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The NZ Warriors are welcoming back a pair of frontline players for Saturday's clash with the Manly Sea Eagles at Mt Smart. Wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and forward Kurt Capewell have each recovered from the respective hamstring and concussion issues that forced them out of last weekend's win over South Sydney Rabbitohs and return to the starting line-up. LATEST HEADLINES: Kiwi Ben Campbell makes LIV Golf debut Double sevens titles for NZ in Hong Kong Tyler Hodge wins home Charles Tour title Devine, White Ferns end summer with win Watene-Zelezniak slots back on the right wing while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moves back to left centre in his third switch in as many games. Capewell's injection means Mitchell Barnett shifts back to the front row, where there will be no sign of Bunty Afoa for the next 6-8 weeks due to a hamstring injury. Afoa joins fellow first-choice players Dylan Walker (ankle), Marata Niukore (foot) and Luke Metcalf (broken leg) on the sidelines. Named on the interchange are utility Chanel Harris-Tavita, middle forwards Tom Ale and Jazz Tevaga plus rookie second rower Jacob Laban. Listed on the extended bench are centre Adam Pompey, who was in the side with Watene-Zelezniak injured last week, fullback Taine Tuaupiki, prop Zyon Maiu’u, wing Edward Kosi and centre Ali Leiataua. The Warriors are looking for their fourth straight victory when they take on the surging Sea Eagles, who are fresh off a big win over the premier Penrith Panthers. NZ WARRIORS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelzniak, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rocco Berry, Marcelo Montoya, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford, Kurt Capewell, Tohu Harris. Interchange: Chanel Harris-Tavita, Tom Ale, Jazz Tevaga, Jacob Laban Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Zyon Maiu'u, Edward Kosi, Ali Leiataua

A poor first half left the NZ Warriors' New South Wales Cup team too much catching up to do against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. South Sydney profited from a glut of first half possession, leading by 12 points at halftime before holding off the Warriors 26-20 in Saturday's Round 5 NSW Cup contest at Sydney's Accor Stadium. LATEST HEADLINES: * NZ BMX world championships team named * Rising stars in NZ Rugby Under-20 squad * Football Ferns held to a score-less draw * Two big names returning to NZ Warriors * Black Caps-England test venues named After Ben Farr had dramatically opened the scoring for the Warriors inside the first minute, the Rabbitohs turned the match on its head with four tries in the space of 15 minutes to leap to a 22-6 lead. For 17 minutes and nine sets, the Warriors did not even touch the ball and it would tell as the Rabbitohs survived a gritty comeback from the visitors. That the Warriors had the chance to win the match in the end seemed inconceivable given the numbers which showed the Rabbitohs dominating possession 61 percent to 39 percent. That was reflected in the Warriors making almost 100 more tackles than their opponents. Yet, they found a way back into the contest, initially through a try to highly-promising centre Sio Kali in the 33rd minute to leave the side 22-10 adrift at halftime. Just a minute into the second half the margin was down to eight, with a try to right wing Edward Kosi and eight minutes later it was 22-20 when centre Moala Graham-Taufa scored and Farr converted. Momentum was with the Warriors. They did not want for opportunities to take the lead but, ultimately, a 64th minute try to South Sydney halfback Lachlan Illias sealed the deal. The match ended controversially when Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick was sent off in the final minute after attempting to charge down a kick from Ilias. The incident sparked a melee which also saw Graham-Taufa sin-binned. The six-point loss leaves the Warriors with 2-0-3 record from the first five rounds. They face the Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles, with the same record, at Auckland's Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Saturday (kick-off 2.40pm). Meanwhile, torrential rain in Sydney forced the postponement of the Warriors’ scheduled Round 5 Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) clash against the Rabbitohs in Sydney on Saturday. The match was due to be played at Erskineville Oval but the NSW Rugby League made the decision on Friday morning to postpone. Flooding and weather warnings were in place as a major rain event unfolded across Sydney and New South Wales, with 100ml of rain forecast for Friday and Saturday. The match has been rescheduled for the weekend of May 18-19. In Round 6, the Warriors host Manly at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart on Saturday (kick-off 12.45pm). In Week 1 of the Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) finals, the Warriors face the Parramatta Eels in an elimination match at Sydney's Leichhardt Oval on Saturday (kick-off 12pm NZT).

Football Ferns veteran Ria Percival has announced her retirement from international football. Percival ends her illustrious 18-year international career after representing New Zealand 166 times at senior level, more than any other player in New Zealand football history. LATEST HEADLINES: * Kiwi Ben Campbell makes LIV Golf debut * Double sevens titles for NZ in Hong Kong * Tyler Hodge wins home Charles Tour title * Devine, White Ferns end summer with win * Bulls tame Rams; Hawks roll Sharks in NBL Percival appeared at four Olympic Games and five FIFA Women’s World Cups, playing her last game for the Ferns as part of the home tournament in 2023. Midfielder Ria Percival has announced her retirement from international football, ending an illustrious 18-year career with the Football Ferns. Percival played 166 times at senior level, more than any other female or male player in New Zealand football history, in a career that spanned four Olympic Games and five FIFA World Cups. Her final matches came during the pool phase of last year's World Cup, co-hosted in New Zealand, having fought back from a serious knee injury suffered the previous year. The 34-year-old, who is on loan at English club Crystal Palace, said the decision to end her international career came with a "heavy heart". "It has been one of the most difficult decisions that I’ve had to make, and it’s not been one that I’ve taken lightly but I feel that it is the right time for me. I have represented New Zealand proudly for the last 18 years and it has been an absolute honour." "As I look back (with many different emotions) and reflect on my time as a Fern, it’s been the biggest honour and a pleasure to have represented New Zealand at five World Cups and four Olympic Games. "The journey I have been on with this team has been incredible and left me with many memorable moments and times I’ll never forget. ­­ "Having the opportunity to represent my country for almost two decades, I’ve worn the shirt with pride, courage, commitment, dedication and gave everything that I have for my country. I’ve learnt so much and grown both on and off the pitch over the years, becoming a leader, role model, and mentor, inspiring my team mates as well as the next generation."

Sophie Devine has finished the New Zealand home summer with an emphatic victory and her eighth ODI century. The White Ferns captain won the third and final game against England in Hamilton unbeaten on 100 with a six to win the game for a seven wicket victory. LATEST HEADLINES:   * Blues, Chiefs Manawa win in SR Aupiki * Phoenix stunned by stoppage-time goal * Tuatara, Saints pull away for NBL road Ws * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs * Football Ferns score big win over Thailand * Blues put half-century on Western Force In what was a 'dead' game after England won the first two games Devine took authority of the match blasting 11 fours and four sixes in her innings and chasing down the visitors total of 194 for the loss of just three New Zealand wickets. Earlier, Hannah Rowe claimed the first wicket of Tammy Beaumont in the fourth over with Maia Bouchier fell to Jess Kerr. Captain Heather Knight and Nat Sciver-Brunt combined for 58 before Amelia Kerr had Sciver-Brunt caught for 27 which then bought a mini collapse as the Kerr sisters went to work and England lost four wickets for 13 runs. Charlie Dean and Amy Jones put on a partnership of 73 but couldn't repeat their efforts of the previous game as Suzie Bates and then Rowe broke through to expose the tail. The Ferns mopped up the lower order with relative ease as Jess Kerr and Hannah Rowe took three wickets each. In reply, the Ferns lost both Bates and Georgia Plimmer early for six and four respectively. That brought Amelia Kerr and Devine together, with the pair showing great patience to negotiate the new ball. They put on 74 before Kerr was out for 31, but losing her partner didn't make Devine slow down as she took on Dean or four fours in an over to bring up her half century. Devine was joined by Maddy Green, and after a shaky start she settled in nicely with her skipper. They compiled 105 for the fifth wicket from just 97 balls and took 16 runs from Lauren Filer before a couple of sixes from Devine off Dean ended the game.

Mt Maunganui's Elin Tawharu and Taranaki's Daniel Farr have won the titles at Te Arai Beach at the Aotearoa Surf Pro. The Aotearoa Surf Pro is the fourth event on the 2024 NZ Surf Series and it is the first time the series has taken in the East Coast of Auckland. The final day of surfing was played out in 1.0m waves and moderate onshore winds that persisted all day, challenging top surfers from around the country. Tawharu, 22 returned to the podium after a lengthy time out of the water due to injury and only having recently started back surfing.  However, the young Mt Maunganui surfer navigated her way through two rounds into the final before posting a 12.60 point heat total to win the Open Women’s Division. “I am absolutely frothing,” said Tawharu, still dripping wet post final.  “So stoked to be at this event and then to take the win was great,” she added. It was a back and forth final with Tawharu posting 6.67 point ride to open her campaign and take the lead.  However, it was Leia Millar, the tenacious young Piha surfer that swung into action and held the lead for much of the final.  Tawharu found rhythm late to edge past Millar, pushing her down to second place and an eventual runner up finish. “It was back and forth between Leia and I until the end and I was lucky I got the wave at the end to secure the win over the girls.  It is my first win since the Maori Nats in October last year, so I am super stoked, I have the buzz back and I am looking forward to more,” said Tawharu of the encounter. Alani Morse (Raglan) finished third in the final with Aimee Brown (Great Barrier) returning to the competitive arena securing fourth place. The Open Men’s Final capped off two tough days of competition with a high scoring encounter that saw Daniel Farr post a 17.34 heat total for the win.  His performance was bookended by a 9.17 point ride in the dying stages of the final for a big two turn combo, the highest score of the event. “The nerves were there all weekend, seeing the guys you were coming up against.  But going into the finals I felt a bit more prepared than the first heats.  And at the start, that first wave popped up for me perfectly then I got that good one at the end to finish it off,” said Farr. “Great to back up from the win at the National Champs in January but it actually didn’t come easy.  It is always tough coming up against the likes of Caleb and Billy and all the top guys, I am glad we were all here to make it a good challenge this weekend,” said Farr who is three-from-three in national events that he has entered in the past 12 months. “It is awesome to get up here and see this part of the country and have an event somewhere new.  And we got some waves today, not the best, bit onshore but heaps of fun” added Farr who will base himself in Australia later this month. It was Raglan’s Caleb Cutmore that pushed Farr until the end of the final, especially when he locked in an 8.5 point ride.  With one chance remaining, Cutmore scouted the line up and got a wave in the dying minutes but posted a 6.37 point ride, short of the 8.85 points required for the win. Jack Hinton (Mt Maunganui) edged his way into third place on the final buzzer pushing Taranaki surfer Spencer Rowson back to fourth place after both surfers showed their talent in the earlier rounds to make the final. Earlier in the day Rowson and Farr eliminated Billy Stairmand (Raglan) and Jackson Peak (Auckland) in the first semifinal while Cutmore and Hinton eliminated Kora Cooper and Taylor Hutchison of Raglan. In the Women’s Division, Brown and Millar defeated Kyra Wallis (Piha) in one semifinal and Morse and Tawharu defeated Liv Haysom (Piha) in the other. Farr takes a commanding lead on the 2024 NZ Surf Series but will be run down missing the final two events of the season.  Leia Millar’s runner up finish sees her take the lead on the Women’s side with two events remaining in the season. The Aotearoa Surf Pro is one of seven events on the NZ Surf Series and sees over $5000 in prize money plus prizes and giveaways up for grabs. An SNZ2000 rated event, it has attracted the best surfers from all over the country as well as a handful of local talent keen to give the event a crack in home waters. Te Arai Beach is an iconic beach break situated to the south of Mangawhai Heads. With peaks up and down the beach, often heavy barrels and a right hander off the point when the sand is right, Te Arai is one of the premier breaks of the Auckland region.

Ben Campbell has become the second New Zealand golfer to tee it up in the breakaway LIV Golf league. Campbell was called in as a reserve player for the second and third rounds of LIV Golf Miami at Trump National Doral after Ripper GC's Australian captain Cam Smith withdrew with illness. LATEST HEADLINES:  * Double sevens titles for NZ in Hong Kong  * Tyler Hodge wins home Charles Tour title * Bulls tame Rams; Hawks roll Sharks in NBL * Phoenix stunned by stoppage-time goal  * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs The 32-year-old carded rounds of one-under 71 and one-over 73, producing three birdies and two bogeys on Saturday (Sunday NZ Time) and three birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey on Sunday (Monday NZT). An even-par score for three rounds would have put Campbell inside the top-30, however, he was credited with 54th. Ripper GC finished 10th of 13 teams. Campbell currently sits 11th in this year’s International Series standings and 14th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, both ways to earn a full-time LIV Golf card. In 2023, he won the Hong Kong Open by one stroke over Smith for his third career win since turning pro in 2012. Compatriot Danny Lee, the first Kiwi to play and win a LIV Golf event, finished in a share of 37th at four-over in Miami, 15 strokes behind the winner, South African Dean Burmester. After a four-over 76 to open the tournament that featured two birdies, four bogeys and a double-bogey, Lee recovered over the weekend with a pair of even-par 72s. The 32-year-old managed two birdies and two bogeys in the second round, before a colourful final round scoreboard. He made just seven pars, to go with two eagles, three birdies, five bogeys and a double-bogey. Meanwhile, Lydia Ko finished tied for 18th at the LPGA Tour's mixed-format Match Play tournament in Las Vegas. Ko signed for rounds of one-under 71, two-over 74 and four-over 76 to finish at five-over, missing the top-eight match-play part of the event by three strokes. The 26-year-old was at two-over before three birdies in her last five holes got her into red numbers in the opening round. She made two birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey on day two, before five bogeys and a solitary birdie on Saturday (Sunday NZT). On the PGA Tour, Ryan Fox's preparation for The Masters continued to be rocky after missing the cut by four strokes at the Texas Open. Fox has missed the cut in five of eight events in 2024. Fox opened with a two-under 70 on Thursday (Friday NZT) that featured seven birdies and five bogeys, but things went south quickly in a seven-over 79 in the second round. The 36-year-old made back-to-back double-bogeys at the 10th and 11th holes to open his round, added another at the fourth hole, along with two bogeys and a lone birdie.

Tyler Hodge has won the Charles Tour Super 6s title in front of his friends and family at Manawatu Golf Club. The left-handed Levin professional got the monkey off his back by beating Wellington amateur Jayden Ford in the six hole final after prevailing against Mitchell Kale, Mason Lee, and Harry Bateman earlier in the day. LATEST HEADLINES: * Double sevens titles for NZ in Hong Kong * Bulls tame Rams; Hawks roll Sharks in NBL * Devine, White Ferns end season with win * Phoenix stunned by stoppage-time goal * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs Having been a perennial contender on the tour without getting over the line. He won the stroke play portion of the NZ Super 6s last year before losing in the second round, and recorded three second places and a third last year, adding to his second place finish at the Muriwai Open in 2016. He also finished second at the New Zealand Stroke Play a few weeks ago and began to question if a victory would ever come. However, his golfing story finally rewarded him with a win at a place he knows very well – his secondary home club. “It’s a pretty indescribable feeling to be honest. I’ve been close since this tournament last year where I think I’ve had four runner up’s and a third, so it’s really nice to get this one over the line at home. “There have been a lot of close calls, and it’s great to add my name alongside some really amazing names on a Charles Tour trophy. It’s nice to be a part of that.” Hodge and Ford parred the opening two holes in the final before disaster struck for the Wellingtonian where he made an uncharacteristic double bogey on the short par 4 third. Hodge pounced by making a birdie, making the difference three with three holes to play. The pair made a par and a birdie over the next couple, and Hodge headed to the final hole with a comfortable buffer, and just needed to avoid anything catastrophic to lift the trophy. However, he sprayed his drive left into the trees while Ford hit an incredible drive to a couple of feet to setup and eagle. With Hodge needing a par to win, he sent a flop shot towering over the trees onto the green, much to the crowd’s delight. He two-putted his way to victory, letting out a massive sigh of relief as the winning emotions began to sink in. “I don’t ever cruise home, so I thought something unusual might happen coming down the stretch. Credit to Jayden, it was an unreal golf shot – probably the best he could have asked for. I’m just happy to sneak in.” He now heads to Auckland for the Muriwai Open next week, and will be one of the tournament favourites.

The Football Ferns have scored their first victory over a country not in the Oceania Federation in nine months as they held out opponents Thailand with a fine defensive effort. The New Zealand sides 4-0 victory over Thailand in their international friendly at Christchurch's Orangetheory Stadium was strong on goals but also defence where the visitors were unable to put a shot on goal. LATEST HEADLINES: * Nuggets cruise to NBL home win over Jets * Blues put half-century on Western Force * NZ Breakers re-sign Jackson-Cartwright * Taurua returns as Silver Ferns head coach * 49er, 49erFX sailors named to NZ Team There was a double from substitute Katie Kitching which capped off the match as the 28th ranked New Zealanders were put the 47th-placed Thais to the sword. In fact, it was the Ferns sixth straight win off the back of their Olympics qualifying tournament in Samoa. The home team opened the scoring in the 17th minute, when Indiah-Paige Riley laid a deft through ball on a platter for Hannah Wilkinson to slot a low shot past the goalkeeper. The score remained at 1-0 to the halftime break. The second goal came in the 64th minute as Wilkinson put in a low cross into the box for Jacqui Hand to easily put her shot away. The first goal for Kitching came as a result of an error by the Thai defence in the 71st minute. A few minutes before the fulltime, CJ Bott was taken down hard in the box and the referee immediately awarded the Ferns a penalty, and Kitching made no mistake. The 4-0 victory was their biggest win outside of Oceania since they beat Thailand 5-0 in November 2017. The Football Ferns and Thailand meet again at the same venue on Tuesday night. Football Ferns 4 (Hannah Wilkinson, Jacqui Hand, Katie Kitching 2) Thailand 0. HT: 1-0

Double title delight for New Zealand at the Hong Kong Sevens as men's and women's teams defended their titles in contrasting style. The All Blacks Sevens won a tense 10-7 win over France in the men's final in front of a sold-out crowd of 40,000 after the Black Ferns Sevens had run away from the United States 36-7, fueled by a hat-trick to winger Michaela Blyde. Blyde's hat-trick made her the first player - man or woman - to achieve that feat five times in a world series Cup final. Blyde also crossed in the crucial 28-14 semi-final win over Australia, with New Zealand coming from behind twice, powering away with the last three tries of the match against their arch rivals. The Black Ferns are now level with Australia at the top of the standings - although they are classified as leaders on points difference - with two rounds to play. The men improve one spot to fifth overall following their first tournament win of the year and are just three points short of third place, having made a slow start to the season. They have little chance of overtaking leaders Argentina ahead of the final tournaments in Singapore and Madrid. The All Blacks were unbeaten throughout the tournament but faced a run of tight matches, including the final. The first half ended 0-0, but a try from veteran skipper Scott Curry broke the deadlock and a second from Cody Vai after a French mistake powered New Zealand clear. A French consolation try wasn't enough, with Vai saying victory felt more "special" than their Hong Kong title last year. The penultimate tournament is in Singapore on 3-5 May before the grand final in Madrid four weeks later.

The Blues Women have completed their Super Rugby Aupiki regular season with a 41-29 win over Hurricanes Poua in Levin. The match saw the Blues finish top of the table scoring the required bonus point in their seven tries victory. LATEST HEADLINES: * Phoenix stunned by stoppage time winner * Tuatara, Saints pull away for NBL road Ws * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs * Football Ferns score big win over Thailand * Blues put half-century on Western Force Katelyn Vaha'akolo crossed for a double, one in the first half and one in the second as the northern side led 24-15 at halftime. The Blues continued their try scoring in the second spell as  Chryss Viliko and Jaymie Kolose dotted down. The Hurricanes Poua did manage four tries in reply but were never in the game against a Blues team which has looked the goods all season and will now host the Chiefs Manawa in the Grand Final. The Chiefs actually lost 22-20 to Matatū in Christchurch after a late Liv McGoverne try sealed the win for the southern side. However, the Chiefs were still able to make the final on points. They scored two of their three tries in the first have as Mia Anderson and Kennedy Simon crossed, while Renee Holmes was the scorer in the second half. For Matatū it was hooker Georgia Ponsonby who scored first in the game. She was followed for the south island team by Winnie Palamo in the 19th minute and centre Amy du Plessis before inside back McGoverne sealed the win. Blues 41 (Aldora Itunu, Ruahei Demant, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Grace Gago, Chryss Viliko, Jaymie Kolose tries; Krysten Cottrell 2, Patricia Maliepo con) Hurricanes Poua 29 (Monica Tagoai, Iritana Hohaia, Layla Sae, Harmony Kautai tries; Hannah King 3 con, pen). HT: 24-15 Matatū 22 (Georgia Ponsonby, Winnie Palamo, Amy du Plessis, Liv McGoverne tries; Rosie Kelly con) Chiefs Manawa 20 Mia Anderson, Kennedy Simon, Renee Holmes tries; Holmes pen, con). HT: 12-12

The Franklin Bulls have joined the Wellington Saints, Otago Nuggets and Auckland Tuatara with two wins after two weeks of the National Basketball League (NBL). The Bulls powered away in the middle quarters on the way to a 93-83 victory over the defending champion Canterbury Rams in Pukekohe, while the Bay Hawks routed the winless Southland Sharks 107-80 in Napier on Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES: * Double sevens titles for NZ in Hong Kong * Devine, White Ferns end season with win * Tyler Hodge wins home Charles Tour title * Phoenix stunned by stoppage-time goal * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs Bulls import guard Luther Muhammad led all scorers with 31 points (12/19 FG, 3/4 3pt) while he added four rebounds, six assists and two steals in another quality outing. Kiwi centre Sam Timmins was another stand-out for the home side as he scored 23 points (10/12 FG), 11 boards and four blocks, and Isaac Davidson posted 14 points (4/7 FG, 5/5 FT) and Ethan Rusbatch 10 points (3/12 FG), five rebounds and two steals. The Rams, who were without Max Darling and Lachlan Olbrich, were led by Taylor Britt's 24 points (6/11 FG, 11/12 FT), while James Walker Jr posted 20 points (6/12 FG, 5/7 3pt) and two steals, and Kaia Isaac 19 points (8/12 FG, 2/5 3pt) and six boards. The win at 'The Stockyard' lifted the Bulls into a four-way share of the lead atop the NBL standings, joining the Saints and Nuggets at 2-0. The two sides struggled to find their range in the first period, trade baskets in a low-scoring quarter. The short-handed Rams were able to take control in the second quarter on the back of Britt, before the Bulls got their act together in the final minutes of the first half. It was all go for the home side when the teams returned from the locker-rooms, as the Bulls opened up a 16-point lead by late in the third period. The Bulls host the Manawatū Jets in Pukekohe next Sunday (tip-off 6.30pm), while the Rams face the Auckland Tuatara earlier in the day in Christchurch (tip-off 3pm) in a replay of last season’s decider. The Hawks soared to their first win of 2024 on the back of a breakout game from Australian guard Keanu Rasmussen at Pettigrew Green Arena. NBL rookie Rasmussen scored a week-high 35 points (12/19 FG, 5/10 3pt, 6/7 FT) to go with two steals as the Hawks consigned the Sharks to their third straight loss. While Rasmussen was the three-star performer, the Hawks got strong support from the rest of the starting lineup. Josh Roberts added 19 points (9/11 FG) and 15 boards, Isaiah Moore 17 points (6/15 FG, 2/4 3pt), seven rebounds, 10 assists and four steals in his first NBL game, Lucas Sutherland 16 points (7/14 FG) and Jordan Ngatai 11 points (4/12 FG, 2/8 3pt), six boards, six assists and three steals. LaGerald Vick put up 26 points (10/19 FG, 4/8 3pt), 11 rebounds and six assists, while Callum McRae posted a double-double (14 points and 10 rebounds), and Marcale Lotts scored all of his 10 points in the final quarter. The Sharks, despite having parted company with American guard Josh Turner earlier in the week and being without the services of injured captain Alonzo Burton, made a promising start. Vick lit up the opening quarter, the Memphis native scoring 15 points as the visitors appeared to have put their issues behind them to open up a 24-18 lead. The Hawks welcomed back Ngatai after a season playing in Finland and the 77-cap Tall Black tied proceedings early in the second period. A triple from Rasmussen stretched the Hawks lead to eight points before McRae’s inside points and Andrew Wheeler’s arching treble cut the deficit to two at the major break, the Hawks ahead 45-43. Three triples – two from Rasmussen and one from Ngatai - gave the Hawks a 60-48 advantage and with Rasmussen drilling his fourth from beyond the arc and Moore a second from deep, the hosts outscored the Sharks 28-15 in the third. The Hawks continued their dominance in the fourth, with Rasmussen and Co in no mood to give up their advantage in front of the home fans. The Sharks were outscored 62-37 in the second half. Next up for the Hawks is a trip to Palmerston North on Thursday to take on the Jets (tip-off 7.30pm), while the winless Sharks wreturn to Invercargill to host the unbeaten Wellington Saints next Monday (tip-off 7.30pm). Franklin Bulls 93 (Luther Muhammad 31, Sam immins 23, Isaac Davidson 14, Ethan Rusbatch 10) Canterbury Rams 83 (Taylor Britt 24, James Walker Jr 20, Kaia Isaac 19, Tamatoa Isaac 11). 1Q: 17-19, HT: 38-32, 3Q: 66-50 Bay Hawks 107 (Keanu Rasmussen 35, Josh Roberts 19, Isaiah Moore 17, Luke Sutherland 16, Jordan Ngatai 11) Southland Sharks 80 (LaGerald Vick 26, Callum McRae 14, Marcale Lotts 10). 1Q: 18-24, HT: 45-43, 3Q: 73-58

The Chiefs cantered over for 10 tries in a 68-12 domination of Moana Pasifika, the most lop-sided Super Rugby match in more than a year. Wing Emoni Narawa grabbed a hat-trick at Hamilton's FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday night, while presumed All Blacks first-five Damian McKenzie landed nine of 10 conversions for 18 points. LATEST HEADLINES: * Phoenix stunned by stoppage-time goal * Tuatara, Saints pull away for NBL road Ws * Warriors too good for sub-par Rabbitohs * Football Ferns score big win over Thailand * NZ Breakers re-sign Jackson-Cartwright The 56-point winning margin was the largest in Super Rugby since the Hurricanes hammered Moana Pasifika 59-0 in Round 5 last season. The Chiefs unleashed an ominous attacking display, with eight different try-scorers, to rebound from the previous week's loss to the Crusaders, improving to 5-0-2 and into the top-four on 23 points. It was a third consecutive heavy defeat for Moana Pasifika, who have conceded 175 points in those matches. MP could not contain the creativity of McKenzie and the speed of Narawa and regular wing Etene Nanai-Seturo, who also scored a try from fullback in his 50th Super Rugby match. Flanker Simon Parker opened the floodgates in the 10th minute, before Narawa and Nanai-Seturo scored in a six-minute span midway through the half, and Daniel Rona made it 28-0 before halftime. Halfback Te Tairoa Tahuriorangi increased the lead minutes into the second half, before before debutant prop Sione Ahio crashed over and the Chiefs went to yet another level. The home side scored four tries in 13 minutes, including Narawa's second to bring up the half century, and other five-pointers from wing Peniasi Malimali and replacement No 9 Cortez Ratima. Miracle Fai'ilagi salvaged some pride for Moana Pasifika minutes from fulltime but Narawa finished in style, picking up from a messy ruck and finding a way to complete his hat-trick. The Chiefs face the Hurricanes in a top-four blockbuster at Wellington's Sky Stadium next Saturday (kick-off 7.05pm). Chiefs 68 (Simon Parker, Emoni Narawa 3, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Daniel Rona, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Sione Ahio, Peniasi Malimali, Cortez Ratima tries; Damian McKenzie 9 con) Moana Pasifika 12 (Melani Matavao, Miracle Faiilagi tries; Otumaka Mausia con). HT: 28-0