V8 Supercars
Sydney Supersprint, today from 10am; tomorrow from 11.30am.
After a month doing other things, the V8s are back into it for round nine of a championship which continues to blossom. They’re in Sydney’s west at the Sydney Motorsport Park — formerly Eastern Creek — for two races: today’s 31 laps of the 3.9km circuit and tomorrow’s 52 laps and 200km. With just 150 points splitting the top four drivers, there’s plenty at stake. Jamie Whincup is 110 points ahead of Shane Van Gisbergen, who has won four times this term — two more than any of his rivals. Defending champion Mark Winterbottom is just 10 points back in third, with Craig Lowndes 30 back in fourth. Scott McLaughlin rounds out the top five but has work to do. Van Gisbergen and Lowndes shared the spoils in Ipswich last time out. Chas Mostert won two of last year’s three races in Sydney, with Whincup taking the second. Kiwi Fabian Coulthard bagged a couple of seconds and will fancy his chances again. The V8 train then heads to Sandown for round 10 before returning to New South Wales for Bathurst, where Mostert saw his season unravel a year ago. Northland FC v Takapuna; Papatoetoe v Manukau City 5pm; Te Atatu bye. Women’s premier, tomorrow 1pm, Hamilton Wanderers v Papatoetoe ( final game of league). Wests Tigers under- 20, Mt Smart Stadium 1.45pm. NRL, Warriors v Wests Tigers, Mt Smart Stadium 4pm.
Auckland premier, today, SAS Fox Memorial, preliminary final, Pt Chev v Mt Albert, Mt Smart 2 2.30pm. Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup, preliminary finals, Waitemata v Bay Roskill, Mt Smart 2 11am; Ellerslie v Te Atatu, Ellerslie Domain 2.30pm.
NZRL National Competition qualifying, today, Bay of Plenty v Waikato, Puketawhero Park, Rotorua 2.30pm; Coastline v Northland, Mitchell Park, Tauranga 2.30pm.