Kiwi Daniel Hillier shares sixth place at Australian Golf Open in Melbourne

Source: Radio New Zealand

Daniel Hillier. GIUSEPPE CACACE

Danish golfer Rasmus Neergaard-Peterson has claimed the Australian Open, winning by just one shot over home favourite Cam Smith.

Kiwi Daniel Hillier shared sixth place with rising Spanish golfer Jose Luis Ballester.

Neergaard-Peterson, 26, carded a final-round 70 to prevail in a tight finish at Royal Melbourne.

Smith was denied a maiden title with a bogey on the last hole, while Neergaard-Peterson sank an impressive up-and-down putt to secure victory.

Hillier came within touching distance of the leaders during his final found, sitting just two shots back on the 16th.

The Kiwi unleashed four birdies in his Sunday round and looked poised for a strong payday, but a double-bogey on the 18th proved costly.

He had started the day in sixth, four shots off the lead, and finished five back on 71.

New Zealand’s Ryan Fox was further down the leaderboard in 14th.

– RNZ

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The Ashes live: Australia v England – second test, day four

Source: Radio New Zealand

England face an uphill battle to avoid defeat, entering the fourth day of the second Ashes test against Australia at Brisbane’s Gabba.

Chasing the Aussies’ first-innings lead of 177 runs, the tourists are staggering at 134/6, needing another 43 runs to make their opponents bat again, with just four wickets in hand.

Captain Ben Stokes is at the crease, unbeaten on four runs, with allrounder Will Jacks also on four. Opener Zak Crawley compiled 44, before gifting bowler Michael Neser a return catch.

First-innings centurion Joe Root could manage only 15 in his second dig, while England lost three wickets for just seven runs in their middle-order collapse.

Australia lead the five-test series 1-0 and have not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986.

First ball on day four is scheduled for 5pm NZT.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

Joe Root and Ben Stokes DAVE HUNT

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Kiwi Alice Robinson secures back-to-back giant slalom wins in Tremblant

Source: Radio New Zealand

Alice Robinson of New Zealand speeds down the course during a World Cup giant slalom race in Italy, 2025.

New Zealand’s Alice Robinson has been unbeatable in her last two World Cup giant slalom races. PHOTOSPORT

New Zealand’s Alice Robinson claimed her second straight giant slalom win and sixth World Cup victory of her career in the discipline by mastering rain and wind-battered conditions in Tremblant, Canada.

Robinson, who also won the season opener a week ago before she turned 24, delivered two confident runs to take the day despite tricky conditions in shifting snow and variable visibility, beating Croatian Zrinka Ljutic by nearly a second.

“That was such a testing race,” said Robinson, who moved top of the 2026 giant slalom standings, bolstering her credentials for February’s Milano-Cortina Olympics.

“I remember last time I was here I didn’t have a very good weekend so I was a bit worried coming into this week. I really didn’t know what I was doing on this hill, but today it seemed so seamless.”

The 21-year-old Ljutic delivered one of her strongest giant slalom performances to finish second, the reigning slalom crystal globe holder producing a composed run to secure just her second podium in the discipline.

Home favourite Valerie Grenier completed the podium, while American star Mikaela Shiffrin scraped into sixth, posting a solid first run but unable to find the rhythm in the second.

“I felt very aggressive on the second run,” Shiffrin said.

“The visibility was so dark it felt like skiing at night without any lights, I cleaned up the top pitch, but I mistimed a few things on the flats and you lose speed so fast when it’s that flat. All in all the day was super positive.”

A second women’s giant slalom race is scheduled in Tremblant tomorrow.

And on a good day for New Zealand, Luca Harrington was second in the halfpipe at the inaugural Freeski Big Air World Cup in Beijing, behind winner Brendan Mackay of Canada.

– Reuters, with additional reporting from RNZ

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Black Caps add keeper Mitch Hay and tall seamer Michael Rae to test squad

Source: Radio New Zealand

Canterbury Michael Rae, Plunket Shield Round 3, Central Stags v Canterbury, McLean Park, Napier. Friday 05 December, 2025 © Mandatory credit: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

Canterbury seamer Michael Rae has joined the Black Caps test squad in Wellington. Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz

Uncapped fast bowler Michael Rae has been added to the Black Caps squad for the second test against the West Indies.

The towering 30-year-old Cantabrian joins the New Zealand side as it confronts a stern test of its bowling depth.

In the unfolding injury crisis, Matt Henry and Nathan Smith were sidelined during the opening test in Christchurch.

Both Henry and Smith remain doubtful for the second test in Wellington on Wednesday, particularly due to the short turnaround between matches.

While Rae is unknown to most Black Caps’ followers, he’s been a regular on the domestic scene for Canterbury.

He’s chalked up 69 first-class matches including three five-wicket hauls. He’s also played a handful of times for English county Warwickshire.

Rae flew to Wellington today to join the squad for their preparations.

Rae and Blair Tickner, who was the reserve fast bowler in Christchurch, could be in contention for the test XI.

And with Black Caps wicketkeeper Tom Blundell ruled out of the upcoming test with a hamstring tear, Canterbury’s Mitch Hay joins the squad.

The 25-year-old keeper and right hand batsmen is poised to make his test debut in Wellington.

Black Caps coach Rob Walter will also be keeping a close watch on pacers Jacob Duffy and Zak Foulkes.

They carried an extremely heavy workload as New Zealand’s attacked was depleted to just two frontline seamers at Hagley Oval.

The West Indies head to Wellington with plenty of confidence after their defiant draw in Christchurch in the opening test.

The second test starts on Wednesday at the Basin Reserve.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

FIFA World Cup: All Whites to play in Los Angeles and Vancouver

Source: Radio New Zealand

All Whites striker Kosta Barbarouses. PHOTOSPORT

The All Whites will play their FIFA World Cup pool games in Los Angeles and Vancouver.

The group draw was made on Saturday with New Zealand drawn with Belgium, Iran and Egypt.

New Zealand will open their tournament against Iran in Los Angeles on 15 June.

The game will be played at SoFi stadium, the home of the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams NFL teams. It will kick-off at 6pm local time (1pm, 16 June New Zealand time.)

The All Whites then head to Vancouver to play their next two games at BC Place, the home of the Vancouver Whitecaps MLS team.

The All Whites will face Egypt there at 6pm on 21 June – (1pm on 22 June NZT).

They then finish pool play against the highest-ranked team in their group, Belgium, at 8pm on 26 June (3pm, 27 June NZT)

The All Whites have never won a game at a World Cup finals.

The World Cup opener is between hosts Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City at 1pm on 11 June (7am, 12 June NZT).

The semi-finals will be played in Dallas and Atlanta on 14 July and 15 (7am on 15 and 16 June NZT).

The final will be in New Jersey on 20 July (7am NZT).

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

NZ Breakers surge into ANBL playoff contention with win over Tasmania JackJumpers

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Mennenga grabs a rebound for the Breakers. Photosport

The NZ Breakers have continued their mid-season surge to overcome the Tasmania JackJumpers 99-86 at Auckland’s Spark Arena, moving the home team into ANBL playoff contention for the first time.

Their fourth win in five games sees the Breakers leapfrog Tasmania into the top six.

Picking up where they left off against Sydney Kings on Wednesday, they powered out of the blocks, scoring the first nine points of the contest and quickly opening up a double-figure advantage.

The margin reached 17 points in the dying seconds of the opening quarter, and although Tasmania made inroads, closing within two, the home side were 52-41 up at half-time.

Both NBA prospect Karim Lopez and Tall Blacks star Sam Mennenga brought up three personal fouls before the break, and had to start the third period on the bench.

Americans Rob Baker (13 points) and Izaiah Brockington (16 points) led all scorers, while the return of Tai Webster – an injury replacement for Izayah Le’afa – added some spark.

The Breakers have made an art form of blowing big leads this season, so no advantage was safe.

Lopez came off the bench and dropped a three-pointer with his first touch, while Mennenga threw down a massive dunk on counterpart Will Magnay, completing the three-point play from the free-throw line.

Still trailing by 10 entering the final quarter, the JackJumpers remained in contention, but could not quite bridge the gap.

When Breakers guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright picked the pocket of American Tyger Campbell for a steal and easy lay-up, the margin was back out to 12 points with five minutes remaining.

The formula became 13, with three minutes left, but still time for nerves among home fans.

Tasmania closed within single figures, but a dagger three from Jackson-Cartwright with 1m 40s on the clock finally gave his team some comfort, before he found Lopez for the cherry on top beyond the arc.

Jackson-Cartwright amassed 16 points and 12 assists, while Brockington finished with a game-high 22 points. American forward Bryce Hamilton led Tasmania with 21 points.

The Breakers travel to South East Melbourne Phoenix next Saturday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The Ashes live: Australia v England – second test, day three

Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action, as the second match in the five-test series between arch rivals Australia and England continues at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Australia lead the five-test series 1-0 and have not lost to England at the Gabba since 1986.

First ball on day three of the day-night encounter is at 5pm NZT.

Mitchell Starc DAVE HUNT

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Live: Auckland FC v Wellington Phoenix A-League derby

Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC take on Wellington Phoenix for their second derby of the 2025/26 season at Auckland’s home ground Go Media Stadium.

The Black Knights will look for their fifth straight victory in the A-League derby, after holding on with just nine men to secure a 2-1 win at their last meeting in November.

Kickoff is at 5pm.

Wellington Phoenix celebrate a goal against Auckland FC in their November A-League derby. Masanori Udagawa/Photosport

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Running prodigy Sam Ruthe shatters schoolboy 1500m record

Source: Radio New Zealand

Sam Ruthe broke the previous record by eight seconds. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz

Running prodigy Sam Ruthe has chalked up another milestone, after shattering the New Zealand secondary schools 1500m record on Saturday.

Taking full advantage of ideal conditions at Hastings, the Tauranga Boys’ College student ran his heat in a time of 3m 38.62s at the New Zealand secondary schools track and field championship in Hastings.

Ruthe was 200 metres ahead when he crossed the finish line and almost 30 seconds faster than second place.

His time broke the previous record, held by former Commonwealth Games runner Richard Potts since 1989, by eight seconds.

Aged 15, Ruthe became the youngest person to run a sub-four minute mile back in March.

The 1500m final is scheduled for 2pm Sunday.

Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Live: Black Caps v West Indies first test – day five

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Black Caps must take six wickets and West Indies still need 319 runs for victory in first test of their three-match series at Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

Entering the final day, the tourists are 212/4, chasing 531 runs to snatch an unlikely win.

West Indies have Shai Hope unbeaten on 116 against a shorthanded NZ bowling attack, with Nathan Smith sidelined by injury.

This is New Zealand’s first outing in the current world test championship cycle and they desperately need a win at home to launch their bid to regain the crown.

First ball is at 11am.

Shai Hope bats for West Indies against the Black Caps. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand