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Bennett Greenough flies high at the UCI BMX Racing Oceania Championships in New Plymouth. PHOTO: COLE MCCONIE/CYCLING NZ Two New Zealand elite BMX Racing riders will carry the title of Oceania Champion on to the UCI world circuit after winning their respective titles in New Plymouth at the weekend. Paris Olympian Leila Walker, a teen for another month, and fellow Cambridge rider Bennett Greenough won their respective elite titles at the championships, both dominating when it counted. LATEST HEADLINES: Phoenix women beaten by Roar Central Stags Super Smash title Wollaston wins agin in Victoria Blaze take Super Smash title Ko ready for final day challenge With a dearth of elite male entries, the title was decided on points over three motos, with Greenough winning all three of his motos. The Cambridge rider saved his best for last with a commanding effort to claim the title over Australians Jesse Asmus and Oliver Moran. “I am pretty stoked. I have had a big off-season as I have not raced internationally since May last year so it was good to be back racing with the lads,” said Greenough. “I took things lap by lap , and strung things together. I could see the benefits of the work in the off-season and happy with how things went and looking forward to the season.” France-based kiwi professional Michael Bias finished fourth, with his title hopes dashed in the opening moto when he was speared wide off the track, recovering to finish in last spot. Meanwhile Walker, who produced an outstanding Olympic debut to make the semifinals, enjoyed two wins and a second in her motos, but stamped her class in the final, grabbing the holeshot out of the gate and dominating from the front. “The day was competitive, mixed in with the under-23s and elites, with some young and developing girls from Australia,” said Walker. “I was super happy to come out on top with some strong, tight racing amongst the girls.” It was double celebration in the Greenough household, with 17-year-old Lily Greenough, a junior world championship medallist last year, finishing runner up to Walker in the final, with the field comprising elite and junior riders. She held her own to grab a moto win with a third and fourth before an impressive final, edging out Rotorua’s Megan Williams and winning the junior honours. However the title honours were shared with a large Australian contingent, with South Australian Joel Marsh claiming the honours in the under-23, picking up two wins in his motos, second in the semifinal but producing the goods in the final to edge out compatriots Jordan Callum and Joshua Jolly in a photo-finish. Queensland’s Isabella Schramm edged out Te Awamutu rider Brook Penny by the slimmest of margins to win the under-23 honours. They shared the spoils in the motos and in the combined final, Schramm pipped Penny by 3/100th of a second to earn the title. Sydneysider AJ Donald was the class of the junior racing, unbeaten throughout the day over three motos, semifinal and final despite a tight battle with fellow Australian Preston Murray. The Oceania Championships, staged by BMX New Zealand, and hosted by the New Plymouth BMX Club, attracted over 500 event entries from elite to age groups, with strong racing in excellent conditions at the Bell Block facility

A win for the Breakers over bottom-placed Cairns Taipans PHOTO: NZ BREAKERS SUPPLIED/GETTY IMAGES The Breakers put on a comprehensive offensive performance to overpower Cairns Taipans 99-92 at Spark Arena in the battle of the bottom teams. It was their third win over the hapless Cairns side this season. LATEST HEADLINES: Canterbury dominate ND make final Another late win for Auckland FC Kerr takes Blaze to final v Sparks Lydia Ko moves into title contention Otago Sparks ready Super Smash final With Parker Jackson-Cartwright sidelined through injury and Max Darling ruled out with illness, Matt Mooney led the charge with a team-high 24 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while also dishing out eight assists and grabbing three steals. Mooney’s perimeter accuracy (3-of-5 from deep) and composure at the line (7-of-8 FT) were crucial in holding off a fast-finishing Taipans unit. Mojave King added 16 points, including a pair of three-pointers, while Tacko Fall imposed himself inside with 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, hauling down nine rebounds in 15 minutes on court. The hosts shot an impressive 61% from the field and 47% from beyond the arc, executing efficiently throughout the game. Bench production was another key factor, with Sam Mennenga (10 points, eight rebounds) and Sean Bairstow (six points, two assists) providing valuable contributions. The Breakers’ biggest lead stretched to 21 points, but a late surge from the visitors saw them close the gap. A crucial defensive stand in the final minutes, anchored by Jonah Bolden (nine rebounds), ensured New Zealand maintained control to seal the win. Head coach Petteri Koponen applauded his side’s performance in front of a vocal home crowd. The Breakers return to Spark Arena for their final game of the season on Wednesday night when they host the table-topping Illawarra Hawks.

Sorry sight to the final round of regular season play in Super Smash at the Basin Reserve. PHOTO: DAVE LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The Women's Super Smash top-three have been confirmed following a wash-out in the final regular-season match at the Basin Reserve. The Wellington Blaze will host the Northern Brave in the elimination final to determine who faces the Otago Sparks in the grand final. LATEST HEADLINES: Trans-Tasman bowls challenge Strong challenge to NZ BMX riders Ally Wollaston sprtnts to victory Hearts beat Hinds, Stags beat Aces Loses continue for tennis pro Lulu Sun The final men's match has also been abandoned, meaning the top of the table remained the same. The Canterbury Kings, runners-up for the past three years and without the T20 title for 19 years, took third place on net run-rate over the Wellington Firebirds. The Kings will clash with Northern Districts in the elimination final on Saturday for the right to face Central Districts in the decider.

New Zealand's Paul Coll (white shirt) was beaten in the semifinals of the PSA World Tour event in New York. PHOTO: PSA WORLD TOUR New Zealand’s Paul Coll has been beaten by world No 1 Ali Farag of Egypt at the 2025 Tournament of Champions in Grand Central Station, New York. Farag a winner of the tournament in 2019, 2022, and 2024 was too strong in his semifinal match against Coll on Wednesday, winning 11-8, 11-7, 11-7 in just 46 minutes. LATEST HEADLINES: Super Smash finalists confirmed Trans-Tasman bowls challenge Strong challenge to NZ BMX riders Ally Wollaston sprtnts to victory Hearts beat Hinds, Stags beat Aces Coll was unable to hold off a clinical Farag who dominated the ’T’ in the opening game, stepping up the court and controlling the pace of rallies. Ranked fourth in the world Coll competed in the middle states of the set but Farag upped the tempo to wrap it up in 16 minutes. Farag was too quick again in the second set building to 7-7 to win four straight points to finish the set. Farag continued to play near perfect squash as the match entered the third, with Coll doing all within his power to stay in touching distance. However, Egyptian once again played his best squash when the pressure mounted, taking the match when Coll clipped the tin with a backhand unforced error.

Lydia Ko is playing her first LPGA tournament of the year PHOTO: LPGA Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko completed her the opening round of the LPGA Tournament of Champions eight shots off the lead in Orlando, Florida. Twenty-seven-year-old Ko carded a one-over-par 73, ending with a bogey to drop her down the leaderboard to 28th equal. LATEST HEADLINES: Duffy called into Black Caps squad Pro cycling aspirations for Kim Cadzow Kazuma Kobori top-10 DP World Tour Lisa Carrington sets sights on LA2028 Paul Coll beaten in New York semifinals The New Zealander, in her first start for the year, parred the first six holes, before birdying the seventh. It was tougher on the last nine, with three bogeys to go with one birdie on the 15th hole. South Korean A Lim Kim hit seven birdies in her 7-under par round of 65 to lead by four strokes after the first round. Patty Tavatanakit from Thailand, Jin Young Ko from South Korea, and Leona Maguire from Ireland, were in joint second place. Ko has won three Majors, including the British Open last year as well as the Evian Championship in 2015 and Chevron Championship a year later.

Louis Verstraete scores the late winner for Auckland FC against Macarthu PHOTO: A-LEAGUE Another game, another late winner for Auckland FC as they beat Macarthur 2-1 on a hot afternoon at Mt Smart. The home side now move five points clear at the top of the A-League after a late winner from Louis Verstraete earned them the victory over Macarthur Bulls. LATEST HEADLINES: Kerr takes Blaze to final v Sparks Lydia Ko moves into title contention Otago Sparks ready Super Smash final Duffy called into Black Caps squad Pro cycling aspirations for Kim Cadzow A lively start saw the Auckland score the opening goal in just the 10th minute as Neyder Moreno dabbed home Max Mata’s flick-on to score his fifth goal of the season. Macarthur restored parity in the 19th minute when midfielder Jake Hollman converted from close range after goalkeeper Alex Paulsen could only parry a Valere Germain headed effort. Both sides had good chances to re-take the lead but it was the home side who eventually did so in the 80th minute as midfielder Verstraete headed home from a free-kick to make it 2-1. Renowned for late winners for his side, Moreno came up with the goods in just the 10th minute as he registered Auckland FC’s second-earliest goal of the campaign. A long throw into the box from Hiroki Sakai was flicked on by Mata and then prodded towards goal by Moreno, with Bulls defender Keeley Adamson unable to clear on the line. Macarthur then had claims for a penalty waved away in the 18th minute with VAR ultimately deciding there was nothing to see despite Moreno appearing to trip Chris Ikonomidis inside the box. However that decision proved to be irrelevant as the Bulls bagged the leveller less than a minute later. Running on to a whipped ball into the box, Germain’s flicked header was well saved by Paulsen at close range but there was nothing the keeper could do to prevent Hollman from slotting the rebound into the back of the net. In a further blow to the defender Nando Pijnaker was forced to leave the field after rolling his ankle in the build-up to the goal and looked to be in some pain as he hobbled around the side of the pitch.

Kyle Jamieson was one of several Canterbury Kings bowlers to destroy the ND batting lineup PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY A dominant all-international bowling attack has sent the Canterbury King to the Super Smash Grand Final after beating Northern Districts by seven wickets. Matt Henry was the epitomy of misery, his opening over to Katene Clarke, the only man to have scored a century in this season’s competition was a maiden. LATEST HEADLINES: Another late win for Auckland FC Kerr takes Blaze to final v Sparks Lydia Ko moves into title contention Otago Sparks ready Super Smash final Duffy called into Black Caps squad His second over was a wicket maiden, Clarke falling thanks to a remarkable, bobbled Daryl Mitchell catch. Henry’s third over was another wicket maiden, Robbie O’Donnell this time dismissed — caught by Matt Boyle. Henry bowled unbroken through the power play and, halfway through his last over, still hadn’t conceded a run. Brett Hampton finally hammered a single to ruin his figures, and Brave captain Jeet Raval followed suit off his last delivery of the day — the Black Cap finishing with standout figures of 4-3-2-2 in the must-win eliminator. Kyle Jamieson took 3-19 from four overs including the next three to fall, and Kings captain Cole McConchie’s decision to bowl first in the Elimination Final was looking thoroughly vindicated. Northern captain Raval scored a fighting 45 and with Hampton put together a much needed 50-run partnership for the sixth wicket that gave Raval’s side a faint semblance of hope, and against the odds they managed to bat out their 20 overs, despite the Kings’ seamers ruling the roost. But they had also had to contend with Henry Shipley putting himself on an unconverted hat-trick with the wickets of Hampton and Kristian Clarke, and Shipley finished with his own tidy haul of 3-17. The Brave had just 110/9 on the board after having been permitted to find the boundary only a dozen times, together with a Neil Wagner six that was followed swiftly by his dismissal. That meant the Kings needed less than run-a-ball in the chase, which lasted 13.1 overs, Chad Bowes finishing unbeaten on 33* off 35 balls. Kristian Clarke dismissed Matt Hay for no score, but first drop Matt Boyle’s quick 48 off 25 balls (7x4, 2x6) in his breakthrough season put the Kings well ahead of the asking rate, early. The Kings will now face the Central Stags in the men’s Grand Final tomorrow afternoon — a shot at revenge after the Stags beat the Kings in Napier during the regular season. The Stags were then in a heap of trouble against the Canterbury seam attack at Hagley Oval in match eventually washed out with no result. The Kings have made the men’s Grand Final for fifth season in a row, but have not won the national T20 title since the inaugural season 19 years ago..

Celebration time for the Wellington Blaze as they win the Super Smash title against the Otago Sparks PHOTO: LINTOTT PHOTOGRAPHY The Wellington Blaze have proved too strong for the Otago Sparks in the Super Smash Grand Final at the Basin Reserve. . The Blaze were in their eighth consecutive final for their third win overall. LATEST HEADLINES: Ko ready for final day challenge Chris Wood hat-trick as Forest win Breakers win clash of wooden spoon Canterbury dominate ND make final Another late win for Auckland FC In a low-scoring final, the Blaze batted first making just 104-8 in their 20 overs It didn't look to be a big enough score but the Sparks got away to a poor start and struggled to get partnerships working. In the end, they were still in with a chance to win during the final over, requiring 20 - and came close until the second to last ball. They finished on 96 for nine, losing by eight runs, with the Blaze erupting into celebrations, after seeing off the Northern Brave in yesterday's elimination final. Australian player Hannah Darlington was the star for the Blaze, top scoring with 26 and taking 4-16 from four overs, with her medium pacers, while countrywoman Maitlan Brown supported well with bat (24) and ball 1-28. Amelia Kerr made 15 runs at the top of the order and took two wickets at vital stages in the Sparks innings. Felicity Robertson was the best performer for the Sparks, taking 3- 16 with the ball, and being unbeaten on 29 while Suzie Bates made nine runs opening the innings. It was the final match in charge for fromer Black Cap and Sparks coach Craig Cumming after his team had been the form side of the competition.

Alyssa Whinham in action in the loss to the Brisbane Roar PHOTO: WELLINGTON PHOENIX The Wellington Phoenix women have fallen to their sixth one-goal defeat of the 2024-25 A-League. The Phoenix have been beaten 1-0 by Brisbane Roar in their round 14 match at Perry Park in Brisbane, despite having the better of much of the match. LATEST HEADLINES: Central Stags Super Smash title Wollaston wins agin in Victoria Blaze take Super Smash title Ko ready for final day challenge Chris Wood hat-trick as Forest win The Nix had the majority of possession, played the lion’s share of the game in the Roar’s half and had 22 shots to Brisbane’s seven. But Wellington couldn’t find the back of the net and conceded a contentious goal from a corner in the 62nd minute. The result means the Phoenix remain eighth and are now three points adrift of the top six. Paul Temple made one change to the XI which started last Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Central Coast with young midfielder Daisy Brazendale returning in place of English striker Olivia Fergusson. Versatile midfielder Amelia Abbott was named on the bench for the first time following her late arrival from the University of Texas. The Phoenix got off to an impressive start, dominating possession and camping themselves inside the Brisbane half. But it was the Roar who registered the first shot of the match in the ninth minute when Matildas midfielder Tameka Yallop unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the area. Fortunately for the Nix, Mackenzie Barry was on hand to smother Yallop’s effort. Yallop had Brisbane’s only other shot of the first half a handful of minutes later with an effort from wide out right, but it was comfortably claimed by Carolina Vilão in Wellington’s goal. Her opposite Olivia Sekany was the busier of the two goalkeepers but she wasn’t really tested by the Phoenix’s shots at goal. Alyssa Whinham had their best chances in the first quarter of an hour. She was well picked out at the top of the box by Manaia Elliott in the 12th minute but shot straight at Sekany and shortly after Whinham was well closed down in the Roar box after Lara Wall found her near the penalty spot. The skilful midfielder had the ball at her feet in a number of promising positions and had a further three shots before halftime. One sailed narrowly over the bar while the other two were well-held by Sekany. Grace Jale and Elliott also had opportunities to break the deadlock in the first half. Jale headed a corner narrowly wide in the 44th minute and Elliott blazed over the bar from a tight angle in stoppage time after getting in behind the Brisbane defence. The Nix had the first two shots of the second half with Jale fizzing a shot narrowly wide of the near post in the 47th minute before Whinham sliced a left-footed shot wide of goal from just outside the box. Roar teenager Grace Kuilamu fired a warning shot just inside the hour mark, striking the right-hand post with a thunderous effort from outside the box. Kuilamu put Brisbane in front soon after when she nodded home from a yard out after Vilão appeared to be fouled. Temple responded by making his first substitution, bringing on Fergusson in place of Brazendale. Vilão kept the Phoenix in the match midway through the second half, making a great reflex save to deny Yallop one-on-one. Temple made a triple-change with a quarter of an hour remaining with Emma Main, Mebae Tanaka and Amelia Abbott replacing Elliott, Whinham and Alivia Kelly respectively. Moments later Jale fired a shot narrowly wide of the left post after finding some space at the top of the box. Despite all of the Nix’s endeavour they were fortunate to not go two goals down in the 78th minute when Brisbane defender Isabela Hoyos skied her shot over the bar from six yards out following another threatening Roar corner. Wellington had a further three shots before time added on, but none were able to test Sekany in Brisbane’s goal. Annalie Longo came closest to drawing the Phoenix level, but the Roar did well to deflect her effort from the top of the box out for a corner. The Nix were unable to produce an equaliser in time added on as the Roar clung on to claim all three points. The Wellington Phoenix will return home tomorrow to prepare for Saturday’s match against high-flying Melbourne Victory at Porirua Park.

Central Districts have won the Super Smash title, beating the Canterbury Kings by six wickets at the Basin Reserve. The Kings batted first and scored 135-8 with Daryl Mitchell the top run making with 46 along with captain Cole McConchie 27. LATEST HEADLINES: Wollaston wins agin in Victoria Blaze take Super Smash title Ko ready for final day challenge Chris Wood hat-trick as Forest win Breakers win clash of wooden spoon Opener Chad Bowes made 16 while Matt Henry hit a six in his total of 12 on a sluggish pitch. Toby Findlay was the best of the CD bowlers taking 3-29 while Brett Hamption took 2-27 and there was a wicket each for Blair Tickner and Angus Schaw. In reply, CD scored 136-4 to win by six wickets in the 18th over. Black Cap Will Young opened and made 35, but it was Dane Cleaver who took the bat to the Canterbury bowlers, who had been so good the previous day but struggled in the final. Cleaver scored 43 from 34 balls, including one six and four fours. Will Clark made 17 and Tom Bruce added 14 as the unheralded CD side put away the Black Cap-laden Kings. Kyle Jamieson was the best of the Kings bowlers, with 2-24, while Henry Shipley and Will O'Rourke took one each. It was the fifth consecutive runner-up finish for Canterbury and the fourth title overall for CD.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott after winning the FIS Snowboard Slopestyle World Cup in Aspen PHOTO: FIS PARK & PIPE Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has won the FIS Snowboard Slopestyle in Aspen her third slopestyle World Cup title of her career and first since she has made her comeback from an ankle injury in 2024. The 23-year-old was thrilled to be rewarded for the hard work she had put in of late. LATEST HEADLINES: BMX racers share Oceania titles Phoenix women beaten by Roar Central Stags Super Smash title Wollaston wins agin in Victoria Blaze take Super Smash title “I definitely got a bit of confidence coming off LAAX two weeks ago and I worked so hard to get back to this level and be competing with the rest of the girls because they are pushing it so hard, I am so happy to be back.” As the top qualifier for the finals, Sadowski-Synnott earned the advantage of dropping last into each of the two finals runs. She put down a solid first run that had her sitting in the top spot, but with a couple of bobbles on the rails, and some of the top riders on the start list today, there was no guarantee it would hold. Kokomo Murase of Japan put down a strong second run, which bumped Sadowski-Synnott off the top spot, but as the last athlete to drop Sadowski-Synnott had the deciding run. She managed the pressure without a problem and put down her winning run, tidying up the rail section and then lacing her back-to-back double corked 1080’s on the last two jumps. “I watched her [Kokomo’s] last run and knew it was going to knock my first run score so I knew that I needed to clean up that rail section and I am stoked how it came out, stepping it up from X Games last week.” said Sadowski-Synnott. The New Zealander won by a significant margin as the only woman to score in the 80’s with an 87.80. Murase finished in second place with Great Britain’s Mia Brookes rounding out the star-studded podium in third. In the men's snowboard slopestyle World Cup finals Kiwi’s Dane Menzies and Rocco Jamieson competed with. Menzies scoring a career best result, finishing in fourth place and putting down a frontside 1800 for his first time in a slopestyle run. Jamieson finished 12th.

New Zealand cyclist Ally Wollaston has won the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race in Victoria PHOTO: CADEL EVANS GREAT OCEAN RACE In-form New Zealand rider Ally Wollaston capped her start to the UCI WorldTour season with an impressive sprint victory in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Race in Geelong, Victoria. Twenty-four-year-old Wollaston put in a strong performance for the victory, managing to remain in intact with the peleton over the final telling final climb, before managing the sprint best in the 142km race into Geelong. LATEST HEADLINES: Blaze take Super Smash title Ko ready for final day challenge Chris Wood hat-trick as Forest win Breakers win clash of wooden spoon Canterbury dominate ND make final The FDJ Suez professional added the win to her victory in the Surf Coast Classic in Melbourne earlier in the week, which followed her impressive sprinting performances in the recent UCI Women’s Tour Down Under. "I'm so proud to win today. I knew that the last two weeks that I've felt so strong. It's such a great start to the season," said Wollaston. "I knew that what I had to do was conserve all day and my team would cover all the moves. I felt super strong today and I'm so proud of the girls. They went all-in for me today." Wollaston now heads to New Zealand where she will be a favourite for the Cycling New Zealand Elite Road National Championships in Timaru this week.