Sports shorts
Ko has sting in tale
Lydia Ko turned nurse during the opening round of the latest event on the LPGA tour in Phoenix. The Kiwi world No 1 helped defending Founders Cup champion Sei Young Kim overcame a bee sting on the palm of her right hand to shoot 67 yesterday. Playing partner Ko helped her seek treatment, and Kim played the final nine bogey- free with four birdies. “I’m like, ‘ What?’ You need to tell someone and get some ointment on it,”’ said Ko, who shot 68.
Black Sticks start with victory
The New Zealand men’s hockey team opened their series against Pakistan with a 3- 2 win at Wellington’s National Hockey Stadium last night. In Darren Smith’s first outing as coach, the Black Sticks controlled much of the possession throughout the match. Defender Cory Bennett delivered a stinging penalty corner flick and set up Sam Lane from another, while Stephen Jenness added a terrific field goal. The match marked the New Zealand debuts of Cam Hayde, Nick Elder and Jonty Keaney.
Miller’s record win
Joseph Miller took out the prized 100m sprint title at the national athletics championships in Hamilton last night. Miller’s 10.18s performance earned him a New Zealand residents’ record, eclipsing his 10.24s effort in Canberra last week and also lopping 0.1s off Chris Donaldson’s previous best mark set 18 years ago at the same venue. However, the time still left him short of qualifying for this year’s world championships.
Cotter in last hurrah
Kiwi Vern Cotter will coach the Scotland rugby team for the last time tomorrow morning. The Scots, who can finish anywhere from second to fifth, take on Italy at Murrayfield in their final Six Nations match of the season. The New Zealander has refused to talk about his reluctant departure — his contract wasn’t renewed — until after the match, and has gagged his players from talking about him to focus on winning.
Thunder triumph again
Kiwi star Steve Adams scored 10 points and five rebounds as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Toronto Raptors 123- 102 in the NBA. Russell Westbrook posted his 34th triple- double of the season, with 24 points, 16 assists and 10 rebounds. It was the Thunder’s fourth consecutive victory.
Super Rugby uninterrupted
New Zealand and Australia have been granted their wish for the Super Rugby season to proceed uninterrupted, with mid- year tests to be pushed back from 2020 as part of changes to the global rugby calendar. World Rugby has made the decision to shift the June international window back a month to July after 2019, allowing the Super Rugby competition to wrap up in June without a month- long break. The new July international window will flow into the Rugby Championship starting in August.
Saints sting Bay
The Wellington Saints got their NBL season off to a flying start in the capital last night by thrashing the Bay Hawks 107- 84. Saints led early and were never threatened. Returning after off- court woes, Breakers star Corey Webster top- scored for the Saints with 29 points, while Josh Duinker ( 18) and Tai Wesley ( 17) also made handy contributions.