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New Zealand Rugby has made a loss of almost $9 million for the last financial year, it's second consecutive deficit. . NZR's total income in 2023 was $268m with expenditure at $277m, meaning a net deficit of $8.9m. LATEST HEADLINES: Johnson out, but trio back for NZ Warriors Maori All Blacks side set for Japan games Warriors continue NSW Cup winning run Magic defeat Mystics to move up into third Scott Robertson names first All Blacks team Although spending was reduced from the previous year a drop in broadcast and matchday revenue in a World Cup year saw income fall from 271 to 268-million dollars. Domestic competitions and game development programmes remain the biggest NZR costs. NZR ceo Mark Robinson said the overall operating result was heavily impacted by a truncated Rugby Championship, the lack of the mid-year home series, Māori All Blacks or All Blacks XV matches, and just two domestic tests. The result showed a 39 percent decrease in matchday income from $28m to $17m. Broadcast income was down by $16m due to the impact of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. However, NZR has grown its reserves, which have increased to $175m, up $79m from 2022. Sponsorship income has also increased to $121m, up $8m.

Three second-half tries including a Moala Graham-Taufa double carried the NZ Warriors to a solid 18-4 win over St George Illawarra in Saturday's Round 16 New South Wales Cup match at North Harbour Stadium. In doing so they extended their impressive run of form to seven wins, a draw and just the one close loss to table-topping North Sydney in their last nine outings. LATEST HEADLINES: Magic defeat Mystics to move up into third Scott Robertson names first All Blacks team Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team The Warriors now have 21 points after 15 matches and briefly held third spot before wins by the Canterbury Bulldogs and Newtown Jets pushed them back to fifth. They went into the contest against the seventh-placed Dragons showing some changes to the lineup originally named. Nganatatafu Vake, 19, who started the season in the SG Ball Cup and then moved up to the Jersey Flegg Cup, came into the centres, Ben Farr moved into the halves and Caleb Laiman was switched to the bench. Hooker Makaia Tafua and second rower Maia Sands came into the starting pack with second rower Kayliss Fatialofa moving to the interchange. Playing on home soil for the first time since May 12, the Warriors were unable to make a mark on the scoreboard in the opening 40 minutes despite some close calls; the only points coming through an unconverted Dragons try. The second half was another story. The incisive Graham-Taufa, who made his first NRL appearance as a Warrior against the Dolphins four weeks ago, struck within two minutes of the second spell starting, his pace too much for St George Illawarra’s defence as the home side opened up from long range. And for his second he exploded out of dummy half powering his way past and through defenders for another superb try to help the Warriors to a 12-4 lead after 53 minutes. In the 63rd minute, they had their third try, Tafua probing from dummy half, off loading inside to Farr and he cleverly evaded defenders to get the ball down. Fullback Taine Tuaupiki was on target for the third time in three attempts for an 18-4 lead. There might have been more points including a possible late try to halfback Luke Hanson but the Warriors closed the match out well in what was their best defensive effort of the season so far. The result gave them the home and away double against the Dragons, following their 26-24 win in Wollongong on April 20. Next Saturday they feature in a tripleheader ahead of the Warriors’ NRL clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Go Media Stadium. Meanwhile, St George Illawarra produced a relentless performance in downing the Warriors 46-14 in Saturday’s Round 16 Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) clash at North Harbour Stadium. After three consecutive games on the road, playing at home proved to be cold comfort for the Warriors as the Dragons took charge from the outset. While the outcome delivered revenge for St George Illawarra after the Warriors’ upset them 28-22 in Wollongong in April, the Warriors fielded a side which had been heavily affected by players promoted to the New South Wales Cup side and others who were unavailable. In fact, of the 17 players used in the Warriors' Wollongong victory only seven remained for this contest. That coupled with the gruelling schedule caught up with the Warriors as they conceded four first half tries to trail 0-24 at the break. The deficit was 0-30 within minutes of the resumption before an Etuate Fukofuka try provided some relief for the Warriors only for the Dragons to step it up again with another three tries to shoot out to a 46-6 lead. The Warriors finished on a positive note with late tries to halfback Cassius Cowley and centre Sialetili Faeamani to complete the scoring on a challenging day. They're home again next Saturday against the Raiders - this time at Go Media Stadium - in the first leg of a tripleheader finishing with the NRL clash between the Warriors and the Broncos.

New Zealand's Marko Stamenic has apparently had his transfer from Red Star Belgrade to Nottingham Forest confirmed. Stamenic, who has made 21 international appearances for the All Whites, is apparently on a NZ$9.6 million transfer after he impressed Forest while helping Red Star, win the Serbian SuperLiga last season. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ MTB cross-country riders head to altitude Reece staying in NZ, transfers to Southland Olympics sevens teams aim for Paris medals Coll continues winning at World Tour Finals NZ Breakers taking game back to Wellington Stamenic would be joining fellow kiwi Chris Wood at Forest, however he would be unlikely to stay. He is expected to join Olympiacos on a season-long loan, similar to other arrangements in the Evangelos Marinakis operation, with the Greek billionaire owning both clubs. Olympiacos is a giant club of Greek football having won 47 domestic titles. Twenty-two-year-old Stamenic is of Serbian and Samoan descent who began his career in New Zealand before moving to FC Copenhagen at the age of 18. In 2022, became the first New Zealand player for 15 years to play in the Champions League. Only last month All Whites goalkeeper Alex Paulsen was signed from the Wellington Phoenix to EPL side, Bournemouth..

The Magic have accounted for arch-rivals Mystics in a compelling 54-42 victory saw them move past the defending champions into third spot on the ANZ Premiership ladder. In their previous two encounters this season, Mystics had the upper hand. But this time, at the Trusts Arena in Auckland, Magic took control during a massive second quarter and through a composed team effort never relinquished their lead. While the Mystics slipped back to fourth, the game also marked the quiet return of their goal shoot Grace Nweke, out with a knee injury for seven matches this season. With Mystics coach Tia Winikerei looking to progressively reintegrate her into the team, Nweke played just 15 minutes in the match. LATEST HEADLINES: Scott Robertson names first All Blacks team Comets claim maiden Netball League title Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team But when she came on, the Mystics were already trailing by 12, and Magic defenders Georgia Takarangi and Erena Mikaere made sure Nweke’s comeback was an uncomfortable one. Mystics still took some solace from her return and from drawing the second half. It was also a milestone moment for strong Magic attackers Claire O’Brien and Saviour Tui playing their 50th national league matches ­– up against their old side. The Mystics, who again started without Peta Toeava who’s recovering from a knee injury, were forced to take the long way round to get to shooters Hannah Glen and Filda Vui in the early stages of the clash.  A cloying Magic defence forced the home side into making basic errors, and the Magic capitalised to lead 8-4. That’s when the Mystics brought veteran Kayla Johnson on at centre for Katie Te Ao, and the injection of leadership up front saw the Mystics score the next four goals and draw level. Goal keep Carys Stythe’s long levers proved effective in the Mystics’ defence, but Tui wasn’t fazed and shot perfectly as the Magic led 13-11 at the first break. The Magic rapidly increased their lead to 11 when they resumed, with the dangerous combination of Georgie Edgecombe, Takarangi and Mikaere heavily disrupting the Mystics attack. Standing strong – and often alone – in the circle, Tui shot confidently (who ended the match on 34 from 39) deftly supported by Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Magic had scored 10 to the Mystics’ two, when the Mystics made major changes through court. Johnson returned to centre, Dani Binks went to goal attack, and Catherine Hall came on at goal keep, but the damage had been done. Mikaere and Takarangi were all over the Mystics shooters in the last few minutes of the half, and the Magic left for the changerooms 30-18 in front. A cheering home crowd heralded the return of Nweke at the start of the third quarter, with Michaela Sokolich-Beatson at centre. It was a wobbly restart for the goal shoot, shooting 10 from 13. Ariana Cable-Dixon did a stellar job calmly controlling the attack and feeding Tui from centre, and Edgecombe was balletic in scooping up unexpected ball. Mystics lost the third spell by only one goal, but were 45-32 in arrears going into the final quarter. With Hannah Glen back at goal shoot, the Mystics had a revival winning the final quarter by one (Te Ao making two snappy intercepts), but the dominance of Takarangi and Mikaere never relented ­– making 13 gains between them.

A tough ride for the kiwis as they found the slippery and demanding course at high altitude challenging in the latest round of the UCI MTB World Cup cross-country in Crans Montana, Switzerland. The best result came from national women’s champion Samara Maxwell who was 10th in the elite women’s race, six minutes behind the winner, Loana Lecomte from France. LATEST HEADLINES: Scott Robertson names first All Blacks team Comets claim maiden Netball League title Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team Meanwhile Sam Gaze, nursing a knee injury suffered in last week’s world cup race, finishing 34th in the elite men, eight minutes behind winner, Tom Pidcock. Gaze said conditions were difficult, coming down three times on the slippery and steep surfaces, and not wanting to further damage his knee, he rode to finish without further risk. “It was a disjointed week, having spent two days in Belgium getting my knee checked out, and with limited time at altitude. In the conditions, after coming off, I decided to just make sure I finished safely. “I know it is no indication of my form, so now I focus on a training camp ahead of the next world cup in Les Gets in France.” Gaze is now eighth overall in the World Cup rankings. Canterbury’s Ethan Rose (Trek Future) had his best world cup finish, in 17th in the under-23 men, and is now in 17th overall in the rankings, with Maria Laurie 51st in the under-23 females. Male elite: Tom Pidcock (GBR) 1:26.28, 1; Mathias Fluckiger (SUI) at 1:10, 2; Luca Braidot (ITA) at 2:05. 3. Also Sam Gaze (NZL, Alpecin-Deceuninck) at 8:08, 34. Female elite: Loana Lecomte (FRA) 1:17.22, 1; Alessandra Keller (SUI) at 46s, 2; Puck Pieterse (NED) at 1:33, 3. Also: Samara Maxwell (NZL, Decathlon Ford) at 6:09, 10.

Scott Robertson has named his All Blacks squad to face England and Fiji with no major surprises named and only a couple of notables left out. It's no surprise that Scott Barrett has been confirmed as captain, the 81st man to have that role. He will be assisted by two vice-captains in Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett. LATEST HEADLINES: Comets claim maiden Netball League title Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team Venus wins men's doubles title at Queens “When you think of the leaders who have gone before you, it’s quite humbling to be asked to captain the All Blacks, so it’s not something I took lightly. It’s a big responsibility, but I have two great leaders beside me in Ardie and Jordie, and I know we’ll have the full backing of the coaches,” said Scott Barrett. Robertson said his long-standing relationship with Scott Barrett was a factor in his choice of captain. “There are some great leaders in our group, but having that existing connection to Scott was important. He’s tactically astute, he leads from the front, and he’s got the respect of the players and coaches. Leadership is a shared responsibility and Ardie, Jordie and our wider leadership group will be crucial to how we come together and connect ahead of the first Test against England. “As a coaching group, we are excited about the squad we’ve selected. We know it’s a group that can play the style of rugby we want the All Blacks to play in 2024.” Robertson also congratulated the five uncapped players in the squad – hooker George Bell, prop Pasilio Tosi, halfback Cortez Ratima, centre Billy Proctor and loose forward Wallace Sititi, who at 21-years-old is the youngest player in the squad. “It’s a proud moment for them and their families. They’ve earned their places through performance and consistency and it’s an exciting time in their careers. As coaches, we will get them ready so they can take their opportunity when it comes.” Possibly the two biggest names to be missing are Blues players Harry Plumber and Hoskins Sotutu. Blues lock Sam Darry, Hurricanes outside back Ruben Love and the Crusaders pair of prop George Bower and midfielder David Havili will also assemble with the squad as cover. ALL BLACKS SQUAD FORWARDS (18) Hookers Asafo Aumua (27 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 6) Codie Taylor (33 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 85) George Bell* (22 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 0) Props Ethan De Groot (25 / Highlanders / Southland / 22) Tyrel Lomax (28 / Hurricanes / Tasman / 32) Fletcher Newell (24 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 13) Pasilio Tosi* (25 / Hurricanes/Bay of Plenty / 0) Ofa Tu’ungafasi (32 / Blues / Northland / 57) Tamaiti Williams (23 / Crusaders / Canterbury / 7) Locks Scott Barrett (30 / Crusaders / Taranaki / 69) Tupou Vaa’i (24 / Chiefs / Taranaki / 25) Patrick Tuipulotu (31 / Blues / Auckland / 43) Loose Forwards Ethan Blackadder (29 / Crusaders / Tasman / 10) Samipeni Finau (25 / Chiefs / Waikato / 1) Luke Jacobson (27 / Chiefs / Waikato / 18) Dalton Papali’i (26 / Blues / Counties Manukau / 32) Ardie Savea (30 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 81) Wallace Sititi* (21 / Chiefs / North Harbour / 0) BACKS (14) Halfbacks Finlay Christie (28 / Blues / Tasman / 21) TJ Perenara (32 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 80) Cortez Ratima* (23 / Chiefs / Waikato / 0) First-fives Beauden Barrett (33 / Blues / Taranaki / 123) Damian McKenzie (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 47) Mid-fielders Jordie Barrett (27 / Hurricanes / Taranaki / 57) Rieko Ioane (27 / Blues / Auckland / 67) Anton Lienert-Brown (29 / Chiefs / Waikato / 70) Billy Proctor* (25 / Hurricanes / Wellington / 0) Outside backs Caleb Clarke (25 / Blues / Auckland / 20) Emoni Narawa (24 / Chiefs / Bay of Plenty / 1) Stephen Perofeta (27 / Blues / Taranaki / 3) Sevu Reece (27 / Crusaders / Southland / 23) Mark Tele’a (27 / Blues / North Harbour/ 9) The following players were not considered due to injury: Sam Cane, Will Jordan, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Cam Roigard ALL BLACKS SCHEDULE Saturday, July 6 vs England, 7.05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Saturday, July 13 vs England, 7.05pm, Eden Park, Auckland Saturday, July 20 vs Fiji, 2.30pm (NZT), SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego

New Zealand golfer Lydia Ko has finished the third major of the year, the Women’s PGA Championship, in a tie for 46th at nine-over. The 27-year-old looked to be rescuing her round which started on the back nine, how a bogey on the seventh and double bogey on the eighth put paid to a better finish. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ SailGP win, seal Grand Final spot Hayden Wilde leads NZ triathlon team Venus wins doubles title at Queens Pulse keep near lead beating Stars Paddon wins Southern Lights Rally title Initially Ko started with birdie on the 10th hole, but then bogeyed the next two. There was another bogey on the 15th. However she then birdied the 18thfollowed by three more on consecutive holes to start the front nine. The fourth round of 73 was equal to the second round for Ko, but a first round 75 put her on the back foot while 76 on day three didn't help her quest for improvement. Ko ends up with prizemoney of around NZ$62,000 for her efforts. Korean Amy Yang won the tournament at seven under par by three strokes from a group of three players.

The Central Pulse have scored an important win looking towards the ANZ Premiership finals beating the determined Northern Stars 46-43. The win leaves them two points away from top-of-the-table Tactix, a slip-up against a Stars side – which claimed the most bonus points in the Premiership – would have been disastrous for hopes of finishing the regular season in top spot. LATEST HEADLINES: Schedule change at New York SailGP Paddon wins Southern Lights Rally title Venus, Skupski move into Queens final Once were Warriors, now NRL easy-beats Blues end a 21-year Super Rugby title drought It will have also been pleasing for Pulse coach Anna Andrews-Tasola to be able to give Tiana Metuarau valuable minutes with just four rounds remaining in the regular season. The injection of the goal attack at halftime time did not have an immediate impact on the game, but her delivery of ball into shooter Martina Salmon was telling as the pressure went on as the Pulse tried to take control. Staying in touch throughout the contest, the Stars got a sniff late in the deciding stanza but were let down by a few key errors when it mattered most – picking up an incredible eighth bonus point of the season. It was an arm wrestle for control throughout the 60 minutes and both teams were guilty of some messy periods of play. Salmon has been in standout form over the last few rounds but showed some early wobbles with her radar as the hosts trailed by two goals. It wasn’t long before the Pulse machine switched gears and by the midway point the depth and precision in their passing helped a momentum shift on the scoreboard. Both teams went to their bench late in the stanza with Monica Falkner replacing Amorangi Malesala for the Stars while Crystal Maro, who had only moments earlier helped the Comets to a win in the national netball league, was also introduced into the game at goal attack. Leading 12-11 at the first break, there was the feeling that the Pulse were just warming to their task and ready to put their foot down to shake free of the Stars. But the relentless work from Stars defenders Kate Burley and Holly Fowler upset the smooth running of the Pulse frontline, and despite winning enough ball, took time to break free. Emma Thompson’s connection with Stars shooter Maia Wilson continues to grow with some deft passes around the long reach of Kelly Jackson but the visitors struggled to make the most of key scoring opportunities in the spell. The rolling substitutions were utilised by both coaches throughout the quarter in what was another messy period of play – neither team able to stamp their mark. A late surge from the Stars – thanks to the touches from both Burley and Fowler – kept the visitors in touch at the break, trailing 19-22. The Pulse made just one personnel change on the resumption of play with Tiana Metuarau picking up the goal attack bib while Falkner returned to the action for the Stars. It was more of the same in the third spell with the Stars continuously threatening the Pulse but just being held at bay by one or two goals. Five minutes into the quarter however and the visitors looked to make good on their threats by levelling the scores at 26-26. The quick release from Metuarau was something different for the Fowler-Burley combo to contend with and her vision into Salmon gave the Pulse the edge again on the scoreboard. n edge ahead, leading 35-32 with a quarter to play.

Cycling New Zealand has named a powerful 14-strong team to contest the UCI 2024 Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland. The championships will be staged from 21-29 September, and includes Para-Cycling with the New Zealand team. The New Zealand team is headed by experienced Olympian George Bennett with demanding courses in the Swiss alpine foothills expected to provide a stern test suited to climbers. LATEST HEADLINES: Zoe Hobbs claims another 100m title Coxless pair added to New Zealand rowing team All Whites comfortable winners over Vanuatu Breakers to play around New Zealand Stamenic sold to EPL side Nottingham Forest NZ MTB cross-country riders head to altitude Bennett (Israel-Premier Tech) is joined in the men’s team by fellow WorldTour riders Reuben Thompson (Groupama-FDJ) and Finn Fisher-Black (UAE Team Emirates). Bennett and Thompson are both noted climbers, as is Fisher-Black, whose sister will lead the elite women’s team. Niamh Fisher-Black, who rides for SD Worx on the Women’s World Tour, will be joined by fellow Paris Olympian Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Cannondale) and two other strong climbers in Ella Wyllie (Liv-AlUla Jayco) and Henrietta Christie (Human Powered Health). Cadzow is the national elite time trial champion and Wyllie the road race winner. The sole men’s under-23 rider is Lewis Bower, 19, who rides for Groupama-FDJ Conti team in Europe where he has enjoyed a stage win earlier this month in France and two podiums in the Tour de Bretagne. The junior women’s team is led by road race and time trial junior national champion, Kirsty Watts joined by fellow Black Magic women’s team riders Alex Rawlinson (Tauranga) and Ava Maddison (Auckland), along with Elena Worrall (Auckland). The junior men will look to South Canterbury double junior national champion, Reef Roberts, currently competing in Europe, along with Hamilton’s Joshua Cavanagh, a podium placegetter in the Oceania road race. Paralympics NZ recently announced the selection of Waikato’s Eltje Malzbender, a two-time world champion, to compete in both time trial and road races in the para-cycling competition held as part of the UCI Road World Championships. The time trial for elite and under-23 women and elite men is on 22 September, with junior and under-23 men on Monday 23 September and junior women the following day. Road races begin for juniors on 26 September through to elite men on 29 September. The New Zealand team is (all road race unless noted): Female, elite/U23: Kim Cadzow (Wanaka, Ef Education-Cannondale, plus time trial); Henrietta Christie (Canterbury, Human Powered Health), Niamh Fisher-Black (Nelson, SD Worx), Ella Wyllie (Auckland, Liv-AlUla Jayco). Junior: Ava Maddison (Auckland, Black Magic), Alex Rawlinson (Tauranga, Black Magic, plus time trial), Kirsty Watts (Christchurch, Black Magic, plus time trial), Elena Worrall (Counties Manukau, MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project). Male, Elite: George Bennett (Nelson, Israel-Premier Tech), Finn Fisher-Black (Nelson, UAE Team Emirates, plus time trial); Reuben Thompson (Queenstown, Groupama-FDJ). Under-23: Lewis Bower (Auckland, Groupama FDJ Continental). Junior: Joshua Cavanagh (Hamilton), Reef Roberts (South Canterbury plus time trial). Reserves: Lachlan McNabb (Blenheim), Carter Guichard (Wanaka, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale). Caption: Niamh Fisher-Black and George Bennett in road race action at the UCI Cycling World Championships in Scotland last year. (Credit: SWPix)

All three New Zealand drivers lost ground in the IndyCar series championship at the latest race at Laguna Seca. Six-time IndyCar champion Scott Dixon finished sixth at the Grand Prix of Monterey on Sunday (Monday NZ Time), while Scott McLaughlin and Marcus Armstrong finished 21st and 22nd, respectively, two laps down. LATEST HEADLINES: Comets claim maiden Netball League title Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team Venus wins men's doubles title at Queens Dixon, the winner at the famed road course in California last year, entered the race 11 points behind Will Power in the drivers standings but left Monterey 32 points behind Chip Ganassi teammate Alex Palou, who won the race. Starting 10th on the grid, Dixon avoided being taken out by Power in a dive-bomb passing manoeuvre on lap 58, going on to record his sixth top-10 of the season. McLaughlin, who started seventh, dropped from fifth to eighth in the championship, 97 points behind Palou, after a disappointing ending. The former Supercars champion was still running seventh on lap 80 when he attempted to make a pass on Penske teammate Power on the inside, making contact and spinning out to the back of the pack. He was assessed a drive-through penalty to fall even further back. Armstrong, who started 11th, brought out the race's third caution when he made contact with Christian Lundegaard and spun out on lap 75. The second-year driver later earned a drive-through penalty for not following IndyCar instructions on lap 92, dropping him one spot to 15th in the standings. The next race, the ninth of 17 on the 2024 schedule, is the Mid-Ohio Indy 200 in Lexington, Ohio on July 7 (July 8 NZT).

Fourth time was the charm for the Northern Comets as they paid tribute to one of New Zealand netball’s biggest coaching contributors with a maiden National Netball League crown. The Comets overcame a nervy start to beat the five-time champion Central Manawa 56-51 in the grand final at Porirua's Te Rauparaha Arena on Sunday. LATEST HEADLINES: Airs hold off the Bulls in top-four NBL clash NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team Venus wins men's doubles title at Queens Pulse remain near top after beating Stars The Comets finished the regular season on the top of the points table but with three national league finals already under their belt, and no silverware to show for it, knew they could take nothing for granted in what was expected to be a tight tussle. But it was to be the Comets’ moment as the win was also an opportunity to pay tribute to a netball mentor who had an impact on coaching in New Zealand, Ivy Topping, who passed away this week. Topping is the mother of Comets manager and former Silver Fern Carron Jerram and grandmother of Marcia Jerram, who played a significant role in the goal defence bib for the victors. “It’s so cool to see that we’ve been rewarded today for our effort and our mahi today – I’m so proud of our girls," co-captain Abbie Ledger said. The match promised plenty with just four goals separating the two teams on the two occasions they have met this season – the Comets winning by four in the opening round and a draw played out in Round 6. Stung by a loss in the last round of the regular season, Manawa showed they meant business causing a held ball from the first pass in play and opening the scoring as Kiana Pelasio shot confidently at range. The nerves looked all in the Comets camp as simple errors marred their early plays and the hosts raced out to a 4-1 lead. The defensive pressure applied by Manawa was immense – wing defence Rachel Price menacing with her suffocating play out front and Manawa’s rock at the back, Maddison Thomas, also disrupting the Comets flow. It only got worse for the visitors with captain Tori Kolose limping off court five minutes into the game with what looked like an ankle niggle. But the unplanned introduction of experienced attacker Eseta Autagavaia added some stability in their nervy start and, living off the scraps, the Comets were able to stay in touch with the defending champions. Kolose returned to the action as her team found its rhythm on attack and they would have been happy to go into the break trailing just 13-15. Within two minutes of the resumption of play the Comets had levelled the scores and showed plenty of confidence with their speed of ball movement around the shooting circle, Jaelin Tulikaki finding great space. Tulikaki’s feeders also showed great patience as the Comets built on the momentum to go up by five goals by the midway point of the second stanza. Frustration started to creep into Manawa’s play as their defenders found the attention of the umpires. Still trailing by five, Manawa made a defensive change in the circle with just under two minutes to play in the half, bringing Zalika Clarke, but still went into the main break down 25-30. Manawa made another change at the other end of court heading into the third quarter with Sarah Guiney injected at goal attack. But there was little the hosts could do to stop the march from the Comets looked to have the game by the scruff. Thomas however was not done for Manawa and a couple of key tips from the defender sparked her side into action and they slashed a seven-goal difference to just three, heading into the last spell down 39-42.

The Taranaki Airs have taken a big step towards locking up the No 3 seed for the National Basketball League (NBL) playoffs. The Airs saw off the Franklin Bulls 100-96 in a top-four clash at Pukekohe's Franklin Leisure Centre on Sunday to culminate Week 13, improving to 12-4 and moving 1.5 games ahead of the Bulls and Wellington Saints. LATEST HEADLINES: NZ SailGP team win, seal grand final spot Hayden Wilde leading Kiwi triathlon team Venus wins men's doubles title at Queens Pulse remain near top after beating Stars Hayden Paddon wins Southern Lights Rally Despite being without Tall Blacks guard Flynn Cameron, NZ Breakers signing Mitch McCarron, Australian Sam Froling and playing with only one import, Taranaki still had enough depth on their roster to get by the Bulls at The Stockyard. American forward Elijah Minnie fired up for a season-high 30 points (8/16 FG, 4/9 3pt, 10/11 FT), four rebounds and six blocks, while Breakers development player Carlin Davison put up 21 points (9/13 FG, 3/5 FT), five boards, seven assists and two steals. Injected into the starting-five, Tobias Cameron finished with 15 points (6/12 FG), seven rebounds, four assists and three steals, Derone Raukawa 12 points (4/11 FG, 2/6 3pt) and five assists, and Quintin Bailey 12 points (5/10 FG) and five boards. American forward Luther Muhammad had a game-high 32 points (14/25 FG, 2/5 3pt), eight rebounds and three steals, supported by Kiwi big Sam Timmins with 26 points (10/14 FG, 6/6 FT), 11 boards and five assists. Dom Kelman-Poto recorded a double-double with 12 points (4/8 FG), 10 boards and two steals, and Josh Scott had 12 points (5/15 FG) and two steals. After a slow start, Taranaki pulled ahead with an 11-2 run. They grew the lead to 10 points but the Bulls levelled it up just before halftime. The Airs again went up 13 points midway through the third period but Franklin answered with a 22-7 stretch to retake the lead. Although they trailed with 8:14 remaining, timely threes from Minnie, Raukawa and Nico Hill in the fourth period kept the Bulls at arm's-length. Both teams play quick-fire double-headers in Week 14. The Airs (12-4) are at the Bay Hawks (6-10) on Wednesday (tip-off 7.30pm) and at home to the Canterbury Rams (14-2) on Friday (tip-off 7.30pm), while the Bulls (10-5) at the Tauranga Whai (6-11) on Thursday (tip-off 7.30pm) and at home against the Auckland Tuatara (14-3) on Saturday (tip-off 7.30pm). Earlier on Sunday, the Whai topped the Otago Nuggets 66-59 at Dunedin's Edgar Centre in a game of brutal shooting. Former 3x3 Tall Blacks guard Jayden Bezzant lead the Whai with 17 points (7/14 FG), four rebounds and three assists, while American power forward Phil Carr had 16 points (4/12 FG, 8/9 FT), 10 boards and four steals. Import forward Kimani Lawrence had a game-high 20 points (9/17 FG), six rebounds and three assists for the undermanned Nuggets, and fellow American Zaccheus Darko-Kelly 16 points (6/14 FG, 4/11 3pt) and 11 boards. From 10 points down just after halftime, the Whai came back to lead by five early in the fourth. Eight straight points put the Nuggets up three but the Whai scored the game's final 10 points over the last 3:30. Up next, the Whai host the Bulls on Thursday in Tauranga, while the Nuggets (6-11) are away to the Wellington Saints (11-6) on Saturday (tip-off 4pm). Headlining other games in Week 13, the league-leading and defending champion Canterbury Rams made it 13 straight wins, with a 110-85 home win over the Wellington Saints on Saturday, getting 33 points from KJ Buffen and 32 from Lachlan Olbrich. The Saints, without Tall Blacks guard Izayah Le'afa, routed the Bay Hawks 117-91 in Napier on Thursday night, with four starters scoring 20-plus points. Youngsters Braydon Iuli (20 points), Tukaha Cooper (20) and Charlie Dalton (19) all stepped up as the Auckland Tuatara, missing a trio of Tall Blacks, blew away the Nuggets at home 102-70 on Wednesday night. The Southland Sharks got off the bottom of the standings with their second win of the year, 93-82 over the Whai in Invercargill on Friday night, thanks to 27 points from import Caleb Asberry, while the Giants got a crucial 104-77 win over the Manawatu Jets in Palmerston North on Saturday. Taranaki Airs 100 (Elijah Minnie 30, Carlin Davison 21, Tobias Cameron 15, Derone Raukawa 12, Quintin Bailey 12) Franklin Bulls 96 (Luther Muhammad 32, Sam Timmins 26, Josh Scott 12, Dom Kelman-Poto 12). 1Q: 25-21, HT: 49-43, 3Q: 70-67 Tauranga Whai 66 (Jayden Bezzant 17, Phil Carr 16, Kruz Perrott-Hunt 12, Demarcus Holland 10) Otago Nuggets 59 (Kimani Lawrence 20, Zaccheus Darko-Kelly 16, Jack Andrew 11). 1Q: 18-21, HT: 28-36, 3Q: 48-51