Athletics

Today, Auckland marathon, start Devonport 6am; half marathon, start Devonport 6.50am; 12km, start Smales Farm, Nothcote 8.50am; 5km, start Pt Erin pools 10am – all races finish Victoria Park.

Boxing

Friday, Shane Cameron Fight Night, ABA Stadium, 1 Ngahura St from 6pm.

Cricket

Plunket Shield

Monday- Thursday ( 10.30am), Central Districts v Auckland, Saxton Oval; Canterbury v Northern Districts, Mainpower Oval, Rangiora; Wellington v Otago, Basin Reserve.

Auckland club, today, premier men, Hedley Howarth, two- day major championship ( 11am), round one, day two, Howick Pakuranga 371/ 6 dec v Takapuna 33/ 1, Lloyd Elsmore Park; Cornwall 189 v Parnell 52/ 2, Cornwall Park; East Coast

Catch this

The curtain finally rolls down on the rugby season with the finals of the various provincial competitions. But that’s not quite the end of winter sport. The Rugby League World Cup is under way with the Kiwis at home to Samoa tonight. There’s the second round of Plunket Shield action, with the Auckland Aces again on the road, this time in Nelson to face the Central Districts Stags. The Wellington Phoenix are up against cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar at Westpac Stadium tonight. There are full rounds in domestic football. The Caro Bowls are also under way, with tennis matches now across Friday night and the weekend. On Friday, there’s another fight night for boxing fans at the Auckland Boxing Association's headquarters in Eden Terrace. Bays 123 and 7/ 0 v Auckland University 131/ 9 dec, Colin Maiden Park; Papatoetoe 201 v Grafton United 89/ 6, Papatoetoe Rec Ground. Tom Hellaby, two- day minor championship ( 11am), round one, day two, Ellerslie 146 v Suburbs New Lynn 211/ 3, Michaels Ave; Eden Roskill 222 v Waitakere 79/ 8, Keith Hay Park; North Shore 194 v Birkenhead City 72 and 7/ 1, Devonport Domain.

Premier women, Prichard Cup, Limited Overs Championship ( 11am), round one, Waitakere v Cornwall, Te Atatu Park; Howick Pakuranga v Takapuna, Lloyd Elsmore Park; Parnell v Papatoetoe, Orakei Domain.

Football

Hyundai A- League, today, Wellington Phoenix v Brisbane Roar, Westpac Stadium 7.35pm.

ISPS Handa Premiership, tomorrow, Hamilton Wanderers v Hawke’s Bay United, Porritt Stadium 2pm; Southern United v Eastern Suburbs, Sunnyvale Park 2pm; Canterbury United Dragons v Tasman United, English Park 2pm; Wellington Phoenix Reserves v Team Wellington, David Farrington Park 2pm; Waitakere United v Auckland City, The Trusts Arena 4.35pm.

National Youth League, today, Southern United v Eastern Suburbs, Tahuna Park 1pm; Hamilton Wanderers v Hawke’s Bay United, Porritt Stadium 2pm; Wellington Phoenix Youth v Team Wellington, St Patrick’s College ( Kilbirnie) 2pm; tomorrow, Canterbury United v Tasman United, English Park 11am; Waitakere United v Auckland City, The Trusts Arena 1pm.

National Women's League, today, Capital v Central Memorial Park, Petone 1pm; Southern United v WaiBOP, Tahuna Park 3pm; tomorrow, Northern v Canterbury United Pride, QBE Stadium, Domain 3 1pm.

Golf

Today/ tomorrow, Asia Pacific Amateur Championship ( continues), Royal Wellington GC.

League

World Cup, today, New Zealand v Samoa, Mt Smart Stadium 8pm.

Rugby

Today, Mitre 10 Cup, Premiership Final, Canterbury v Tasman, AMI Stadium 7.35pm. Mitre 10 Heartland Championship, Meads Cup Final, Horowhenua- Kapiti v Wanganui, Levin 2.35pm. Farah Palmer Cup women's national championship, championship final, Bay of Plenty v Otago, Blake Park, Mt Maunganui noon.

Tomorrow, Heartland Championship, Lochore Cup Final, Mid Canterbury v West Coast, Methven 2.35pm. Farah Palmer Cup, premiership final, Counties Manukau v Canterbury, ECOLight Stadium 2.05pm.

Softball

Today, Auckland premier, men, Otahuhu v Waitakere Bears, Sturges Park 3.30pm; Auckland United v Roosters, Fowlds Park 3.30pm ( also Trevor Rowse Challenge); Marist v Northcote, Simson Park 3.30pm; Eden Roskill v Mt Albert Ramblers, May Rd War Memorial Park 3.30pm; Auckland United v Howick, Fowlds Park 5.30pm. Women, Howick v Drury, Meadowlands 1.30pm; Otahuhu v Glenfield, Sturges Park 1.30pm; Western v Waitakere Bears, Brains Park 1.30pm ( also Colleen Callaghan Challenge); Marist v Mt Albert Ramblers, Simson Park 1.30pm.

Speedway

Today, Waikaraka Park, gates open 4pm; first race 6pm.

Tennis

Caro Bowl ( home team first), round one, today ( 6pm), men, Remuera v Blockhouse Bay; women, Royal Oak v Remuera; tomorrow ( 2pm), women, Sunnyhills v Kohimarama. Round two, Friday ( 6pm), men, Blockhouse Bay v Royal Oak; Remuera v Parnell; women, Pompallier v Remuera; Parnell v Kohimarama.

Events for this column? Send details to Terry Maddaford at maddaford@ xtra. co. nz