Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

Last weekend was hard work being a sports fan with what seemed like nonstop action on Sky television.

Relatively late nights and early morning viewing seeming like a haze of multiple sports action. 

The weekend viewing kicked off at a sedate pace on Friday morning with the opening round of the US Open golf.

Mid-afternoon it was down to the local supermarket to load up with munchies and liquid refreshments for the coming storm of sport. 

An early evening rugby start of Wales verses Tonga was just the entree to the All Blacks romp over Manu Samoa.

While some rugby scribes were predicting a scratchy start to the Mighty Blacks 2017 season campaign, the hometown heroes were quickly into gear to run over the Pacific nation team in impressive fashion.

The All Black backing-up and off-loads was something to rave about.

While I have never been a great Sonny Bill Williams fan, I thought he made an outstanding return from injury suffered at the Rio Olympics. 

Saturday morning was a relaxed time with the US Open slotting in with a breakfast time start.

In the afternoon, this grassroots rugby fan headed for live action at the premier showdown between Baywide champions Rangataua and Te Puna, at Rangataua headquarters at Te Ariki Park.

In a game where attack from both sides took centre stage, the home side sneaked home courtesy of a converted touchdown late in the match, to win 19-18.

If anyone doubts the renaissance of club rugby this season, they should have tried to find a parking space close to Te Ariki Park on Saturday afternoon. 

Saturday evening, the Lions got their tour back on track against the Maori All Blacks at the Rotorua International Stadium.

The possession and territory stats from the encounter showed that the Lions simply kept the ball away from their opponents with good success. 

While the ever faithful Lions supporters are saying that their boys can outmuscle the Mighty Blacks - judgment day for the Lions will come next Saturday night at Eden Park. 

The difference in the Northern Hemisphere approach to winning rugby was on display in Rotorua, where the Lions were content to use their battering ram forward pack, to gain territory.

Earlier in the day at Te Ariki Park, both the home side and the visitors spun the ball wide to attack at every opportunity, in complete contrast to the Lions offering. 

Wiping sleep from the eyes early on Sunday morning, we were again in front of the box, as Team New Zealand set out to bring the America's Cup back to the land of the long white cloud. 

Two zip was an outstanding start, however, there will be no chicken counting in this household, after what happened in San Fransisco four years ago.

More golf and a plethora of racing action on Trackside TV rounded out the Sunday sports watching. 

The new week opened with another early start and another two nil win to Team New Zealand.

Fingers are being crossed and lucky charms (and red socks) brought out of a four year hibernation, as we await the coming weekends yachting action from Bermuda. 

The US Open final day went on until nearly lunchtime before Brooks Koepka was crowned the 2017 champion.

The frenetic weekend of sport was accompanied by visits to the Internet to catch up with the outstanding Kiwi success at the Rowing World Cup and our own Mike Dawson winning the World Cup Canoe Slalom event in Prague. 

Go the Mighty All Blacks