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Sarah Hirini won't play for the Black Ferns at the 2025 Rugby World Cup PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Changes to the Black Ferns as star player Sarah Hirini who won Rugby World Cups in 2017 and 2022 and is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in sevens, has decided not to make herself available for this year's campaign in England. The 32-year-old remains in the Black Ferns Sevens and it seems likely that's where she'll end her career. However several other Black Ferns Sevens stars have opted in. LATEST HEADLINES: Webster pilots Jets to NBL win over Airs Warriors stick with winning combination Devine, Kerr return for Australian serie s Black Caps blast to victory over Pakistan Sun, fellow NZers targeting Miami Open Stacey Waaka, Theresa Setefano, Alena Saili, Dhys Faleafaga and Kelsey Teneti, Risi Pouri-Lane and Jorja Miller have made themselves available up for Black Ferns selection as they chase a place in the World Cup squad. Waaka, Setefano, Saili, Faleafaga and Teneti have all been capped before, with Pouri-Lane and Miller possible debutants. Saili, Faleafaga, Teneti, Setefano and Pouri-Lane will join the Black Ferns' first camp in April, ruling them out of selection for the final World Sevens Series event of the season in Los Angeles. Waaka and Miller will join the Black Ferns squad during the Pacific Four Series against Canada, the US and Australia, which starts in May. Black Ferns coach Allan Bunting believes the sevens players will boost the Black Ferns 15s. "Having the ability to add players into the mix that have a proven ability of winning pinnacle events under pressure is invaluable," said Bunting. "It's great to have our best female athletes driving internal competition and striving for selection for World Cup." Black Ferns Sevens coach Corey Sweeney said it's in the best interests of both teams to facilitate the switch. "We want to have the best XVs and Sevens programmes in the world and we can't do that independently," said Sweeney. "We've seen real success in the past two World Cup cycles with our players transitioning across to the Black Ferns environment. For the players remaining it will be an exciting opportunity for them to get more game time in Los Angeles and grow on the world stage." Not included in the list of Black Ferns Sevens players is Kelly Brazier, who has been released from sevens to play Super Rugby Aupiki and will be available for selection for the Black Ferns at the end of the competition.

The Manawatu Jets have finished strong to earn their first win of the National Basketball League (NBL) season. The Property Broker Jets outscored the Taranaki Airs 12-2 over the final two-plus minutes of the fourth quarter to take away a 93-84 win from New Plymouth's TSB Stadium in the Sal's NBL on Tuesday night. LATEST HEADLINES: Warriors stick with winning combination Devine, Kerr return for Australian serie s Black Caps blast to victory over Pakistan Sun, fellow NZers targeting Miami Open 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw releas ed Tall Blacks Centurion Corey Webster guided Manawatu to victory with a game-high 30 points (10/26 FG, 5/10 3pt, 5/8 FT), six assists and three steals as the Jets made 15 triples at a 41 percent clip. Young Kiwi guard Dontae Russo-Nance had himself a game for the winners, with 23 points (7/18 FG, 4/6 3pt, 5/7 FT), eight rebounds, five assists, two steals and two blocks, while American forward Miles Gibson had a double-double with 16 points (5/15 FG, 3/6 3pt) and 12 boards. Their other imports, Eric Williams Jr and Kenny Goins also made an impact, with Williams putting up 11 points and eight boards, and Goins eight points and eight rebounds. Corey Webster exploded for 30 points, six assists and three steals for the Manawatu Jets. PHOTO: NBL/MICHELLE FEY Three players - Harry Froling, Carlin Davison and Jack Andrew - had double-doubles for the Airs, who shot just 28 percent (6-of-21) on three-point attempts and committed 18 turnovers. Froling had 25 points (9/21 FG, 7/8 FT), 11 rebounds and two steals, Davison 24 points (9/20 FG, 5/8 3pt), 10 boards, two steals and two blocks, and Andrew 13 points (6/8 FG) and 11 rebounds. American guard Armon Fletcher also had 13 points (5/9 FG), three assists and two steals, and Quintin Bailey nine boards and four assists off the bench. The Airs led 72-71 with 2:28 remaining before Russo-Nance hit back-to-back threes to give Manawatu the lead for good. Tyson Thata-Paese and Russo-Nance added baskets before the Jets iced the game at the free-throw line. The Jets (1-1) take on the Indian Panthers (0-1) at Pulman Arena on Sunday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Airs (1-1) travel to the North Shore to face the Auckland Tuatara (0-1) earlier in the day (tip-off 3pm). In the earlier Sky Broadband Rapid League game, Riley Tuuta hit a game-winning three as time expired in the Airs' 39-38 victory. Scott Telfer had 14 points and Quintin Bailey 12 points for Taranaki, while Tyson Thata-Paese scored 19 points for Manawatu. Manawatu Jets 93 (Corey Webster 30, Dontae Russo-Nance 23, Miles Gibson 16, Eric Williams Jr 11) Taranaki Airs 84 (Harry Froling 25, Carlin Davison 24, Armon Fletcher 13, Jack Andrew 13). 1Q: 26-25, HT: 43-40, 3Q: 66-62

Lulu Sun will be looking for more wins at the Miami Masters PHOTO: WTA New Zealand's Lulu Sun will be looking for another deep run in the Masters 1000 event at Miami Open this week. The 23-year-old reached the third round of Indian Wells scoring a couple of much needed victories to gain confidence after a year which had featured just one victory. LATEST HEADLINES: Bulls survive low-scoring NBL contest 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw confirmed NZ Sail GP team miss Los Angeles title Campbell 3rd at LIV, Fox top-20 at TPC Paul Coll beaten in Australian Open final Sun ranked 44th faces the tall Egyptian player Mayar Sherif ranked 67th in the first round with Amanda Annasimova, the winner of the Qatar Open last month waiting in the next round In men's doubles Michael Venus and Nikols Mektic are the fifth seeds and face American wildcards Mackenzie McDonald and Learner Tien in the first round. The women's double draw has yet to be confirmed, however it's likely Erin Routliffe and Gaby Dabrowski will be the second seeds.

The Black Caps have taken a 2-0 lead in the T20 series over Pakistan PHOTO: ICC The Black Caps have scored a five wicket win over Pakistan at Dunedin to lead the five-game T20 series 2-0. After a delayed start Pakistan scored 135-9 from their 15 overs. LATEST HEADLINES: Sun, fellow NZers target Miami Open Bulls survive low-scoring NBL contest 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw confirmed NZ Sail GP team miss Los Angeles title Campbell 3rd at LIV, Fox top-20 at TPC Captain Salman Agha top-scored with 46 from 28 including three sixes and four fours. Nexe best was Shada Khan 26 and Shaleen Shah Afridi 22. For the Black Caps there were two wicket hauls by Ish Sodhi (2-17 from three overs), Jacob Duffy, Ben Sears and James Neesham. In respone the home side started with a flourish as Tim Seifert made 45 from 22 and Finn Allen 38 from 16 ball including five sixes and one four. Seirfert fell at 66 before Mark Chapman was out for one, daryl Mitchell 14 and Neesham five. Mitch Hay was not out 21 and captain Michael Bracewell five and a score of 137-5. Game three is at Eden Park on Friday. Earlier the White Ferns final T20 clash with Sri Lanka was abandoned. The White Ferns batted for 14.1 overs scoring 101-3 as Suzie Bates made 31 from 28, Georgia Plimmer 46 not out , Emma McLeod four, Brooke Halliday was out for a duck. Izzy Sharp was the other not out batter with 17. The series was drawn 1-1 after the Dunedin no result.

Will the NZ Warriors back up against the Roosters in round three? PHOTO: NRL An unchanged 17 has been named for the third straight game for the NZ Warriors’ round three NRL clash against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday. Following their setback in Las Vegas, the same 17 players rebounded to deliver one of the club’s most impressive victories last Friday night in scoring six tries to stun a Manly side coming off an emphatic display against the Cowboys. LATEST HEADLINES: Devine, Kerr return for Australia series Black Caps blast to win over Pakistan Sun, fellow NZers target Miami Open Bulls survive low-scoring NBL contest 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw confirmed After shuffling the originally-selected starting pack for the match against Canberra, the Warriors started as selected against the Sea Eagles. The only changes this week come on the extended bench. With back-up hooker Sam Healey sidelined for a week with a shoulder injury, 48-game NRL dummy half Freddy Lussick is on the bench. Second rower Jacob Laban comes in for Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who was 18th man last week. Centre Rocco Berry has been brought in as he continues his comeback from a shoulder injury. Used for 40 minutes in the New South Wales Cup side’s first match of the season against Western Suburbs, Berry played the full 80 minutes in the 31-20 win over Manly last Friday night. This week’s match provides a milestone moment for fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad when he makes his 50th NRL appearance for the Warriors. He was a key contributor last week making a team-high 171 metres and six tackle breaks. Loose forward Erin Clark and centre Adam Pompey edge closer to 100-game milestones, Clark playing his 98th game while Pompey makes his 97th appearance (all for the Warriors). There’s little between the Warriors and the Roosters in the 47 matches they’ve played since 1995, the Roosters winning 24, the Warriors 22 with one draw. However, the ledger has been strongly in the Roosters’ favour more recently. They’ve won the last eight encounters since losing 6-30 in Sydney in 2018. NZ WARRIORS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf, James Fisher-Harris (cc), Wayde Egan, Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Marata Miukore, Erin Clark. Interchange: Dylan Walker, Jackson Ford, Demitiric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban, Te Marie Martin, Freddy Lussick, Bunty Afoa, Rocco Berry

Amelia Kerr is a key returnee for the White Ferns T20I series against Australia PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER/LINTOTT PHOOTGRAPHY The White Ferns home summer is set to finish on a high as stars Sophie Devine, Melie Kerr and Lea Tahuhu return to the T20I squad to face Australia. The T20 World Champions will take on Trans-Tasman rivals in three T20I-doubleheaders alongside the Black Caps and Pakistan in Auckland, Tauranga, and Wellington, starting on Friday 21 March at Eden Park. LATEST HEADLINES: Black Caps blast to win over Pakistan Sun, fellow NZers target Miami Open Bulls survive low-scoring NBL contest 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw confirmed NZ Sail GP team miss Los Angeles title Devine returns following a well-being break that ruled her out of the Dream11 Super Smash, Women’s Premiere League, and the home series against Sri Lanka. ICC’s Women’s Cricketer of the Year, Melie Kerr, returns home from the Women’s Premiere League after claiming her second title with the Mumbai Indians. Kerr’s last T20I outing for New Zealand was a player-of-the-match-performance at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup grand final, where she scored 43 off 38 and took three for 24 guiding New Zealand to a 32-run victory. The White Ferns pace attack welcomes back senior bowler Lea Tahuhu following hamstring injuries that have kept her sidelined from international cricket since December. Otago Sparks batter Bella James also returns following a quadricep strain that ruled her out of the recent ODI and T20I series against Sri Lanka. James, who is uncapped in international T20 cricket, passed fitness tests yesterday and will travel with the team to Auckland today. Wicketkeeper-batter Izzy Gaze, who was also ruled out of the T20I series against Sri Lanka with a hip flexor sprain she picked up during the 3rd ODI, will not take part in the series as she requires further rehabilitation before returning to play. Polly Inglis, who made her international debut in both white-ball formats this month, will replace Gaze. The remainder of the squad looks familiar to the side that drew the T20I series against Sri Lanka this week, with Emma McLeod, Izzy Sharp, Flora Devonshire and Bree Illing coming out to make way for Devine, Kerr, James and Tahuhu’s return. Suzie Bates will continue as interim captain for the series after Devine stepped down as T20I captain at the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. New Zealand head coach Ben Sawyer said he was pleased to get three senior players back. “We’re stoked to have Soph, Melie and Lea back for this series,” said Sawyer. “They’re three key players who bring a wealth of experience and leadership to the group.” Sawyer said Devine felt ready to return to cricket. “Soph’s had some time away from the game and is now in a space where she’s looking forward to getting back out on the park. “Everyone knows the power she possesses and what an asset she is to any team, so we’re really pleased to have her back for what we know will be a competitive series.” Devine said she was excited to be back with the team. “It’s nice to have had some time to reset and refocus and I’m really looking forward to getting back out there with the girls.” White Ferns Squad: Suzie Bates (C) Otago Sparks Eden Carson Otago Sparks Sophie Devine Wellington Blaze Maddy Green Auckland Hearts Brooke Halliday Auckland Hearts Polly Inglis Otago Sparks Bella James Otago Sparks Fran Jonas Auckland Hearts Jess Kerr Wellington Blaze Melie Kerr Wellington Blaze Rosemary Mair Central Hinds Georgia Plimmer Wellington Blaze Lea Tahuhu Canterbury Magicians The T20I series will be broadcast live and free in New Zealand on TVNZ 1, TVNZ+, and Sport Nation, with live scoring available at nzc.nz and the NZC App. Schedule: 1st T20I - Friday 21 March – Eden Park, Auckland, 2.45pm 2nd T20I – Sunday 23 March – Bay Oval, Tauranga, 2.45pm 3rd T20I – Wednesday 26 March – Sky Stadium, Wellington, 2.45pm

2024 Farah Palmer Cup winners Waikato PHOTO: NZR SUPPLIED A busy year of women's rugby will continue in August with the Farah Palmer Cup kicking off. While the Black Ferns are in England defending the Rugby World Cup, the country’s brightest developing talent will be on display across nine weeks of fierce competition. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ Sail GP team miss Los Angeles title Campbell 3rd at LIV, Fox top-20 at TPC Paul Coll beaten in Australian Open final Exciting matchups to open NPC season Phoenix secure draw against Sydney FC Defending premiership winners Waikato will kick the season off with an almighty battle against Auckland while championship winners (promoted to the premiership), Manawatū will face a tough challenge against Canterbury. The first defence of the JJ Stewart Trophy will be when Waikato play at home against Counties Manukau in round two. New Zealand Rugby Head of Women High Performance Hannah Porter, said the competition will see many new players emerge. "With all eyes on women’s rugby in 2025, the Farah Palmer Cup will showcase the next generation of developing players. "Following the record number of women taking the field in 2024, the Farah Palmer Cup remains a crucial pathway, giving players the chance to represent their whānau, clubs and communities on the national stage,” said Porter. The Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse finals will see the Championship Final played on the weekend of September 20/21, while the Premiership Final will take place on the weekend of October 4/5. All double headers (24 matches played alongside Bunnings Warehouse NPC fixtures,) and all competition play off matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sport, the remaining 12 fixtures will be live streamed by New Zealand Rugby. Sky Open will also broadcast one match per week free to air with a live start. Farah Palmer Cup presented by Bunnings Warehouse teams: Premiership: Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Canterbury, Counties Manukau, Hawke’s Bay, Manawatū, Waikato. Championship: Northland, North Harbour, Otago, Taranaki, Tasman, Wellington Full draw can be seen here

Despite scoring just 20 points in the second half, the Franklin Bulls recorded their second win of the National Basketball League (NBL) season. In a game where both teams shot at less than 40 percent from the field, the Bulls held on for a 65-61 Sal’s NBL win over the Tauranga Whai in Pukekohe on Monday night. LATEST HEADLINES: 2025 Farah Palmer Cup draw confirmed NZ Sail GP team miss Los Angeles title Campbell third at LIV; Fox top-20 at TPC Paul Coll beaten in Australian Open final Exciting matchups to open NPC season American guard Tae Hardy was a standout for the Bulls, with a game-high 19 points (7/17 FG, 3/4 3pt), six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Tall Blacks forward Reuben Te Rangi had 13 points (5/10 FG), nine boards and three assists, and German centre Till Gloger 10 points (3/7 FG, 4/4 FT) and four boards. The Bulls’ new import, Australian forward David Okwera, had an impact off the bench, with eight points, eight rebounds, four steals and three blocks. David Okwera made an impact for the Franklin Bulls off the bench. PHOTO: NBL For the Whai, Carter Hopoi led the way with 13 points (3/10 FG, 7/8 FT) and six boards, while Kruz Perrott-Hunt had 11 points (3/11 FG). Tauranga’s three imports - Chris Jones, Sean Bairstow and recent addition Talib Zanna - combined for just 19 points on 7-of-25 shooting. Overall, the Whai shot just 31 percent from the floor, including 17 percent (5-of-28) on three point attempts. The Bulls, playing without Tall Black Ethan Rusbatch, hit 39 percent and 36 percent. The Bulls (2-0) host the Hawke’s Bay Hawks (2-0) at The Stockyard on Sunday (tip-off 1pm), while the Whai (1-1) welcome the Nuggets (0-1) to Mount Maunganui on Wednesday (tip-off 7pm). Meanwhile, the Whai scored a 30-27 win in the earlier Sky Broadband Rapid League game. Jayden Bezzant had 13 points and Xanda Marsters six points and seven boards. Franklin Bulls 65 (Tae Hardy 19, Reuben Te Rangi 13, Till Gloger 10) Tauranga Whai 61 (Carter Hopoi 13, Kruz Perrott-Hunt 11). 1Q: 22-16, HT: 45-34, 3Q: 55-49

The New Zealand team was close to victory in Los Angeles but ended up second to Canada PHOTO: SAILGP The New Zealand SailGP team have finished second at the latest event in Los Angeles after one turn cost them the title. Facing Canada and Australia in the final, Black Foils skipper Peter Burling made a perfect start as he had done throughout the regatta. LATEST HEADLINES: Campbell 3rd at LIV, Fox top-20 at TPC Paul Coll beaten in Australian Open final Exciting matchups to open NPC season Phoenix secure draw against Sydney FC Ally Wollaston wins gold at Nations Cup He won the inside line to the first mark one, leaving NorthStar Canada trailing in its wake and Australia skippered by Tom Slingsby out of the reckoning. However, a vital moment unfolded at the second mark, when leaders New Zealand and NorthStar Canada split the course. As the Canadians executed silky smooth boat handling, Burling and his team struggled to replicate clean manoeuvres and fell off the foils on the third leg of the shortened six leg final. The Canadians moved into first with unforced errors from the New Zealand and Australian teams handing them a dominant lead. "It was great to lead at mark one, but then I felt like we made a few incorrect decisions out on the race track. There's a few things I look back on and kick myself on technically...real shame to let someone pass in a final when you are leading on mark one - you should win those ones," said Burling. Despite the light wind conditions meaning a reduced four member crew configuration, the Canadians racked up the highest fly time of the day in the final - 99 percent, as well as the highest average speed of the day - 51.07km/h. It's the first event win the NorthStar Canada has picked up since Christchurch two years ago. New Zealand's second place finish sees a shift to third on the table at 29 points, with Great Britain leading with 34 and Australia second at 32. The next event is in San Francisco next week.

Wellington captain Du'Plessis Kirifi lifts the NPC trophy after the 2024 final. PHOTO: ALLBLACKS.COM Domestic rugby will hit the ground running in August with the 2025 National Provincial Championship (NPC) draw announced on Monday featuring some scintillating Round 1 fixtures. Reigning champions Wellington host traditional heavyweights Canterbury, battle lines will be drawn in the Deep South with the Southland Stags hosting Otago for 'Stag Day', while the Ranfurly Shield will be up for grabs when Taranaki host Northland. LATEST HEADLINES: Phoenix secure draw against Sydney FC Ally Wollaston wins gold at Nations Cup Airs win in OT, Rams in low-scoring win Auckland FC held to draw by Mariners Easy victories White Ferns, Black Caps 'Stag Day' at Invercargill's Rugby Park will aim to get more than 10,000 passionate Stags fans through the gates on Saturday, August 2 (kick-off 4.35pm), cementing it as the single-biggest sporting event in Southland. The 'Battle of the Bombays' between Auckland and Waikato will open the season on Thursday, July 31 (kick-off 7.05pm) at Eden Park, before the Lions host Canterbury at Sky Stadium two days later (kick-off 2.05pm) and Taranaki put the Log o' Wood up for grabs in New Plymouth (kick-off 7.05pm). Fans will have to wait until Round 10 for a repeat of the 2024 final (won 23-20 in extra-time by Wellington over Bay of Plenty), with the Lions welcoming the Steamers to the Capital on Saturday, October 4 (kick-off 2.05pm). Fans showed their love to the NPC last season, with an 11 percent increase in social media followers (on official channels) and the 2024 final attracting an audience of 290,000 viewers on Sky Sport and Sky Open, plus 99,000 viewers on Sky Sport Now and 62,000 viewers on Sky Go*. New Zealand Rugby general manager of community rugby Steve Lancaster said on the back of an exciting and engaging 2024 competition, fans could expect more of the same. “Last year’s NPC was enthralling. The quality of play we saw on the field really amplified the traditional rivalries on which this competition was built. "The dramatic final in Wellington going to extra-time, in the rain, was a perfect example of the passion and excitement this competition continues to deliver,” said Lancaster.  The competition will run across 10 weekends of round-robin (eliminating the polarising 'Storm Week'), with the top-eight teams progressing to the playoffs. The quarterfinals see the top-ranked team hosting (1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, 3 vs 6, 4 vs 5), the following weekend semifinals will see team’s playoff for a spot in the final (1 vs 4, 2 vs 3). The final will be hosted by the highest-ranking qualifier on Saturday, October 25. All matches will be live and exclusive on Sky Sport, with one match per week also available free-to-air on Sky Open. The women's Farah Palmer Cup draw will be announced on Tuesday, followed by the Heartland Championship draw on Wednesday .

Ben Campbell finished third at LIV Golf Singapore after a four-under 67. PHOTO: RANGEGOATS GC New Zealand golfer Ben Campbell has produced his best finish on the LIV Golf circuit in Singapore. Campbell, 33, closed with a four-under 67 in the third and final round at the Sentosa Golf Club on Sunday to finish alone in third at 11-under, six strokes behind the winner, Chilean Joaquin Niemann. LATEST HEADLINES: Paul Coll beaten in Australian Open final Exciting matchups to open NPC season Phoenix secure draw against Sydney FC Ally Wollaston wins gold at Nations Cup Easy White Ferns, Black Caps victories The Queenstown native had six birdies, including three in his last six holes, and two bogeys in the final round to collect US$1.5 million (NZ$2.6 million) and move up to 11th in LIV Golf's individual rankings. Starting on the second hole, Campbell made a bogey at the par-four third, before a birdie at the par-five fourth. He birdied the par-five seventh but gave a shot back immediately at the par-three eighth. His round finally got going with a birdie at the 10th and others at the 14th, 15th and first, his closing hole, three of which were par-fours, to end one shot behind four-time major winner Brooks Koepka. Campbell's previous best finish was a tie for 15th at the 2025 season-opening LIV Golf Riyadh tournament at 10-under. On the PGA Tour, Kiwi No 1 Ryan Fox surged into the top-20 in the final round of the PGA Tour's Players Championship on Sunday (Monday NZ Time). Fox made four birdies and two bogeys for a two-under 70, his equal-best round of the week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, moving him up 13 spots into a tie for 20th at four-under. Starting at the 10th hole, the 37-year-old opened his round with a bogey but responded with two birdies in the next three holes. After six straight pars, Fox made two birdies in four holes on the front-nine, with a bogey in between. After missing the cut in his previous two tournaments, it was Fox's best result on the PGA Tour since finishing T11 at the Sanderson Farms Championship last October. Meanwhile, at the Women's PGA Tour's Australian Women's Classic, Wenyung Keh was the best New Zealand finisher. Keh produced five birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey in a two-under 68 in the final round at the West Lakes course at the Coffs Harbour Golf Club, ending tied for 27th at even-par, nine shots behind winner, Belgian Manon De Roey. Fellow Kiwis Momoka Kobori and Amelia Garvey both finished in a share of 60th at the rain-shortened 54-hole event at five-over. Kobori closed with a three-over 73 and Garvey with a one-over 71.

Paul Coll looks to play a shot in the final of the Australian Squahs Open PHOTO: PSA TOUR New Zealand's Paul Coll has been beaten in the final of the Australian Open in Brisbane by second seed Karim Gawad of Egypt. Eighth ranked Gawad started strong showing touches of class, however Coll came back strong to force longer rallies and took the first game 11-9. LATEST HEADLINES: Phoenix men claim draw with Sydney Wollaston wins gold at Nations Cup Taranaki overtime, Rams low-scoring win Auckland FC held to draw by Mariners Easy wins White Ferns, Black Caps Gawad’s response came in game two as he dominated the T and scored quickly with casual touches to strike back 11-6. Game three was stop-start, with the lack of fluidity suiting Gawad as the Egyptian fired in winners and capitalised on errors from Coll to earn four game balls at 10-6. Incredibly, Coll saved all four of them, finding his accuracy when he needed it most to go game ball up 11-10. This time, it was Gawad’s time to dig in, with the Egyptian showing his steely resolve to finally take the 25-minute grapple 13-11. Coll requested a new ball between games, which initially seemed to pay off as the Kiwi took a 7-3 lead. Gawad fought back to 8-8 and was brilliant from there, dragging Coll all over the court as he earned two championship balls at 10-8. Coll saved one but in a nerve-shredding finale, Gawad managed to play a perfect drop that stuck to the wall, beyond the despairing lunge of Coll to complete the comeback. The score 9-11, 11-6, 13-11, 11-9 in 83 minutes. Coll’s attention now turns to the Optasia Championships, with the Gold-level PSA Squash Tour event taking place in Wimbledon, England, March 25-30.