It was a bumper weekend of sport across Aotearoa and the world stage, with rugby, netball, football, Formula One and squash all delivering major talking points.
In Super Rugby Pacific, the Crusaders made the loudest statement of the playoffs, smashing the Blues 66-12 in Christchurch to surge into the semi-finals and end the defending champions’ season.
In netball, the Mystics showed their championship grit, coming from behind to beat the Tactix 53-51 in extra time and stay top of the ANZ Premiership ladder.
The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic also produced a memorable weekend, celebrating Erena Mikaere’s 150th national league match with a 50-39 win over Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse. A powerful second-half surge turned the match in their favour, with Saviour Tui leading the way in the shooting circle.
In football, the All Whites were left ruing a narrow 1-0 loss to England in Tampa, Florida, after defending strongly for long periods before being undone by a late first-half goal.
On the Formula One circuit, Liam Lawson matched his best-ever result, finishing fifth at a chaotic Monaco Grand Prix. The Kiwi driver kept his nerve through drama, penalties and late-race pressure to bank another major result on one of motorsport’s biggest stages.
And in squash, Paul Coll added another title to his growing legacy, continuing his strong run as one of New Zealand’s elite international athletes.
From Christchurch to Monaco, and from the court to the track, the weekend belonged to Kiwi grit, finals pressure and big-stage performances.
