Bond deflated
Teen gets contract
The air went out on Hamish Bond’s remarkable cycling undertaking, literally, but the rowing great says he isn’t done with his new sport. Bond suffered a puncture early in the time trial at the road cycling world championships in Bergen, Norway, yesterday leaving him to battle to a 39th out of 64 riders. It was a disappointing outcome for the 31-year-old Kiwi in his first appearance at a major international event since taking up cycling after winning his second Olympic rowing gold medal in Rio last year. His time for the 31.74km test of 48 minutes 14.92 seconds was 3min 33sec behind dominant winner, Dutchman Tom Dumoulin, the Giro d’Italia champion who was nearly a minute clear of the rest of the field. “You try and deliver a clinical, smooth race and the puncture threw everything out the window. I tried but it threw me off my game,” Bond said. “It was out of my control but something I prided myself on in my rowing career was getting those things right and executing on race day. Regardless of if it was my fault or ill-luck, it was disappointing not to be able to show what I was capable of.” He has next year’s Commonwealth Games in his sights. “Certainly I don’t want this to be my one-and-done in the sport.” Legspinner Amelia Kerr has become the youngest women’s cricketer to earn a New Zealand Cricket contract. The 16-year-old, who made her White Ferns debut last November, was one of three players offered deals for the next year. Kerr and Auckland’s Maddy Green are included in the 15-strong contracted group while allrounder Anna Paterson returns. The trio replace Liz Perry, Morna Neilsen and Sam Curtis on the list. Tawa College student Kerr says becoming a professional cricketer has been her goal for some time. paired up front for Manchester United and both scored in a 4-1 win over Burton Albion. Everton beat Sunderland 3-0 thanks to a double from young striker Dominic CalvertLewin and Arsenal overcame Doncaster 1-0 courtesy of a first-half goal from Theo Walcott. Leroy Sane scored in each half for Manchester City in a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion. after they won their fifth title. New Zealand Rugby has announced a “special event” will be staged next week in Manukau to honour the team who beat England 41-32 in the final in Belfast on August 26. It’s not yet clear how many of the team will be able to attend Thursday’s event at the Vodafone Events Centre. NZ Rugby chief executive Steve Tew defended the relatively late nature of the event, saying less than half the team and one coach returned immediately from the tournament. “If we had a parade when they first got back, it would have been a very small group,” Tew said. League Baseball game against Minnesota, leading some players to call for protective netting to be extended. The Yankees said the girl was taken to hospital for treatment, and New York manager Joe Girardi said he had been told by team security that she was okay. HOCKEY