via an Eric Dier own-goal.

The Kiwis meanwhile notched up a 3-1 victory over Fiji in the OFC Nations Cup opener in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

You can hardly compare England and Fiji, in terms of competitive opposition, but a win's a win and a loss is a loss — especially when it comes to games against the one nation Australia and New Zealand want to beat besides each other.

WINNER: New Zealand

RUGBY UNION

There's no doubt: the New Zealand teams are the cream of the crop when it comes to Super Rugby this year.

If the bizarre playoff qualifying system reflected the true nature of that dominance, Kiwi teams would be four of the top six ranked teams.

That makes the Waratahs shock 45-25 upset of the Chiefs in Sydney last Friday night all the more impressive. The Chiefs had looked to be locked in for the title this season, but the New South Welshmen tore them to ribbons — giving Australian rugby its first ever triumph in this category.

WINNER: Australia

RUGBY LEAGUE

You know the NRL season is going bad when a bye weekend for the Warriors is considered a success.

It's been a terrible few weeks since the sleeping pill/energy drink drama fiasco for the Auckland club — but they're beginning to emerge out the other side of the ugly stuff.

Wayward centre Konrad Hurrell was cut loose by the club, while coach Andrew McFadden received the backing of the board to make it to the end of the season.

Aussie teams played Aussies teams elsewhere in the NRL, so we consider this week a wash.

WINNER: Draw

NETBALL

As the dust settles from the ANZ Championship split — which will take place at the end of the current season — netball continued on both sides of the Tasman this week.

Unfortunately, there were no Australia vs New Zealand franchise match-ups. The Ocker teams are still easily the pick of the competition, but you can't put the boot into the Kiwis unless poor performances merit it.

WINNER: Draw

MOTORSPORT

It was a massive weekend for motorsport with both the Monaco Grand Prix and the 100th running of the famed Indy 500 taking place.

Aussies and Kiwis were at the forefront of all the action. Perth-born driver Daniel Ricciardo looked on track for his first-ever F1 victory, before a pit-stop cock-up consigned him to second behind Lewis Hamilton, who is from England (ouch).

In Indianapolis, the Brickyard's Big Dance featured Kiwi Scott Dixon and Aussie Will Power as a tasty blood feud subplot.

Dixon finished 8th, while Power came in 10th – though Ricciardo's performance in Monaco gives Australia the spoils in motorsport this week.

WINNER: Australia

BASKETBALL

This time last week, Steven Adams and the Oklahoma City Thunder were in the process of launching into a two-game spring that would put them on the cusp of reaching the NBA Finals.

Then yesterday, and Friday, the Golden State Warriors rallied to take the nail-biting series into a Game 7 in Oakland tomorrow.

Central to that comeback has been Victorian Andrew Bogut. The former No. 1 Draft pick's Game 5 massive contribution (15 points and 14 rebounds) was crucial in the Warriors' series turnaround.

After a huge start to the series, Kiwi Adams has cooled off somewhat — meaning the Aussies claim this category this week.

WINNER: Australia

OLYMPIC SPORTS: ROWING

New Zealand named its final rower — single sculler Emma Twigg — for the Rio Olympics last week, finalising what should be one of the strongest ever sport-specific Kiwi Olympic teams.

There will be a total of 10 boats in the water for New Zealand in the Rio rowing regattas, with world champions and former Olympic medalists right across the board. The sport will easily be New Zealand's best at this year's Games.

Let's hope no one falls into that disgusting looking water in Rio, while they are there.

WINNER: New Zealand

WILDCARD SPORT: MMA

While there wasn't any Aussies or Kiwis in significant action in world MMA this last week, James Te Huna announced his retirement announced his retirement from the UFC.

The 34-year-old former bricklayer was born and raised in New Zealand, but learnt his MMA trade in Australia — making his efforts in the UFC a true Anzac blend.

In 10 fights, he finished with a 5-5 record — but had lost all of his last four fights in the Octagon. Te Huna was never the star that countryman Mark Hunt has been, but he was a hard-working slugger and deserves some recognition.

Go well, Jamie.

WINNER: Draw

OVERALL

AUSTRALIA 6 NEW ZEALAND 3

Normal transmission has resumed in THE LEDGER, with Australia claiming back the title after New Zealand's drought-breaker last week.

You can thank Daniel Ricciardo and Andrew Bogut for that, Australia.

Steven Adams still claims the crown of best Australasian facial furniture, though unfortunately it wasn't a category for competition this week.

BONUS: CLASSIC MOMENT IN AUSSIE-NZ RIVALRY

'The Greatest Game Ever Played,' Australia vs New Zealand (rugby) in Sydney, 2000.

The 2000 Bledisloe Cup clash between Australia and New Zealand had it all. A three-try opening burst from the All Blacks, an incredible Wallabies comeback – and a bandstand finish that demanded a thrilling touchline try by the great Jonah Lomu.

If you've seen any archival footage of great rugby tries in your life, you've seen Lomu's winner. If you haven't, tune in and experience the magic right now.