ANZ Premiership: Injury-riddled Northern Stars too strong for Mainland Tactix
Paris Lokotui in action for Mainland Tactix.
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Injury-riddled Northern Stars have proved too strong for Mainland Tactix, leading for all but the opening 12 minutes to prevail 57-52 in their ANZ Premiership encounter at Auckland's Pulman Arena.
The home side led by as many as 10 points in the final quarter, before a flurry of two-point goals in the final minutes, narrower the eventual margin.
Towering Aussie shooter Charlie Bell dominated at the attacking end for the Stars, converting 40/44 (90.9 percent) attempts at goal, including three from long range.
At the other end, Martina Salmon slotted 36/43 (83.7 percent) for the Tactix, but the Stars defenders also proved effective, with goal defence Liviwa Tokaduadua grabbing five of their seven intercepts.
The Stars lost several players to injury during a torrid home derby against Northern Mystics last week, with former Silver Fern Kayla Johnson summoned from retirement to help fill the void. Johnson logged 16 minutes at wing defence across the third and fourth quarters.
The result leaves both teams with a win and a loss from their two rounds, trailling the defending champion Mystics, who have two wins.
Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic host Southern Steel in Hamilton on Monday, both still searching for their first wins of the season.
Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Golf: 'It's going to be a beat-up' - Ryan Fox on US Open
Ryan Fox of New Zealand lifts the championship trophy after winning the Canadian Open, 2025. Photo: Julian Avram/Icon Sportswire In-form Auckland golfer Ryan Fox is on his way to Pennsylvania for the US Open, hoping to have a bit of fun in the third major of the year. For the second time this season Fox has qualified for a major by winning the week before . The 38-year-old won the Canadian Open in Toronto on Monday (NZT) in a four hole play-off. He became the second New Zealand winner of the tournament following Sir Bob Charles in 1968, and will now be hoping to become the second New Zealander to win the US Open following Michael Campbell in 2005. A month ago Fox won the Myrtle Beach Classic to qualify him for the US PGA Championship. Having never played there, Fox has heard the Oakmont course is going to be challenging. "I've seen enough stuff on social media and talked to a couple of guys that went early this week and it sounds like it's going to be a beat-up, which will be fun." The 2016 U.S. Open Championship at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania, United States of America. Photo: Koji Aoki / PHOTOSPORT Fox travelled south to the United States on Monday and was planning on having two practice rounds on the course before the start of the tournament. "I've heard it is a fantastic golf course, it's hard, the greens are tricky and they're going to be running scary fast. From what it looks like the rough is straight hack-out. "It's going to be a little different from [the Canadian Open]. I don't think 18-under is going to be needed. I like that style of golf, maybe not every week, but it is fun to play every now and again and you know that par is a good score." Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania was hosting the US Open for the 10th time, known as being one of the toughest tests in golf. It had the longest par-three in major golf at 275 metres, while the two par-fives were 558 and 577 metres. The last time the US Open was played at Oakmont in 2016, Dustin Johnson won with a four-under par score, with just four players finishing under par. Fox has played the US Open six times, missing the cut three times, with his best result a tie for 41st in 2018. While Fox had won twice in the last month, American world number one Scottie Scheffler had won three of his past four starts and was the favourite for this week's tournament. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
an hour ago
- RNZ News
Cricket: Former Black Cap captain Daniel Vettori added to ICC Hall of Fame
Photo: PHOTOSPORT Former Black Cap Daniel Vettori is among seven new inductees added to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Hall of Fame. ICC chair Jay Shah welcomed the new members at a gala event at Abbey Road Studios in London. Vettori played 442 matches for New Zealand - 113 tests, 296 ODIs and 34 T20Is. Since his retirement in 2015, Vettori has coached with national teams like Australia and in several franchise leagues. The other inductees were Matthew Hayden, Hashim Amla, MS Dhoni, Graeme Smith, Sana Mir and Sarah Taylor. 113 tests - 4531 runs at an average of 30, 362 wickets 295 ODIs - 2253 runs at 17.33, 305 wickets 34 T20Is - 205 runs at 12.81, 38 wickets An outstanding left-arm spin bowler who was a more than handy middle to lower-order batter. Vettori paved out an excellent career, one of just three players to score 4000 runs and take 300 wickets in test cricket. He was also an excellent captain for the Black Caps, taking over from Stephen Fleming and leading the side to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy in 2009. Now an assistant coach with the Australian team, Vettori was in London to receive his Hall of Fame induction in person. "Looking at the past inductees of the ICC Hall of Fame, one can see the outstanding talent and contribution they made to the growth and popularity of the game," Vettori said. "To gain recognition alongside them is simply overwhelming and I can't find words to describe the feeling." Veteran Black Cap Daniel Vettori's glasses have earned him the nickname 'Harry Potter'. Photo: AFP 103 tests - 8625 runs at an average of 50.73 161 ODIs - 6133 runs at 43.80 9 T20Is - 308 runs at 51.33 A powerful opening batter who intimidated the best fast bowlers in the world. With a whopping 30 test centuries and an average greater than 50, Hayden's outstanding numbers in the longest format speak for themselves. The left-hander was just as adept in the 50-over game, smashing three centuries alone at the 2007 edition of the men's Cricket World Cup to finish the tournament as the leading run-scorer. It was the second of two World Cup titles that Hayden helped Australia win, and the burly opener has since turned into a highly respected commentator. 124 tests - 9282 runs at an average of 46.64 181 ODIs - 8113 runs 49.46 44 T20Is - 1277 runs 33.60 A calm and composed top-order batter. Amla's overall record was top class in test cricket and perhaps even more outstanding in the 50-over format as the underrated right-hander scored bulk runs against every opposition and in all conditions. With a superb cover drive and a trademark leg-side flick, Amla was a mode of consistency and a reliable member of a powerful South African side that scaled the heights to become the top-ranked test team during his long and distinguished career. Amla dominated bowling attacks for much of his 15-year international career, becoming the first South African to score a triple century when he hit an unbeaten 311 against England in 2012 when he was at the top of his game. A total of 55 international centuries shows exactly how good Amla was. 90 tests - 4876 runs at an average of 38.08, 294 dismissals 350 ODIs - 10,773 runs at 50.57, 444 dismissals 98 T20Is - 1617 runs at 37.60, 91 dismissals MS Dhoni produced many highlights throughout his lengthy international career. His most memorable came when he produced one of his trademark helicopter shots when hitting the winning runs for India at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, but there was so much more to the inspirational skipper. Dhoni was ahead of his time with the way he kept wickets in all formats, but perhaps excelled most against the white ball, well-renowned for his ability to time a run chase to perfection in the dying overs. The Indian great remains the only captain to win all three ICC white-ball tournaments, having led India to success at the inaugural ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2007, the 50-over World Cup in 2011 and the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013. 117 tests - 9265 runs at an average of 48.25, 8 wickets 197 ODIs - 6989 runs at 37.98, 18 wickets 33 T20Is - 982 runs at 31.67 A superb opening batter and arguably an even better captain. Smith forged a great career as a tough and uncompromising top-order batter and was thrust into the captaincy role he relished at the young age of 22. He excelled in this position in what was a high-class South African side, and hit new heights as a batter while captaining the team. 120 ODIs - 1630 runs at an average of 17.91, 151 wickets 106 T20Is - 802 runs at 14.07, 89 wickets Sana Mir becomes the first Pakistan women to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame, following a superb international career. With more than 200 international wickets against the white ball, Mir is renowned for her work on the field and off the field. She was well-known for her strong stance on body shaming, prioritising mental health and helping people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and fulfils a childhood dream by joining the ICC Hall of Fame. 10 tests - 300 runs at an average of 18.75, 20 dismissals 126 ODIs - 4056 runs at 38.26, 138 dismissals 90 T20Is - 2177 runs at 29.02, 74 dismissals One of the most talented female players in recent times, England's star keeper-batter Sarah Taylor joins the ICC Hall of Fame following a 14-year international career. While Taylor was renowned for her sensational glovework behind the stumps and her trademark leg-side stumpings, she was also an extremely capable top-order batter and her record in big games was further indication of this. Taylor played a major role in helping England win the double of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup and ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2009, and then stepped up once again at the backend of the 2017 50-over World Cup triumph on home soil by top-scoring for her side in the semi-final victory over South Africa, and then producing an equally important innings of 45 in the title decider with India. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Early Sports Chat for 10 June 2025
An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
