Category: Sport

Source: Radio New Zealand

An in-form Daniel Hillier surged to the late lead before settling for runner-up honours and a healthy pay-day at the Dubai Invitational.

The New Zealand golfer finished alone in second place behind Spaniard Nacho Elvira, who managed a par on his final hole to finish on 10-under, one stroke ahead of Hillier.

New Zealand compatriot Ryan Fox was in a share of 27th on two-over.

A mammoth putt for birdie on the 15th hole put Hillier on top of the leaderboard, closing with a six-under 65 to be clear of a group that included Northern Ireland’s world No.2 Rory McIlroy.

However, Elvira held his nerve, shooting birdie on the 17th to ultimately leave Hillier receiving a nevertheless sizeable cheque of US$302,000 (NZ$526,000).

“To be honest, at the start of the week I was chatting with (Ryan) Foxy, and we had a couple of nine-hole matches and he said ‘why can’t you be like this when you’re playing in a tournament?’,” Hillier said.

“Just pretend I was playing a little nine-hole match against the golf course, and yeah, basically taking it one shot at a time. For the most part, happy days.”

Hillier is in a rich vein of form, having opened the season with sixth and fifth placings at the Australian PGA Championship and Australian Open respectively.

He placed 16th at last November’s season-ending World Tour Championship, a result that left him fractionally short of earning a maiden PGA Tour card.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Raglan surfers Billy Stairmand and Maya Mateja have picked up the premier prizes at the national surfing championships north of Gisborne.

It was ninth national title for Stairmand, while 17-year-old Mateja bagged her second crown, with both handling the unruly 1.5m waves at Makorori Beach with aplomb.

Stairmand was delighted to snare his first piece of national silverware since 2021, the 36-year-old needing to see off the largest field of surfers in the past two decades.

“I had a couple of scrappy heats this week, it was small most of the week but contestable and I just couldn’t find my rhythm,” he said.

“I actually changed up my boards today too which was good and I saved my best performance until last. My ninth title feels real good.”

Stairmand tallied 17.84 points to dominate the final, with defending champion Alexis Owen of Dunedin finishing runner up.

The women’s final was closer, clinched by Mateja when she scored a late wave score of 5.73 for a total of 12.80 to narrowly pip Ariana Walker.

“I feel so happy and blessed, super grateful to be here with my family and enjoy the event and get the win this week,” said Mateja.

“Really hard conditions today, I didn’t know what was going on out there because I couldn’t hear the scores coming out. The other girls were surfing good, so I knew I had to concentrate on getting more good waves for the win and when I came into the beach, I found out that I did enough.”

Owen won the under-18 boys title while Taranaki claimed the under-18 boys title.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Ally Wollaston will take a 14-second lead into the third and final stage of the Tour Down Under after dominating the first two days of the World Tour race in Adelaide.

Wollaston powered to victory in each of the first two stages, leaving many of the world’s premier riders in her wake.

Both finishes were uphill sprints, which suited the 25-year-old former track star perfectly, calling on her power to twice clinch victory for her French team FDJ-United Suez.

Despite admitted to lacking energy for Sunday’s second stage, Wollaston was still able to burn off the tour’s defending champion Noemi Ruegg of Switzerland and beat her to the line.

Monday afternoon’s 126km stage is in the hills neighbouring Adelaide, where Wollaston and her teammates can expect to be subjected to attacks in temperatures of around 30 degrees.

Wollaston is a former two-time track world champion and won also won silver and bronze in track events at the Paris Olympics.

The Aucklander has also had her share of success as a road professional.

A year ago she won the Great Ocean Road Race one-day event near Melbourne and went on to clinch the overall prize at the Tour of Britain.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps batters Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips have scored centuries in a devastating partnership to lay the platform for a 41-run win over India in their third one-day international (ODI), which sealed a comeback 2-1 series victory.

A target of 337 left the hosts facing a daunting task and they ran out of steam despite veteran Virat Kohli’s battling knock of 124.

India started shakily and lost wickets at frequent intervals before Kohli gave home fans hope as he combined with Nitish Kumar Reddy (53) in an 88-run partnership.

Kristian Clarke removed Reddy to stymie India’s momentum and the required run rate quickly climbed, but Kohli found another able partner in Harshit Rana as the pair stepped on the gas.

Kohli reached a record-extending 54th ODI century and Rana hit a whirlwind 52 off 43 balls, but a decisive over from Zak Foulkes broke India’s resistance.

Foulkes tempted Rana with a full toss which was caught by Henry Nicholls at long-on, before an edge from Mohammed Siraj carried through to wicketkeeper Mitchell Hay on the next delivery.

The final blow was dealt two overs later, when Kohli miscued a shot and sent the ball sailing into the hands of Mitchell at long-off.

New Zealand were struggling at 58-3 after being put into bat on a Holkar Stadium wicket known for producing high-scoring games.

However, Mitchell took the attack to the hosts’ bowlers and was well supported by Phillips as they added 219 in 188 balls.

Mitchell, who made 84 in the first ODI and 131 in the second, hit 15 fours and three sixes to post a career-high ODI score of 137 and record his fourth century in India.

The teams next meet in a five-match Twenty20 International series from 21-31January (local time), a key part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup which begins on 7 February and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

-Reuters

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Follow all the action, as the Black Caps take on India in their one-day series decider at Rajkot.

First ball at Niranjan Shah Stadium is scheduled for 9pm NZT.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

“Pretty shaken” Black Foils skipper Peter Burling is taking stock, while overseeing crucial repairs to the team boat, after a disastrous Perth SailGP outing at Freemantle.

Damage sustained in a collision with the Swiss boat on the opening day of the new season saw the Kiwi team sidelined after just one race.

Black Foils co-chief executive and driver Burling said it was obviously disappointing to take no further part in the regatta.

He did not believe his team were at , after the Swiss crew crashed into the back of the Kiwi F50 boat, although his view differed from that of course officials.

As well as missing the day’s racing, the Kiwi team were also handed a seven-point penalty for the event and will therefore be deducted three season points.

An eight-point penalty was initially handed down, but was reduced after an appeal. Burling expressed considerable frustration with the situation.

“We obviously saw the incident a different way to the umpires, so made an appeal, and disagree with the subsequent outcome,” he said.

“They have made their decision and we have to deal with it now, but believe it sets a concerning precedent for the season.

“The impact was about a metre away from me and it left me pretty shaken.

“I’m also concerned that the penalty decision sets a worrying precedent for the season and the safety of the fleet.”

The incident saw the Swiss collide with the port stern of the team’s F50. Both teams took no further part in the day’s racing, although no injuries were reported on either boat.

“We did everything we could to keep clear and I am not sure what else we could have done in the situation,” Burling said. “It’s frustrating to have an incident like this, but we just have to review from here and see what the situation is with the repairs.”

While New Zealand were also landlocked for the second day of racing, Switzerland returned to the water, finishing 10th, fifth and seventh to sit 11th of the 13 boats overall.

Burling said his team would return to the drawingboard before the next round at home on the Waitematā Harbour, starting 14 February.

“It’s certainly not the outcome we’d hoped for. It’s important now that we come together and use our time together here productively before Auckland.”

Burling added the team would work hard with SailGP to get back on the water as soon as possible.

“Everyone has seen the extent of the damage,” he said. “There is no transom on our boat.

“We will just have to see how quickly the league can rebuild the boat and see what the situation will be going forward.”

– RNZ

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Source: Radio New Zealand

World team pursuit medallist Marshall Erwood has an early lead in cycling’s Tour of Southland after the opening stages.

The Cambridge-based Southlander capped a day of competitive racing on the first day of the rescheduled 2025 tour, featuring a field of nearly 100 riders.

Erwood’s Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project team enjoyed a successful day, after they won the team time trial prologue on a new 4.2km circuit in north Invercargill, before the U23 rider finished second in the 42km stage one street race on the same course to take the overall lead in the general classification.

“I would have loved to have put the arms in the air and pulled [the stage win] off, but second is leaving me wanting something more for the tour,” Erwood said.

Receiving the leader’s orange jersey was a big moment for the 20-year-old rider, who also won bronze as a member of New Zealand men’s pursuit team at the 2025 UCI World Track Cycling Championships in Santiago.

“It was pretty special,” he said. “Nick Kergozou has been in the jersey, Josh Burnett has been in the jersey… to be among some world class Southlanders is pretty special.”

Hamilton’s Zakk Patterson (Quality Foods Southland-Gough Brothers) produced a classy sprint at the front of the 96-strong peloton to win the opening stage from Erwood and PowerNet’s Kiaan Watts. Earlier in the stage, he also took sprint points for an early lead in the Sprint Ace classification.

Victory was a great reward for a rider who had twice won the Te Anau stage in Southland, but was in doubt to even make it to the start-line this year, due to a recent throat infection.

“I had no expectations coming into this,” Patterson said. “I was pretty sick a few weeks ago and didn’t even know if I’d be able to race.

“I came good the week before the tour, and had a couple of rides and a club race. With one lap to go, I was in a good position and the legs were feeling good.”

Creation Signs-MitoQ-NZ Cycling Project lead the teams classification, with Ben Dyball the leading over-35 rider.

Erwood leads by four seconds overall from a group of six riders, including Watts. Defending champion Josh Burnett (PowerNet) featured at the front of the street race at times and finished day one safely, six seconds behind.

Erwood relished the chance to be the rider everyone was watching before tomorrow’s 151km stage from Invercargill to Gore.

“It’s going to be hard,” he said. “There’s a pretty classy field and to be going head to head with them is pretty special.”

– RNZ

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Black Caps captain Michael Bracewell says he didn’t expect to play one game for New Zealand, let alone bring up his 100th ODI wearing the silver fern.

Bracewell leads a depleted touring side hoping to seal its first-ever one-day series in India in the third and final match at Indore on Sunday NZT.

“For a long time, I never thought I’d play once, so to be standing here on the eve of 100 games is pretty special,” he said.

Ten years after making his first-class debut, Bracewell was a late starter to international cricket at the age of 31, handed his first one-day cap against the Netherlands in 2022.

“Every one of those games has been a significant achievement, I think, and certainly one that I go out and play with a lot of pride.”

Bracewell, now 34, admitted his international career had unfolded unexpectedly, especially the extent to which he has become a regular bowling option for New Zealand.

“Each format has its unique challenges and I think probably one thing I wasn’t expecting as I was younger was the bowling opportunities that I’ve had.

“It’s something that I’ve really enjoyed, being able to try and work up my game, and understand how to bowl in different conditions.”

He said his career had been shaped by patience and perseverance.

“Each different format offers hugely different challenges. I think that’s something that I’m really proud of, trying to adjust and being effective in different formats in different conditions around the world.”

Being entrusted with the ODI captaincy had also been a source of pride. New Zealand has visited India on 16 different tours for ODI cricket, including four World Cups, but a series triumph has so far eluded them.

In the current three-match one-day series, the hosts claimed the opening game at Vadodara, but New Zealand came back in the second match at Rajkot to win by seven wickets to draw level.

Daryl Mitchell helped set up the win, scoring 131 not out off 117 balls, as the Black Caps also sealed their highest ODI chase of 286 on Indian soil.

Bracewell said the team was aware of the opportunity ahead of them to create more cricketing history.

“It’s a unique opportunity with the series on the line, and hopefully, we can do the little things well and see where we end up.”

“What we’ve done well this series is concentrate on the things that we can control.”

“In both games we’ve stayed in the games for long periods, so hopefully, we can repeat that process and come out on the right side of the result.”

The game starts at 9pm Sunday NZT.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

Late goals from teenagers Zoe Benson and Pia Vlok have secured Wellington Phoenix a 2-nil victory over second-placed Canberra United FC, in a round 13 A-League clash.

Benson, 19, broke the deadlock four minutes from time on Saturday at McKellar Park, shortly after she came off the bench, while Vlok, 17, scored a sensational second deep in added time to seal the three points.

The result on Saturday moves Wellington up to seventh on the ladder.

The hosts played the entirety of the second half with just 10 players after having a player sent off in first half stoppage time, and Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman says they had to be patient.

“Pia’s been outstanding all season and Zoe all week has looked like she could score,” Priestman said.

“She did exactly what I asked of her from the moment she went on the pitch and I’m delighted for her.

“This club is big on promoting young players and if they’re good enough they’re old enough and I’m delighted for them to go and deliver.”

The Wellington Phoenix return home today, then have a full week to prepare to face Adelaide United at Porirua Park on Sunday 25 January.

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Source: Radio New Zealand

NZ Breakers NBL season is still alive, after they beat Cairns Taipans 104-86 in their latest match.

The win was their second in a row and was largely built on a dominant performance from Sam Mennenga, who finished with 28 points and five rebounds.

The team now have a 10-15 record and remain in touch with the top six.

The Breakers started strongly to lead 26-21 at the end of the first quarter and, although the Taipans piled in 30 points in the second quarter, the Breakers weren’t rattled, as they still managed to lead at the half 55-51.

They then pushed out to a double-figure lead in the third term with a run of nine straight points, which set them on the path to the 18-point win.

Other strong contributors for the Breakers were Izaiah Brockington who scored 24 points, while Parker Jackson-Cartwright had 17 points, 10 assists and five steals, and ‘Next Star’ Karim Lopez 16 points and 11 rebounds.

Cairns coach Adam Forde was ejected, left fuming and baffled all season long about the lack of calls point guard Andrew Andrews has been getting.

That all spilled over midway through the second quarter, with another no-call, when Andrews took a hit to his head. Forde made his feelings known to the officials and he was sent packing.

Tall Blacks guard Mojave King had a strong game for the Taipans, finishing with 19 points.

The Breakers will now attempt to chase down sixth-placed Tasmania JackJumpers (12-13) with their next game at South East Melbourne on Wednesday.

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