Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

Former Black Caps fast bowler Geoff Allott has been appointed chief executive of New Zealand Cricket, replacing Scott Weenink, who resigned in December.

Weenink left the role at the end of last year after months of escalating tension over the future direction of the game.

Allott, played 10 Tests and 31 ODIs for New Zealand between 1996 and 2000.

A founding board member of the New Zealand Cricket Players Association in 2002, he served on the Canterbury Cricket board (2011-2013) before joining the New Zealand Cricket board in 2013 and serving as a Director for eight years, retiring in 2021.

He was awarded NZC Life Membership the following year.

Allott will be NZC’s sixth chief executive, following Chris Doig, Martin Snedden, Justin Vaughan, David White, and Weenink.

He was General Manager of Cricket from 2008 to 2010.

Allott said he was excited to be returning to NZC.

“Having worn the silver fern as a player, served as General Manager of Cricket, and contributed for over eight years as a board director, I have a deep connection to this organisation and our game,” he said.

“I look forward to working collaboratively with the board, players, staff, member associations, and our commercial partners to build strong relationships, foster a positive and constructive culture, and deliver outstanding results both on and off the field.”

NZC chairperson Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said Allott was well qualified for the role.

“Geoff brings a rare and highly-relevant combination of attributes to the role: deep cricket expertise as a former New Zealand representative, invaluable experience within NZC as former General Manager of Cricket and Board member, and strong commercial leadership as Executive Director of his company QualityNZ,” Puketapu-Lyndon said.

“We’re confident his playing background, institutional knowledge, business acumen, and international outlook make him exceptionally well placed to lead NZC through the next phase of growth and development.

“On behalf of the Board, I welcome Geoff and wish him every success. We’re confident he’ll be a strong, collaborative leader who will work closely with all stakeholders to deliver an exciting future for New Zealand cricket.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand’s Michelle Montague has marked her UFC return with another unanimous decision win to improve her unbeaten record to 8-0 in the sport.

The ‘Wild One’ outmuscled and out-fought former bantamweight contender Mayra Bueno Silva to win (30-27, 29-29 and 29-28) on the judges’ scorecards.

Montague was making just her second UFC appearance since her debut last September.

Before the fight, Montague said she was still coming to terms with becoming the first New Zealand woman to sign with the UFC.

But on Sunday, she showed she belonged and immediately asserted herself in the first 30 seconds of the fight with a trademark takedown.

Her superior grappling and clinching paved the way for a comfortable decision-win for Montague.

While she was disappointed not to get the first-round finish she had predicted before the fight, she said there was plenty to take away from it.

That should include a number next to her name after beating the 12th-ranked Silva.

But Montague said it didn’t matter the rank or the next opponent; the answer will always be the same.

“The number will be my manager’s number calling me with a name and us saying yes no matter who it is,” she told media post-fight.

“They said I had to wait three weeks because I just fought, so I guess four weeks.”

Montague said she wasn’t interested in waiting around and the sooner she was back in the octagon, the better.

It doesn’t matter when, you’re in this for a good time, not a long time, she said.

“I’m on my entry contract, I’m not here to f*ck spiders, the more experience that I get, the better I’m going to get.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Caretaker coach Chris Greenacre has been appointed the Wellington Phoenix men’s coach following a long apprenticeship at the A-league football club.

Greenacre, who has called Wellington home since 2009 when he joined the Phoenix as a player, will take charge of the men for the 2026-27 season, with an option for another year.

After scoring 19 goals for the Phoenix in 84 appearances, the former striker served as an assistant to the men’s first five head coaches from 2012-2021.

For the past four seasons Greenacre was head coach of the men’s reserves and head of pro development at the club’s academy.

Greenacre stepped in as men’s interim head coach for the fourth time in February after Giancarlo Italiano’s abrupt departure, following a string of poor results.

He guided the Phoenix to four wins in eight matches to finish the A-League season, including the team’s first three-match winning streak in three years.

He has also headed the New Zealand under-20 men’s programme since the start of 2024, guiding the team to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile last year.

Phoenix chairman Rob Morrison said Greenacre was the club’s first ‘hometown’ head coach and thoroughly deserved the opportunity.

“He’s served a long apprenticeship at the Phoenix and we’ve watched him grow into a high quality coach. He knows the club inside-out and the hard work and professionalism he showed as a player have been carried into his coaching career, Morrison said.

“Greeny played for a Phoenix team that emphasised hard work and determination, kept their feet on the ground and put each other and the club ahead of themselves. They’re qualities we want him to instil in the current side.

“He has done a fantastic job over the past couple of months after taking charge in difficult circumstances and we can already see the qualities he wants in the team. We look forward to seeing what he can achieve over the next 12 months. I have no doubt he will continue to instil pride in the Phoenix badge.”

Greenacre said he was extremely proud to be appointed the seventh head coach in club history.

“It’s a real honour to lead this team,” Greenacre said. “I feel the Phoenix is my club and Wellington is my hometown.

“I want to grasp this opportunity and drive this club forward with everything I’ve got. I’ve got the passion and the drive to do it, and I just want to drag people along for the journey and let see what happens.”

Greenacre said he wants to create moments that the club’s supporters can be proud of.

“I want to see an exciting brand of football where we create a lot of opportunities going forward. Ultimately the game is about scoring goals and when your team’s creating opportunities fans get behind you.

“When Hnry Stadium is full it’s an amazing place and it’s our job as a coaching staff and players to get that stadium full again. And one thing I will guarantee is you won’t see the players giving up. There won’t be question marks around effort. That’s just not who I am as a person and not who I was when I played.”

Greenacre said his time at the Phoenix academy had been absolutely vital in honing his skills and he felt more than ready for the top job.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

New Zealand fought back from a 12 point halftime deficit to beat Australia 34-29 in a thrilling opening match of the Under 20 Rugby Championship in South Africa.

Australia had a 24-12 lead at half-time but two cards early in the second half allowed New Zealand to take the lead and they wouldn’t give it back.

New Zealand opened the scoring through fullback Cohen Norrie but Marshall Le Maitre hit straight back as the Australian forward pack began to win the forwards battle.

New Zealand went back in front when prop Henry Stuart scored, but Australia were leading again soon thanks to a pair of tries to take a 24-12 lead into halftime.

Australia then had a player red-carded for a dangerous cleanout in the 53rd minute following a New Zealand try and Australia would lose another player, this time to a yellow card for slowing the ruck, not long after.

New Zealand made the most of Australia being down to 13 men and scored tries to Haki Wiseman and Caleb Woodley to close the gap.

Logan Williams scored next to put New Zealand front with 13 minutes to go.

Australia had their chances to re-take the lead in the final 10 minutes, with Louie Fenwicke crossing the line, only to be brought back for a knock-on in the build-up.

A rolling maul was then stopped metres out and Australia had a player held up over the line as New Zealand hung on for the win.

Australia next play hosts South Africa while New Zealand take on Argentina.

The Junior Boks beat Argentina 48-21 in their opening game.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Champion rower Emma Twigg has taken another step towards completing a unique double at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The 39-year-old won the final of the women’s open single at the New Zealand Beach Sprint Championships at Orewa Beach near Auckland.

Twigg is aiming to qualify for the Olympics when beach sprint rowing makes its Games debut in two years. That would make her an Olympian in two forms of rowing.

She is a former Olympic gold and silver medalist and in 2025 she won the solo women’s event at the World Beach Sprint Championships in Turkey.

It was a battle of the veterans in the final, with Twigg beating fellow 39-year-old Erin James by nine seconds.

James, who rowed with Twigg at the 2003 Junior World Champs, returned to the sport last year after a 17-year break.

Twigg meanwhile appears set to pursue selection for the next Olympics.

“We’ve got qualification next year, there’ll be a continental qualifier and then world champs will be a qualifier as well. Then we start looking at what’s going to happen in terms of prioritising boats for selection as we head into an LA format… It’s going to get spicy.”

Cambridge’s Matt Dunham won the men’s open single against Waikato’s Seb Fulton and was feeling it afterwards.

“I had to race my guts out to go toe-to-toe with Seb. Man, the whole field’s just getting better and better.”

Dunham is also hoping to win selection for worlds and eventually make the team for Los Angeles.

He and James rowed the mixed double in Turkey last year, where they finished inside the top 16.

Twigg and Dunham beat James and Michael Brake in the final of mixed open double.

“I love that I can just push as hard as I bloody can and give Matt and Erin a challenge… as long as I can hold my own and Twigg does her thing like the legend she is, that raises the standard for our whole team,” Dunham said.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Bangladesh have achieved their highest successful home run-chase to beat the Black Caps by six wickets in the first T20 international in Chattogram.

New Zealand scored 182 for six with the home side reaching their target with two overs to spare.

Tawhid Hridoy hit an unbeaten half century off 27 balls, while Shamin Hossain hit 31 off 13 balls to get Bangladesh home.

Earlier, opener Katene Clarke scored his highest score in T20 internationals with 51, while Dane Cleaver also scored a half century and Nick Kelly made 39 in New Zealand’s innings.

However, New Zealand probably should have got more from their middle-order and a score of 200 would have been more competitive.

Ish Sodhi took two wickets in the Bangladesh innings.

Kelly, who was captain for the game with Tom Latham injured, thought their score wasn’t bad.

“Yeah, I thought 180 was a pretty competitive total on that surface. At the halfway mark, we thought we might have been just above par. So, we were happy with 180, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough,” Kelly said afterwards.

“They came out with some good intent, and once the batters were in, they were able to play their shots.

“Our execution probably wasn’t quite where it needed to be today. Their hitting ability tonight was nice. I think they had eight or nine sixes while we were around the four to five mark, so that was probably the main difference.”

Game two of the three-game series is also in Chattogram on Wednesday.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Vic Esson says it “cut deep” that the team does not already have silverware this season.

The Phoenix finished the A-League season in second place and will play Brisbane Roar in a two-legged semi-final kicking off this weekend.

After seven seasons in Europe, including three seasons in Glasgow where she won five trophies, the shot stopper knows what it takes to be a winner and she felt the Phoenix let an opportunity slip this season.

“Since we were so close to first, and I think we had the ability to take first place for the regular season, it definitely cut deep that we weren’t able to do that.

“But here we are in a position where we can try and win some silverware and as we lead up to the semi-final I think we’ve just got to knuckle down and know that we can win this thing.

“We’ve really just got to believe in ourselves.”

Losses to Central Coast and to Western Sydney late last month left Esson “not a little bit, actually a lot disappointed”.

The defeats were “the nail on the coffin” for the Phoenix and ultimately handed Melbourne City a third consecutive minor premiership for finishing top spot after the regular season.

Despite the Football Fern’s disappointment it was the best finish ever for the Phoenix.

When Esson signed with the Phoenix at the start of the season, Bev Priestman had yet to be officially announced as head coach but Esson liked the vision of the club and the competitiveness of the A-League.

Esson cemented her place in goal this season, starting 19 of the team’s 20 games, and was key to the Phoenix claiming the best defensive record in the league.

“It’s very transitional, so it is exciting for a goalkeeper because it keeps you on your toes,” Esson said of the A-League.

“I think as the season’s gone on, I’ve probably gained more consistency amongst my performances, I’d say.

“Hopefully we can continue that on and finish the season on a high.”

Esson was quick to point to it being a team effort in defence.

“We defend from strikers all the way back to the goalkeeper and we pride ourselves in our defence.

“I don’t know what the stats are for shots conceded, but I think they’d be pretty good in our favour, that’s a credit to the defence, especially in our blocking shots and denying opportunities. That’s huge because once it gets past the defenders, anything can happen.”

The Phoenix overcame an injury-hit first half of the season to push on in the second half and now be within reach of a first Grand Final appearance.

“I look back at some of the earlier losses we had in the season and we’ve been able to flip it and make sure that we didn’t turn that into a losing streak.

“There’s a decent amount of talent in the room. We all know we can play football.

“We’ve had good games and bad games this season, but I think the games where we have really dominated are the games which everyone’s applied themselves to the principles that we want to play by.”

Esson experienced finals football in Scotland, with success, but many of her team mates have not been playing for trophies in club football before.

She said Priestman’s knowledge gained from coaching at Football World Cups and Olympics would be crucial when the pressure of finals hit.

“We’re very lucky with Bev, she’s been in some very high performance environments and high stress environments. So she definitely lays down the foundation for us for what to expect and what’s to come and trying to help us to perform at our best.

“There’s leaders in the team, for sure, who try and bring the group along with them but I think we’re in a good position with Bev and what she’s done in the past.”

The Phoenix are away to Brisbane in the first leg of the semi-final on Sunday and host the second leg at Porirua Park on 10 May.

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

The Crusaders are pushing to host next year’s Super Round on the back of the success of the Super Rugby Pacific extravaganza at Christchurch’s new stadium.

The prospect for a three-year deal to host Super Round is also on the cards, with Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley enthusiastic about the idea at a press conference after the Chiefs beat the Fijian Drua in the final match on Sunday night.

However, other team franchises are also keen to host the next round, which involves five matches being played at the same venue over three days, with Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph already suggesting Dunedin as the venue for next year.

“There are interested other parties, but obviously these guys, the Crusaders and the city backed it to bring it back, so you know we will certainly be starting there. But we will have conversations with other places as well,” Mesley said.

Crusaders boss Colin Mansbridge is pushing hard for a repeat, on the back of the success of Anzac weekend, with Christchurch New Zealand chief executive Ali Adams also very happy with the result.

“We’ve had about over 70,000 people through, about 13,000 people from out of town and it should bring in well over $6 million of visitor spend and I think that’s probably conservative,” Adams told the press conference.

“When we do the final wash-up it feels like because we had such good weather and people were out and about spending money, it feels like I think we’ll over-deliver so we’re really thrilled.”

Mesley described it as “an incredible long weekend for Super Rugby Pacific”, which included three sellout crowds at the 25,000 seater stadium and exceeded his organisation’s high hopes for the weekend.

It started with [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/593355/live-super-rugby-pacific-crusaders-v-nsw-waratahs-at-te-kaha-one-new-zealand-stadium the Crusaders winning their first game at Te Kaha, beating the Waratahs 35-20 on Friday night, before [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/593415/super-rugby-pacific-hurricanes-v-act-brumbies the Hurricanes cleaned up the Brumbies 45-12 and [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/593420/super-rugby-pacific-blues-survive-another-late-scare-to-go-top the Blues just got home over the Reds, 36-33, on Saturday.

On Sunday, the Highlanders beat Moana Pasifika 27-17, before the Chiefs closed out the weekend with a 42-22 win over the Fijian Drua.

Mesley will be having discussions with the Crusaders, Christchurch NZ and other franchises about next year’s venue and the possibility of a multi-year deal.

The rugby weekend follows Supercars racing in Christchurch for the first time last weekend as part of three-year-deal.

Adams said the best events are ones “rooted in a place and stay there”.

“So we would love to be able to make this a bit of a super week that we can start to sort of re-own here in Christchurch.”

She said Christchurch had a lot in its favour for hosting events.

“Having the stadium in the central city and having the capacity that we’ve got in terms of hotels and beds makes a huge difference. And the fact that you … jump out of your plane at the airport, 20 minutes you’re in the city and you can walk everywhere. That’s pretty hard to replicate. So we will be talking about that as advantages as we try and get Jack to sign on the dotted line.”

Asked about the prospect of crowds dropping away in future years after the drawcard of a stadium opening, Mesley said he was confident they wouldn’t.

“I think what you saw in there is an environment in the stadium that fans want. And it has been missing in New Zealand probably since the sevens, from everything I know. So I think there is an event here that people want. I don’t think that is relying on the opening of a stadium. And I think it can become something very special.”

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

Source: Radio New Zealand

Spin-bowling all-rounders Flora Devonshire, Nensi Patel, and batters Emma McLeod and Izzy Sharp will make their first international tour after winning inclusion in the White Ferns squad for next month’s ODI series in England.

The foursome, all in their early 20s, featured in the ODI home series wins over Zimbabwe and South Africa this summer and face a sterner test of their skills in three matches against the second-ranked women’s team in the format.

Devonshire was named in last year’s Cricket World Cup squad but returned home without playing a game after injuring a finger during training.

Melie Kerr is captain of a side which also includes senior players Bates, Maddy Green, and Brooke Halliday.

Bates’ will bring the curtain down on a 181-match ODI career, having announced last week she’ll retire after the T20 World Cup in June-July.

Coach Ben Sawyer liked the balance in his 15-strong squad.

“We’ve got some exciting young talent in this squad with the likes of Emma, Izzy, Nensi, and Flora, alongside our core group of seasoned campaigners,” he said.

“Our younger players are finding their feet in international cricket but they’ve proved they have what it takes to succeed at this level.”

The team will play a warm-up match against an ECB development 11 on May 6 before ODIs in Durham, Northampton and Cardiff.

The squad for the T20 leg series in England and the subsequent T20 World Cup will be named on Wednesday.

White Ferns ODI squad:

Melie Kerr (capt), Suzie Bates, Flora Devonshire, Izzy Gaze, Maddy Green, Brooke Halliday, Bree Illing, Polly Inglis, Jess Kerr, Emma McLeod, Rosemary Mair, Nensi Patel, Molly Penfold, Georgia Plimmer, Izzy Sharp

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Auckland FC have missed out on a first-round bye in the A-League playoffs, after a 2-2 draw with Sydney FC in their regular season finale.

The Black Knights entered their final fixture in second place on the competition table, with the top two teams locking in a rest week to begin the post-season.

With several other teams breathing down their necks, Auckland needed victory to assure themselves of the bye, but were always chasing their rivals across the Tasman.

Scoreless at halftime, Sydney took the lead with Ben Garruccio’s first goal for the club, a rightfooted effort from outside the penalty area.

Uruguayan substitute Guillermo May replied, when Sam Cosgrove nodded a long throw-in across goal and May’s header deflected off a defender into the net.

Sydney took the lead back with five minutes of regulation remaining, as Alexandar Popovic loomed at the far post to guide home a corner.

May had a second off his head to earn the draw and keep Auckland’s hopes alive, as they finished their campaign with 11 wins, nine draws and six defeats – less losses than any other team in the league, but also more draws.

They lost their grip on the top two, when Adelaide United rallied from 1-0 down against Melbourne City, with two goals from Luka Jovanovic, the breakout winner coming eight minutes into injury time.

Jovanovic’s double elevated him to the top of the Golden Boot standings, with Auckland’s Cosgrover, but the striker earned an extra week off, when he took his shirt off during his wild goal celebration and was red-carded from the field.

Adelaide join Premier Plate winners Newcastle Jets with the bye next week, while Auckland FC host Melbourne City in a one-off elimination final.

Victory would see them pitted against Adelaide in the home-and-away semifinals.

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