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Phoenix Karaka (left) and Michaela Sokoich-Beatson after winning the 2024 ANZ Premiership trophy for the Mystics PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY New rule changes for the 2025 ANZ Premiership appear to be taking netball closer to basketball this season. Netball NZ say the changes are designed to elevate the experience for players, coaches, and fans alike. LATEST HEADLINES: Fox takes net title at Florida tournament Close wins for Saints, Hawks, Sharks, Whai Austin Bautista leads NZ PGA by two shots Paul Coll starts NZ Open title chase with win Royal Wellington to host WAAP tournament NNZ CEO, Jennie Wyllie, said the changes reflect a commitment to innovation and fan engagement. We are always looking for ways to evolve the ANZ Premiership and ensure it remains a world-class competition. “The introduction of the two-point shot in particular is a significant move that we believe will bring an added layer of excitement and drama to matches, encouraging teams to take on the challenge of a long-range shot”, she said. “The ANZ Premiership has always been a showcase for high-performance netball, and these adjustments are about evolving with the sport while preserving its fundamental principles,” Wyllie said. “We’ve listened to our fans, players, coaches, and officials, and we are confident these changes will create a dynamic and engaging competition in 2025.” The four key main changes this season are: 1. Two-Point Shot – In an exciting new development, a two-point shot will be introduced in the final five minutes of each quarter, rewarding long-range shooting and adding a thrilling dimension to the competition. 2. Coach’s Box – Head coaches will now be permitted in a designated space in front of their team’s bench, allowing for more direct engagement and strategic communication with their players. 3. Team Timeouts – Each team will have the opportunity to call one timeout per half, providing a valuable moment to reset, strategise, and adjust tactics during the game. 4. Live Umpire Audio – Umpires will wear microphones with live audio broadcast in the stadium, offering fans greater insight into officiating decisions and improving clarity. “We are excited to see how teams and players adapt to these changes and how they influence the style of play.” These rule innovations will add to the excitement of the league, providing new tactical elements for teams and creating an even more compelling experience for fans”, said Wyllie. In 2024 the Northern Mystics defended their title with a 54-53 win over the Central Pulse.

Maddy Green scored a century for the White Ferns in their win over Sri Lanka PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The White Ferns have eased to a 78-run win over Sri Lanka in the second One Day Internationa in Nelson. Winning the toss and batting first the home side scored 245-7 highlighted by Maddy Green making 100 from 109 balls after coming in when the score was 46-3. LATEST HEADLINES: Big changes to ANZ Premiership netball Fox takes net title at Florida tournament Close wins for Saints, Hawks, Sharks, Whai Austin Bautista leads NZ PGA by two shots Paul Coll starts NZ Open title chase with win Jess Kerr made 38 and wicketkeeper Polly Inglis 34 down the order with Georgia Plimmer 28 opening the innings alongside Suzie Bates (4). Chamari Athapathhu was the best of the visiting bolwers taking 2-42 from her 10 overs. At bat only Harshitha Smarawickrama troubled the New Zealand bowlers scoring 59 off 77 balls, while the next best was Kavisha Dilhari with 25. Hannah Rowe took 4-31, Eden Carson 2-30 and Bree Illing 2-45 in the wickets, while Jess Kerr conceded just 23 runs from her 10 overs. After the first match in Napier was washed out, Sri Lanka need to win in Napier in th ethird and final game to save the series.

Lauren Down in action for the Auckland Hearts, but is now injured for the White Ferns PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY White Ferns batter Lauren Down has been ruled out of the ODI series against Sri Lanka with a back injury and will be replaced by Canterbury Magicians Izzy Sharp. Down sustained the injury on the morning of the first game in Napier on Tuesday and has not recovered in time to play a part in the remaining two matches, scheduled for Saxton Oval in Nelson this Friday and Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES: Bulls, Whai, Airs win NBL preseason games Seven NBL teams make more import moves Miles Pearce to coach NBL's Indian Panthers Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final Super Rugby Pacific Round 4 teams named Sharp was originally selected for the upcoming T20I series only, but the uncapped 20-year-old will now join the ODI squad in Nelson. White Ferns coach Ben Sawyer said the team was feeling for Down. “We’re all really disappointed for Lauren to be ruled out of the series,” he said. “Unfortunately injuries are part of the game we wish her a speedy recovery. “It does provide an exciting opportunity for Izzy to join the group in Nelson for these last two matches and we’re looking forward to welcoming her," said Sawyer. He also confirmed that Otago Sparks pace-bowler Emma Black would join the squad on Saturday as cover for Hannah Rowe who will miss the final game of the series to be the maid of honour at the wedding of her Central Hinds teammate Mikaela Greig. Auckland bowler Molly Penfoldhad earlier been ruled out with injury. White Ferns ODI Squad: Suzie Bates (c) - Otago Sparks Eden Carson - Otago Sparks Izzy Gaze – Auckland Hearts Maddy Green - Auckland Hearts Brooke Halliday - Auckland Hearts Bree Illing - Auckland Hearts Polly Inglis - Otago Sparks Fran Jonas – Auckland Hearts Jess Kerr - Wellington Blaze Emma McLeod - Central Hinds Georgia Plimmer - Wellington Blaze Hannah Rowe - Central Hinds Izzy Sharp* - Canterbury Magicians Emma Black* – Otago Sparks (game 3 only) *uncapped

Paul Coll in action at the NZ Squash Open in Christchurch PHOTO: NZ OPEN SUPPLIED Kiwi squash pro Paul Coll has started his New Zealand Open title defence with a dominant 3-0 victory over Japan's Ryunosuke Tsukue at the Isaac Theatre Royal in Christchurch. World No.4 was in top form as he took on Tsukue in front of a loud home crowd which included 50 friends and family who travelled from the West Coast to support him. LATEST HEADLINES: Royal Wellington to host WAAP tournament Tom Bruce blasts triple-century for Central Down ruled out of White Ferns with injury Bulls, Whai, Airs win NBL preseason games Seven NBL teams make more import moves Coll showed great variety in his shot selection, taking his opportunities at the front as he shut down the attacking flair of Tsukue. After winning the first game 11-3, Coll made Tsukue cover plenty of the court in the second, lifting the ball well into the back corners and seizing any opportunity to hit a winner. Coll’s patience and tactics saw him take the third game 11-6 for a comfortable 3-0 win in 25 minutes 11-3, 11-6, 11-6. “I’m very happy with my first performance. It was an amazing intro that I got from the crowd, so I was just out there trying to enjoy it. I played my shots and felt pretty relaxed and I’m very happy with how that went,” he said afterwards. Coll will take on France’s Sébastien Bonmalais in his quarter-final at 6pm tomorrow. Earlier in the day 18-year-old local Wellington wildcard Oliver Dunbar’s dream run ended at the hands of third seed Eain Yow Ng of Malaysia. Dunbar had earlier upset Rui Soares in the tournament, a player 200 places above him in teh rankings. The crowd dared to dream as Dunbar took the opening point today after a testing first rally. Dunbar matched Ng well during the opening spell and earned a narrow 4-3 lead before the Malaysian opened up the court, putting some brutal rallies into the teen’s legs as the No.3 seed scored eight points in a row to take game one. Ng picked up where he left off in game two and three, with the Malaysian No.1 pulling away to wrap up the win.

Ryan Fox and former PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne III won the net at the exclusive Seminole Pro-Member. PHOTO: PGA TOUR New Zealand golfer Ryan Fox and playing partner Jimmy Dunne III almost completed a clean sweep at the 2025 Seminole Pro-Member. Fox and Dunne, the Seminole Golf Club president and former PGA Tour board member, lost to Billy Horschel and Bill Davis via a scorecard playoff in the gross competition after both teams carded 64. LATEST HEADLINES: Close wins for Saints, Hawks, Sharks, Whai Austin Bautista leads NZ PGA by two shots Paul Coll starts NZ Open title chase with win Royal Wellington to host WAAP tournament Tom Bruce blasts triple-century for Central However, Fox and Dunne - who played a key role in the 2023 PGA Tour-PIF merger framework - reigned supreme in the net leaderboard, with their score adjusted to 61, one stroke clear of Corey Conners and Peter Broome. The exclusive one-day tournament at Juno Beach, Florida, which features 94 pairs of professional golfers and influential members playing a better-ball format, is played every year on a Monday during the PGA Tour's Florida swing. Elsewhere in the gross section, five teams finished in a tie for third on 66, including 2023 champions Justin Thomas and Mike Walrath, Collin Morikawa and David Novak, Kevin Kisner and Peer Pedersen, Ben An and Bret Baier, plus Conners and Broome. Rory McIlroy and his father Gerry ended among the group on 68 and tied for 13th, with Ernie Els/Alan Fadel and Keegan Bradley/Shane Battier for company. Tiger Woods and former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh did not manage to finish inside the top-39 teams in gross, although the pair were listed among the cluster of duos in a share of 26th in the net results. Meanwhile, Kazuma Kobori is tied for 73rd at even-par after the opening round of the DP World Tour's Joburg Open. Kobori produced five birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey at the Houghton Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday (Friday NZT) to trail the co-leaders Wenyi Ding and Jordan Smith by seven strokes. At the Blue Bay LPGA tournament in Hainan, China, Kiwi Fiona Xu was tied for 62nd after the first round on Thursday. Xu managed three birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey in a two-over 73 to trail by six shots.

The Hawke's Bay Hawks have won two straight at the NBL's Westside Blitz. PHOTO: NBL After early blowouts, the National Basketball League's Westside Blitz preseason tournament finally produced some close games. The Tauranga Whai and Hawke's Bay Hawks made it two-from-two, while the Wellington Saints and Southland Sharks picked up their first wins in Greymouth and Westport on Thursday night. LATEST HEADLINES: Austin Bautista leads NZ PGA by two shots Paul Coll starts NZ Open title chase with win Royal Wellington to host WAAP tournament Tom Bruce blasts triple-century for Central Down ruled out of White Ferns with injury Junior Tall Black and recent Tall Blacks call-up Jackson Ball had the standout performance of day three, going for 29 points in the Hawks' 98-89 win over the two-time defending champion Canterbury Rams . Ball went 8-of-11 from the floor, 5-of-8 on three-point attempts and 8-of-10 at the foul-line, adding five assists and two steals. He was supported by 19 points from Jacob Murphy and Campbell Scott, while their sole import Darnell Cowart put up 10 points, four boards and four assists. The Rams, without Taylor Britt and their three imports, had four players in double-digits, led by NZ Breakers development player Max Darling with 15 points (6/13 FG, 3/8 3pt), nine rebounds, four assists and two steals. A second-half fightback earned the Whai a 71-69 win over the Nelson Giants , with Carter Hopoi scoring a team-high 19 points (8/14 FG, 2/7 3pt) to go with three blocks. American guard Chris Jones had 17 points (7/11 FG), five boards, five assists and three steals, one-time Tall Black Kruz Perrott-Hunt 16 points (5/10 FG, 3/4 3pt) and Australian forward Sean Bairstow also had 11 points. American forward Brice Johnson led the G-Men with 15 points (7/10 FG) and six rebounds, while Junior Tall Black Hayden Jones finished with 13 points (5/12 FG) and eight boards. The Southland Sharks got the first look at their import trio and must have been pleased after their 80-74 win over the Taranaki Airs . Caleb Asberry (22 points, six boards, four assists, two steals), Josiah Allick (22 points, 14 rebounds) and Keylan Boone (17 points, eight boards, four steals, two blocks) combined for more than three-quarters of the Sharks points. American guard Armon Fletcher and NZ Breakers development player Carlin Davison led the Airs with 17 points, with Davison adding eight boards and six assists. Dom Kelman-Poto and Jack Andrew each had 15 points, with Andrew pulling in 12 rebounds. Likewise, American big man Nick Muszynski was a key figure in his first game in the Saints' 87-82 win over the Auckland Tuatara . Muszynski put up 17 points (7/12 FG), eight rebounds and three blocks for the Saints, who also had local products Troy Plumtree (14 points, eight boards, four assists), Kazlo Evans Jr (13 points, five boards, six assists) and Arthur Pilcher (12 points, five boards, five assists) score in double-digits. Import guard Buay Tuach made a big impression for the Tuatara, with a game-high 25 points (10/19 FG), five rebounds, five assists and three steals. Dylan Wilkie also had 14 points off the bench and Josh Leger 12 rebounds.

Jimmy Neesham hit an explosive century for the Auckland Aces to reach the Ford Trophy final PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Former Black Cap Jimmy Neesham found the right time to produce his first Ford Trophy century for the Auckland Aces, He scored 128 off only 82 balls in the Aces’ 91-run Elimination Final win over the Central Stags. LATEST HEADLINES: Phoenix sink to Melbourne City Highlanders beat Moana Pasifika Ko challenges for title in Singapore Koh NZ Open, Geary, Hendry 7th Black Sticks semis FIH Nations Cup Neesham previously had two tons for the Wellington Firebirds in his lengthy career, and his maiden Aces ton was also a new List A career best — overtaking his unbeaten 120* for the capital in 2018/19, and leaving his 2024/25 season best of 69 far behind. After the Aces had been sent in by Central Stags captain Jayden Lennox, Neesham and Bevon Jacobs found themselves together in the middle of a sunny University of Otago Oval with both batters yet to get off the mark, at 50/4 after 12 overs. The pair remained together for the next 19 and a half overs, rescuing the Aces’ innings with a 145-run fifth wicket stand which was a new Auckland record for the wicket in their one-day matches against the Central Stags. Neesham was the chief destroyer of the Stags’ hopes of making Sunday’s Grand Final, pummelling eight hard hit sixes alongside his dozen boundaries. His knock got off to an explosive start, and he reached 50 off just 30 balls before resetting himself through a Stags mini-fightback and going on to three figures off just 66 balls. The Stags had fought hard for early wickets, right-arm paceman Brett Randell (4/49) impressing in his opening spell of six overs, from which he returned 2/14 — including the big wicket of Aces captain and dangerman Finn Allen whom he bowled on 13. But Neesham was waiting in the wings and, after three wickets had fallen in the space of four overs before first drinks, seized his opportunity to take control of the meat of the innings. Jacobs did not look quite as omnipotent at the crease, but slowly gained traction and momentum to finish with a handy 51 off 66 balls. The Stags came back at the Aces with wickets, and for a time looked on to stop their opponent from reaching 300 on a belter of a pitch. But 19-year-old Lachie Stackpole, the Aces rookie with a previous best of 22 in this format, had other ideas, coming in at eight to smash a quick maiden half century with three sixes included in his 36-ball 50, before he was run out in a muddle. Chasing the Aces’ 327/9, the Stags needed almost seven runs an over from the outset. Tom Bruce (37) planted leg-spinner Adi Ashok onto the roof of the Otago Daily Times Stand, but his wicket at 130/4 in the 24th over - left-arm paceman Ben Lister snaffling a good return catch, was hot on the heels of Jack Boyle’s dismissal to Ashok and arrested Central’s early momentum. Neesham had meanwhile already picked off both openers, continuing a good all-round day to finish with 3/53 with the ball while Ashok picked up 3/55. The Stags ran out of wickets in a tough chase despite a fighting unbeaten 69* from youngster Curtis Heaphy who will finish as one of the competition's top reun-scorers this season. Central was all out for 236 in the 44th over and Sunday’s Grand Final in Dunedin.

Australian Austin Bautista leads the NZ PGA Championship after the opening round. PHOTO: PGA TOUR OF AUSTRALASIA A lesson in wedge-game wizardry from former world No 16 Nick O’Hern has propelled Austin Bautista to a two-shot lead on day one of the New Zealand PGA Championship. The immaculately presented Hastings Golf Club was buffeted by wind and showers on a cool Thursday in Bridge Pa, yet Bautista got off to a hot start with a seven-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead. LATEST HEADLINES: Royal Wellington to host WAAP tournament Tom Bruce blasts triple-century for Central Down ruled out of White Ferns with injury Bulls, Whai, Airs win NBL preseason games Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit hopeful Anthony Quayle continued his run of good form with a five-under 67 to sit in second spot alongside 16-year-old NZ amateur champion Cooper Moore, fellow New Zealander Chang Gi Lee and Australians Andrew Evans and Kyle Michel. Three-under through five holes with four birdies and his only bogey of the day, two-time PGA Tour of Australasia winner Bautista birdied three of the four par-threes, his best coming at the 179-metre eighth when he hit six iron directly into the teeth of the wind to 15 feet. The New South Welshman shot three-under on the back-nine with birdies at the 11th, 12th and 16th, revealing that a pro-am pairing with O’Hern at the Vic Open highlighted the area of his game that needed extra attention. “He said he was rusty, but he was putting his wedges inside of mine consistently from 100 (metres) in,” said Bautista.“I can admit it when I need to get better in an area, so I asked him what I needed to work on. “He very generously gave me a call to really hone in on improving that area from 125 and in. And it was night and day. I immediately saw improvement and immediately saw how to practice the correct way. “Nick said, ‘If you’re going to beat the best, you need to be world-class in this area’. He really helped me in what I need to work on so I can consistently put the ball close to the hole with the scoring clubs.” With five top-five finishes this season, Quayle is again poised to add to his wins at the 2020 Queensland Open and 2022 Queensland PGA. He shot five-under in the morning wave and was joined late by Evans, Moore and Michel two shots off the lead. New Zealand amateur Cooper Moore is two shots back after the first round of the NZ PGA Championship. PHOTO: NZ OPEN Hailing from Christchurch, Moore continues to impress. Second at The R&A Junior Open in Scotland last July, Moore only just missed the cut in his New Zealand Open debut a week ago and closed with three birdies in his final five holes on Thursday to sit two back of Bautista. Moore became the second-youngest winner in NZ Amateur history last November. The youngest, Queenslander and 2023 NZ PGA champion Louis Dobbelaar, is one of six players at four-under par. Lee made seven birdies and two bogeys, including three birdies on a bogey-free front-nine and three birdies in a four-hole stretch on the back-nine. The group at four-under also includes Kiwis Mark Brown and Cameron Harlock. Veteran Brown had five birdies and a bogey, while Harlock went bogey-free, with all his birdies coming on the back-nine.

The picturesque Royal Wellington course in Upper Hutt, with the Hutt River running alongside it. PHOTO: GOLF NZ The R&A and the Asia-Pacific Golf Confederation (APGC) have announced that the eighth edition of the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific (WAAP) championship will be held at Royal Wellington in New Zealand from February 12-15, 2026. This will be the first time New Zealand has hosted the championship, which aims to inspire future generations of women golfers and has evolved into the preeminent women’s amateur championship in the Asia-Pacific region. LATEST HEADLINES: Tom Bruce blasts triple-century for Central Down ruled out of White Ferns with injury Bulls, Whai, Airs win NBL preseason games Seven NBL teams make more import moves Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final Each year, the WAAP provides the champion with life-changing opportunities through exemptions into three women’s major championships and elite amateur championships.  The winner will be invited to compete in the Women’s Open, the Chevron Championship and Evian Championship. In addition, they will be invited to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and the Hana Financial Group Championship. Mark Darbon, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “We are delighted to bring the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to New Zealand for the first time," said R&A chief executive Mark Darbon. "With the region’s best women amateurs competing for major opportunities, Royal Wellington, which has already hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, will be an outstanding golf course to test their skill and truly let their talent shine through.” First established in 1895 and situated alongside the Hutt River in Upper Hutt, north of the nation's capital, Royal Wellington is well-renowned as a parkland layout and is one of the premier courses in New Zealand. "Golf New Zealand is incredibly proud to welcome the 2026 Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific championship to Royal Wellington Golf Club," said Jeff Latch, Golf New Zealand CEO. Royal Wellington has hosted the New Zealand Open on seven occasions, including in 1976 when local Steve Williams caddied in his first significant tournament for five-time champion golfer Peter Thomson. More recently, the course hosted the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship won by China’s Yuxin Lin in 2017.   “The hosting of this championship is both a privilege and an opportunity - not only for us, but for all of New Zealand," Royal Wellington club captain Mike O'Neill and women's captain Jane Paterson said in a statement. "This is our chance to see the best young women amateur golfers from the Asia-Pacific region playing in our own backyard. We look forward to sharing our club and our region with the competitors, their friends and family, and all who visit the club during the championship.” The WAAP was developed by The R&A and the APGC to unearth emerging talent and provide a route for Asia’s elite women amateurs to the international stage.

Tom Bruce (pictured) in CD colours has hit the third-highest domestic first class score PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER/LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY Central Districts captain Tom Bruce has posted the third-highest score in domestic first-class cricket, scoring 345 against Auckland at Eden Park. Bruce's first triple-century is the highest first-class score in New Zealand since December 1952, when the late great Bert Sutcliffe produced his national record of 385, while opening the batting for Otago. LATEST HEADLINES: Down ruled out of White Ferns with injury Bulls, Whai, Airs win NBL preseason games Seven NBL teams make more import moves Miles Pearce to coach NBL's Indian Panthers Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final Sutcliffe is the only person to score more runs than Bruce in a first-class innings in New Zealand - including Test cricket - and he did that twice, also scoring 355 in the Plunket Shield in December 1950 against Auckland. Resuming on his overnight score of 212 not out, Bruce went past Peter Ingram's Central Stags landmark of 247 to become his team's individual recordholder. He also shared consecutive Central Stags record stands over the course of his innings. On Wednesday, his 292 with Dane Cleaver (115) broke the fourth-wicket partnership record of 276, previously held by Martin Crowe and Scott Briasco. A fifth-wicket record followed on Thursday, when Bruce and Josh Clarkson, who reached a career-best 166 not out, compiled 303 together. The previous mark stood at 301, set by Ross Taylor and Jarrod Englefield in 2004/05. When Bruce eventually feathered an attempted sweep to wicketkeeper Cam Fletcher, off spinner Louis Delport, at 670/5, a remarkable innings came to a close and his Auckland Aces opponents ran after him to congratulate him, before he left the field to a standing ovation from those few who witnessed it. His knock spanned almost nine-and-a-half hours and came off only 401 balls. Bruce declared at 700/5 in the middle session - a record team total for the Central Stags and the fifth highest total in all first-class games (including Tests) on New Zealand soil. Highest first-class scores in NZ men's domestic cricket: 385 Bert Sutcliffe for Otago, 1952/53 355 Bert Sutcliffe for Otago, 1949/50 345 Tom Bruce for Central Stags, 2024/25 338* Roger Blunt for Otago, 1931/32 334 Dean Brownlie for Northern Districts, 2014/15 327* Devon Conway for Wellington Firebirds, 2019/20 316* Michael Papps for Wellington Firebirds, 2017/18 301* Peter Fulton for Canterbury, 2002/03

Lulu Sun won a difficult first round at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells tournament. PHOTO: WTA Despite a tough draw, New Zealand tennis player Lulu Sun has advanced to the second round at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells tournament. Sun, the world No 49, defeated Slovakian Rebecca Sramkova, a player ranked 12 places higher, 6-3 1-6 7-6(2) in Palm Springs, California for just her second win of 2025 on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time). LATEST HEADLINES: Black Caps beat South Africa reach final Super Rugby Pacific round four teams Rams, Hawks pick up preseaosn wins Dunbar upsets, King beaten at NZ Open Oliver brothers ready for South Africa test Sun lost to Sramkova 6-3 6-1 in the WTA tournament in Merida, Mexico just over a week ago but this time came through the winner in 2 hours 7 minutes, setting up a second-round match against Czech Linda Noskova. Sun, 23, had just one previous win in 2025 in her eight tournaments. In doubles, Kiwi-Canadian Erin Routliffe and Canadian Gaby Dabrowski were second seeds but have drawn against the difficult pair of Leylah Fernandez (Canada) and Luisa Stefani (Brazil). The men's doubles draw featuring Michael Venus has yet to be released.

Halasiale Maile at the free-throw line for the Franklin Bulls at the Westside Blitz. PHOTO: NBL The Franklin Bulls, Tauranga Whai and Taranaki Airs picked up victories on day two of the National Basketball League's Westside Blitz preseason tournament. The Bulls rebounded from a day one loss with a 77-60 win over the Nelson Giants, the Whai handed the Manawatu Jets their second loss 109-81 and the Airs topped the Otago Nuggets 86-74 on Wednesday on the West Coast. LATEST HEADLINES: Seven NBL teams make more import moves Miles Pearce to coach NBL's Indian Panthers Black Caps defeat South Africa to reach final Difficult Indian Wells draw for NZ's Lulu Sun Super Rugby Pacific Round 4 teams named Following a 98-86 loss to the Hawke's Bay Hawks on Tuesday, the Bulls got strong performances from their imports, German Till Gloger and American Tae Hardy to win a defensive early game in Westport. Gloger top-scored with 18 points (8/11 FG), adding seven rebounds and two steals, while Hardy managed 14 points (7/13 FG), four boards, three assists and three steals and Tobias Cameron 17 points (7/10 FG) and six rebounds. Teen Hayden Jones, the son of Tall Blacks legend and now Giants assistant coach Phill Jones, led Nelson with 15 points (4/9 FG, 2/3 3pt, 5/6 FT), four boards and three assists, with Sam Dempster putting up 14 points (5/11 FG, 2/7 3pt). In the nightcap in Westport, the Whai had six players score in double-digits as big opening and third periods put the game away early. Former Tall Blacks guard Kruz Perrott-Hunt led the way with 19 points (8/13 FG, 2/5 3pt), while imports, Sean Bairstow (18 points and eight rebounds) and Chris Jones (16 points, four boards, four assists and three steals) also thrived. Tyson Thata had a game-high 25 points (8/15 FG, 4/8 3pt, 5/5 FT) for the Jets, while import guard Miles Gibson put up 17 points (7/16 FG), four boards, four assists and two steals, and Tinashe Matambanadzo 12 points and five rebounds. Big first and second quarters saw the Airs open up a 22-point lead over the Nuggets at the main break in Greymouth. They cruised from there, with Jack Exeter top-scoring with 18 points (6/9 FG, 5/6 FT), four boards and three assists, while NZ Breakers development player Carlin Davison going for 16 points, seven rebounds and three steals and Jack Andrew for 15 points and seven boards against his former team. American guard Jose Perez led the Nuggets with 27 points (10/18 FG, 6/13 FT) and seven rebounds, while Patrick Freeman was the only other double-digit scorer, with 20 points (7/18 FG, 3/10 3pt), six boards and two steals.