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The Black Ferns Sevens couldn't repeast the previous tournaments result PHOTO: SVNS WORLD TOUR Mixed result for the New Zealand teams at the Cape Town edition of the Rugby Sevens World Tour. The Black Ferns Sevens couldn't repeat the previous tournament win in Dubai after Australia led 19-0 at halftime to eventually win 26-12 in the final. LATEST HEADLINES: Alice Robinson on podium Nix women beaten by City Lawson penalty, Norris title Hillier sixth Aus Open Golf Alice Robinson race win The Black Ferns Sevens are second on the leaderboard after the opening two rounds. In the men's final, South Africa secured back-to-back titles on home turf beating Argentina 21-19. Early in the second half, Argentina looked to have the gold-medal match sewn up to complete a remarkable turnaround after finishing eighth in Dubai last round. But the Blitzboks hit back with two tries in the last four minutes as the excited crowd ramped up the volume. Like the New Zealand women, the All Blacks Sevens also failed to follow up their win in Dubai last round, finishing fifth. The New Zealand men missed the semifinals after a heavy 35-5 loss to Fiji in pool play. They rallied back to beat Australia 28-21 in the 5th place semifinal and then overcame Great Britain 27-12 to secure fifth behind Fiji and France. The All Blacks Sevens are third overall behind South Africa and Fiji after two rounds on the leaderboard.

Alice Robinson (right) gained another career podium PHOTO: Alice Robinson has continued her podium streak, finishing in third place at the second FIS Giant Slalom World Cup race at Mont-Tremblant. It is the Queenstown 24-year-old's 20th career World Cup podium. LATEST HEADLINES: Nix women beaten by City Lawson penalty, Norris title Hillier sixth Aus Open Golf Alice Robinson race win Auckland FC beat Nix In clear and very cold conditions with the course once against demanding carrying as much speed as possible into the flatter sections while managing the varying micro terrain. Robinson, in bib 3, put down the quickest run one time taking the lead right from the first sector and then seeing the green light on the next three sections to cross the finish line with a run one time of 1:07.44. Austria’s Julia Scheib put down a quick first run and was sitting just +0.16 seconds behind Robinson after run one was complete. Robinson was the final competitor on course for the second run and kicked into her top gear right out of the start gate, giving it everything out on course. A small error in the second sector cost Robinson precious hundredths of a second, but nevertheless her exceptional performance throughout the rest of the race still meant she finished well inside the podium time in third place. Scheib took the win with 2022 Beijing Giant Slalom Olympic champion Sara Hector of Sweden in second place. Robinson is currently leading the 2025/26 Giant Slalom World Cup standings with 292 points, with Scheib in second with 280 points and Croatia’s Zrinka Ljutic in third with 178 points. The Giant Slalom World Cup Tour will now take a break until the 27th of December, with Robinson and her team switching gear as she heads to Europe The World Cup speed events for the 2025/26 season start with the Downhill and Super G races in St. Moritz, Switzerland next weekend.

The Wellington Phoenix went close to holding Melboiurne City but lost out to a late goal PHOTO: WELLINGTON PHOENIX The Wellington Phoenix have had their unbeaten start to the A-League season ended by defending premiers Melbourne City 1-0 in their only shot on target in the 86th minute.. It was a difficult result to take for the Nix, who had nine shots to City’s two and struck the woodwork on three occasions. LATEST HEADLINES: Lawson penalty, Norris title Hillier sixth Aus Open Golf Alice Robinson race win Auckland FC beat Nix Coll loses in HK Open semi Head coach Bev Priestman was philosophical after the match. “Away from home we’ve struggled and this is probably the most complete performance we’ve had in my time so far,” Priestman said. “I think we have to be proud of how much we dominated in the box. We limited them to two shots and one of them was a poor defensive set play. “I’m frustrated and I think the team are but this game can’t define us. We did a very good job against a very good Melbourne City team and now we have to grow from this. “We have to put the ball in the back of the net and that’s a different game.” Lucía León made her long-awaited debut for Wellington as a second half substitute, while Zoe Benson also made her bow for the club just eight days after being named player of the match for Auckland United in the National League Championship grand final. “Zoe Benson I thought when she came on she did a really good job of showing what she can do. “I thought she was dangerous and direct and I had no doubt about putting her in the game. “Lu’s got great experience and in a game like that when you’re weighing up how much you go for it and how much you have to worry about going the other way, you bring her experience in to do that and I thought she was outstanding when she went in.” Danieli had a couple of nervy moments with her feet in the first half, but wasn’t called upon to make a save before halftime. City dominated possession, but most of it was in their half and they didn’t register a single shot in the first 45 minutes. CJ Bott, who was confirmed as the team’s captain earlier in the day, had the Phoenix’s first chance in the 22nd minute after midfielder partner Grace Jale won possession high up the pitch. Bott however was unable to test City goalkeeper Malena Mieres as she dragged her effort wide of the left-hand post. Bhandari had a shot blocked from the edge of the box soon after as the Nix enjoyed a good spell. Mieres was comfortably the busier of the two ‘keepers in the first half. She comfortably claimed a long-range effort from Ellie Walker in the 35th minute before punching clear a threatening left-wing cross from Lara Wall. The Spanish goalkeeper also was quick off her line to snuff out an opportunity for Bhandari moments later after the Nepalese striker nodded into the City penalty area for herself. Marisa van der Meer received attention at the end of the first half after copping an elbow from Shelby McMahon that opened up a cut above van der Meer’s left eye. Wellington came closest to breaking the deadlock when they were down to 10. Grace Jale delivered a great diagonal ball that got Manaia Elliott in behind the City defence. Elliott found Bhandari in the box and she laid it off for Brooke Nunn, who saw her shot rattle the crossbar. Jale skied her follow up over the bar. The second half started in much the same vein as the first, with City having the majority of possession but not threatening Danieli in goal. Her opposite Mieres made a top save five minutes after the break to prevent the Phoenix from taking the lead. She acrobatically kept out a shot from Elliott that looked destined to nestle inside the right-hand post. Priestman had to make her first substitution shortly before the hour mark with Bhandari limping off and replaced by Emma Main. There was no goalmouth action for the next quarter of an hour but the Nix continued to control the midfield and frustrate the hosts. León came on for her Phoenix debut in the 72nd minute in place of Wall, who had worked tirelessly down the left flank. Holly McNamara had City’s first shot of the contest four minutes later but van der Meer was able to get a foot to it and deflect it wide of goal. Wellington looked more likely to break the deadlock. Seconds after McNamara’s half chance, Pia Vlok turned and shot straight at Mieres before Nunn unleashed an effort from distance that lacked the power to trouble the City ‘keeper. Main was close to giving the Phoenix the lead in the 81st minute when she showed great strength to hold off her defender in the box but dragged her shot into the left-hand post. Benson entered the came soon after in place of former Auckland United teammate Vlok. Veteran Football Ferns defender Rebekah Stott ended the stalemate with four minutes remaining in the 90 when she nodded home from a yard out after City headed a left-wing free kick back across goal. The Nix came close to equalising from the kick-off, with Mieres palming a shot from Elliott on to her crossbar. Manaia Elliott had the final opening for Wellington in time added on after Jale found her in space on the right flank. Elliott went for goal, instead of trying to pick out a teammate, and this time was unable to test the ‘keeper and City held on to claim all three points. The Wellington Phoenix travel to Perth tomorrow (Monday) to prepare for Friday night’s match against the Glory.

Liam Lawson missed out on points at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix PHOTO: VISA CASH APP RACING BULLS Any hopes of finishing the F1 season in the points were dashed for Kiwi driver Liam Lawson after a penalty pushed him out of contention and eventually 18th at the season -finale Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He had been as high as fifth at one stage and was a real possibility to cross the line in the top-10 for points. LATEST HEADLINES: Hillier sixth Aus Open Golf Alice Robinson race win Auckland FC beat Nix Coll loses in HK Open semi Breakers win 3 on the go However a five-second time penalty spoiled any chance of success after he was cited for driving erratically while fending off Ollie Bearman at the turn six chicane, and ended up at the back of the field once his penalty was served. Team mate Isack Hadjar finished a place ahead of him in 17th while rival Yuki Tsunoda was 14th Overall Lawson was 14th in the drivers championship, scoring points on seven occasions helping Racing Bulls to sixth in the constructors championship. Hadjar was 12th and Tsunoda 17th. At the front of the race it was Max Verstappen who crossed first with Oscar Piasatri next and Lando Norris in third which was enough for him to take the title. Norris claimed the title by just two points on 423 with Verstappen’s 421 Piastri who had lead throughout a major part of the season was third on 410

Danmiel Hillier finished tied sixt at the Austrlaian Golf Open PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN OPEN A double bogey on the 18th hole of the Australian Golf Open at Royal Melbourne has sent Daniel Hillier from probable fourth to a tie for sixth on the leaderboard. Hillier finished on a par round 71 at 10-under overall alongside Spaniard Jose Luis Ballester. LATEST HEADLINES: Alice Robinson race win Auckland FC beat Nix Coll loses in HK Open semi Breakers win 3 on the go Lawson down start order The New Zealander was looking good for 12-under and fourth until the final hole of the tournament when he hit a six on the par four. Otherwise his round featured two bogeys and four birdies. Ryan Fox was tied 14th at seven-under after picking up a shot in a final six holes which went birdie, birdie, par, bogey, eagle, bogey. Nick Voke was the next best Kiwi at three-under tied 35th, followed by Tyler Hodge at two-under tied 39th. Kerry Mountcastle was at three-over. The tournament was won by Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen who held his nerve to finish at 15-under one shot ahead of Aussie Cam Smith. after a second consecutive 66. He's two shots ahead of a trio at 12-under. Rory McIlroy was tied 14th at seven-under helping bring massive crowds to the tournament. The leading three players not already exempt who make the cut in the Crown Australian Open will qualify for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

Alice Robinson celebrates her win in the FIS Giant Slalom World Cup at Tremblant PHOTO: STEPHEN CLOUTIER FIS ALPINE Queenstown's Alice Robinson has backed up last weekend’s victory to win again, this time at the Tremblant FIS Giant Slalom World Cup in Canada. It is Robinson’s sixth career World Cup victory and her 19th World Cup podium. LATEST HEADLINES: Auckland FC beat Nix Coll loses in HK Open semi Breakers win 3 on the go Lawson down start order Hillier challenges, Fox off “That was such a testing race, it felt like the complete opposite of Copper last weekend, I’m so excited and I’m so glad I was able to hold on after the lead in the first run and build on it, it’s awesome.” Conditions were challenging with flat light and snow falling, causing problems for some of the most seasoned racers on course. Robinson was unfazed by the conditions, putting down a lightning fast first run to lead the race by -0.33 seconds after the first run. Robinson pushed out the start gate for her second run, delivering a dynamic top to bottom run, managing the terrain incredibly well, leaving nothing to chance and taking the win by almost a full second. “The speed was faster [in the second run], I think the snow got colder. It stopped snowing as much and it froze so the tempo was up a bit, and it was definitely just working top to bottom. It’s a flat hill, but it’s not easy, it has got so much terrain, so you have to be tactically smart where you push and where you hold back a bit," said the 24-year-old Kiwi. Her nearest competitor Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia finished +0.94 seconds behind Robinson, with Canadian Valerie Grenier rounding out the podium in third on home snow in front of a roaring crowd. Comparing today to last week’s race at Copper Mountain Robinson felt it was a tougher course overall. "The slope here is really different, Copper was steep and really fast the whole time, today was really grindy and had so much micro terrain, it definitely tested different skills than we tested in Copper. I’m really proud of myself and the team, we did a lot of work this summer with terrain as it’s been a weakness of mine, so I am really glad it’s paid off!” The Tremblant FIS Giant Slalom World Cup is a double-header, with Robinson competing again on the same slope Monday morning from 4am NZT.

Auckland FC won the fifth consecutive New Zealand derby PHOTO: A-LEAGUE Auckland FC have won the New Zealand Derby once again, having overrun a gallant Wellington Phoenix to win 3-1 at Go Media Stadium in front of over 20,000 fans. Auckland took an early lead through Lachlan Brook and looked set to cruise to their fifth derby win from five games when Phoenix defender Manjrekar James was sent off for a challenge on Auckland striker Sam Cosgrove just 25 seconds into the second half. LATEST HEADLINES: Coll loses in HK Open semi Breakers win 3 on the go Lawson down start order Hillier challenges, Fox off West Indies salvage a draw But a stunning equaliser from Phoenix captain Alex Rufer set up a grandstand finish. The goalkeeping heroics of Josh Oluwayemi kept Wellington in the contest with the Englishman saving not one, but two penalties – firstly to deny Cosgrove, and then Francis De Vries. But, having been thwarted from the spot with Auckland’s second of two penalties in the second half, De Vries pounced on the rebound from Oluwayemi’s spot-kick save to tap home Auckland’s second goal of the game. Having finally breached the superb Oluwayemi’s guard for a second time, Auckland turned to substitute Guillermo May to make it 3-1 late in the contest to confirm all three points against a resilient 10-man Phoenix. Saturday’s 3-1 win was Auckland’s fifth in the New Zealand Derby and takes them to the top of the A-League points table.

Paul Coll plays a backhand in his semifinal loss to Youssef Ibrahim in Hamg Kong PHOTO: PSA SQUASH Kiwi squash player Paul Coll has been beaten for the second consecutive tournament by Egypt’s Youssef Ibrahim, this time in the semifinals of the Hong Kong Open in four games. Ibrahim won the match over world No 2 Coll 3-11, 13-11, 11-8, 11-8 in 64 minutes. LATEST HEADLINES: Breakers win 3 on the go Lawson down start order Hillier challenges, Fox off West Indies salvage a draw Hayden Paddon WRC return Coll started the match in supreme form, dominating the opening game with some clinical play and racing into a 1-0 lead after just seven minutes. The 26-minute second game that followed would ultimately prove crucial in the outcome of the match, with Coll edging ahead to a 10-9 scoreline, before slipping on game ball to offer Ibrahim a route back in. The subsequent tie-break was full of drama before the Egyptian snuck ahead to a 13-11 scoreline. Ibrahim only moved from strength to strength in the third game, producing squash of the highest level to move away from 8-8 to move to within a game of the final. Coll won the Hong Kong title in 2023 The Egyptian also defeated the New Zealander at the China Open in the quarterfinals last month.

Parker Jackson-Cartwright goes to the basket in the win over the JackJumpers PHOTO: NBL The NZ Breakers have won three consecutive matches to hit the top six teams on the ANBL ladder for the first time this season. They beat the Tasmania JackJumpers 99-86 at Spark Arena in what was their fourth win in five games. LATEST HEADLINES: Lawson down start order Hillier challenges, Fox off West Indies salvage a draw Paul Coll into HK semifinals Hayden Paddon WRC return Picking up where they left off against Sydney Kings on Wednesday, they powered out of the blocks, scoring the first nine points of the contest and quickly opening up a double-figure advantage. The margin reached 17 points in the dying seconds of the opening quarter, and although Tasmania made inroads, closing within two, the home side were 52-41 up at half-time. Karim Lopez and Tall Blacks star Sam Mennenga found themselves in fou trouble early on and started the third quarter on the bench. Americans Rob Baker (13 points) and Izaiah Brockington (16 points) led all scorers, while the return of Tai Webster - an injury replacement for Izayah Le'afa - added some spark. Lopez came off the bench and dropped a three-pointer with his first touch, while Mennenga threw down a massive dunk on counterpart Will Magnay, completing the three-point play from the free-throw line. Still trailing by 10 entering the final quarter, the JackJumpers remained in contention, but could not quite bridge the gap. When Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright picked the pocket of American Tyger Campbell for a steal and easy lay-up, the margin was back out to 12 points with five minutes remaining. Tasmania closed within single figures, but a dagger three from Jackson-Cartwright with 1m 40s on the clock finally gave his team some comfort, before he found Lopez for the cherry on top beyond the arc. Jackson-Cartwright amassed 16 points and 12 assists, while Brockington finished with a game-high 22 points. American forward Bryce Hamilton led Tasmania with 21 points. The Breakers travel to South East Melbourne Phoenix next Saturday.

Liam Lawson will start down the grid at the season finale at Abu Dhabi PHOTO: VISA CASH APP RACING BULLS New Zealand driver Liam Lawson will start Formula One's season finale at Abu Dhabi from 13th on the grid Lawson, 23 had his seat confirmed at Racing Bulls this week for next season was just 0.043s away from making the final qualifying session. LATEST HEADLINES: Hillier challenges, Fox off West Indies salvage a draw Paul Coll into HK semifinals Hayden Paddon WRC return NZ in Group G World Cup “It’s frustrating,” explained Lawson after qualifying. “We had a very quick car, and I think we played it a bit too conservative. “We took three sets [of tyres] in Q1, which we didn’t need to do. It’s hurt us, we missed Q3 by such a small margin. “But it’s something we’ll learn from, and I’ll learn from heading into next year. “We knew it was going to be tight. We were concerned a bit, but after missing FP1 yesterday, a lot of our data was from FP2, which was the first session in the car for me. “Maybe we just overreacted a little bit, the first part of quali we were comfortably through Q1, and then just missed Q3.” In the race for the world title, Max Verstappen is on pole ahead of favourite, McLaren’s Lando Norris with previous frontrunner, Oscar Piastri third.

Ryan Fox started badly in the third round of the Australian Open but recovered well PHOTO: AUSTRALIAN OPEN Daniel Hillier remains in touch with the leaders after the third round of the Australian Open at the Royal Melbourne Golf Course. Hillier had a four-under round to be tied sixth alongside Aussies Min-Woo Lee and Adam Scott at 10-under overall. LATEST HEADLINES: West Indies salvage a draw Paul Coll into HK semifinals Hayden Paddon WRC return NZ in Group G World Cup Fox, Hillier top-10 Australia The Kiwi had a birdy on the sixth but then a double bogey on the seven before a string of birdies from the 11 to 14th holes plus one at the 18th. Ryan Fox had a disaster of a start to his round with four bogeys between the second and fifth holes. He came back to card a par round with birdies on the seventh and eighth and 14th and 15th holes to be six-under overall and tied 15th. NIcke Voke and Tyler Hodge are two-under and tied 41st while Kerry Mountcastle is on par and tied 53rd. Leading the tournament is Dane Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen at 14-under after a second consecutive 66. He's two shots ahead of a trio at 12-under. Rory McIlroy is tied 24th at five-under. The leading three players not already exempt who make the cut in the Crown Australian Open will qualify for The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.

Justin Greaves helped save the first test for the West Indies with a double century PHOTO: ICC A belligerent double-century from Justin Greaves has led the West indies to a historic draw in the first test against the Black Caps at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. It was a fourth-innings fight back of major proportions as they almost chased down 531 to win. LATEST HEADLINES: Paul Coll into HK semifinals Hayden Paddon WRC return NZ in Group G World Cup Fox, Hillier top-10 Australia Football Ferns host qualifiers The eventually fell 74 of victory, but that wasn't necessarily the target. They fought to a total of 457-6 and saved the game from what looked like certain defeat. Greaves eventually scored 202 from 388 balls in a marathon innings, backed up by Shai Hopes' 140 and Kemar Roach's unbeaten 58 against a depleted attack. Both Nathan Smith and Matt Henry were unable to bowl for New Zealand on the final day, leaving Jacob Duffy, Michael Bracewell and Zak Foulkes to do the hard work along with Rachin Ravindra. . Hope's century came to an end at 140, with wicketkeeper and captain Tom Latham taking a brilliant catch from the bowling of Foulks, which made the West Indies hopes look dire. . After the dismisal of Tevin Imlach for four Roach and Greaves delivered a partnership which frustrated the home side. The second test of the three-matvch series is at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday.