Hayden Meikle

It takes a brave man to question the actions of the Crusaders within 100km of the stadium formerly known as Lancaster Park.

Hayden Meikle reviews Rebel with a Cause

The Southern Steel has flexed its muscle in the transfer market by signing experienced Australian midcourter Natasha Chokljat.

Tom Jackson has plenty of reasons to be smiling. He has the football world at his dazzling feet, he bangs in goals for fun, and this week he returns to the United States to play college football for Marshall University.

Is Steve Fleming the forgotten hero of Otago coaching? His Caversham juggernaut has won nine of the last 10 southern league football titles, and is one win away from the Chatham Cup final. Sports editor Hayden Meikle profiles the king of Tonga Park.

Simon Culhane sees some similarities between the struggling Southland team he inherited five years ago and the slumping Highlanders franchise he is about to join.

The dust has barely settled on the World Cup and now here comes the English Premier League. Sports editor Hayden Meikle casts his eye over the contenders, the pretenders, the minnows, the prima donnas, the stalwarts, the big deals and the probability that Liverpool will not win.

One Fleming will be on the Caversham sideline and one Fleming will be in the thick of the action at the Chatham Cup semifinal on Saturday. Sports editor Hayden Meikle meets rising midfielder Patrick Fleming. Tomorrow, Meikle profiles long-serving coach Steve Fleming.

Southland has beaten Otago 16-12 to retain the shield.

Caversham is again just two wins away from claiming its maiden Chatham Cup, and will host Auckland side Bay Olympic at the end of next week in a semifinal. To begin the countdown, sports editor Hayden Meikle catches up with one of the club's former sons who now makes his name in another sport.

American media outlets have long produced "power rankings" to provide a timely judgement of who is hot in the sporting world. Can the same be done for New Zealand athletes? Sports editor Hayden Meikle can't see why not.

Luke Herden has unfinished business - and he intends to do what he can to help his second spell with North Otago be as successful as his first.

Arrowtown businessman Michael Hill may have to double his financial input if he wants to keep the New Zealand Open at his private club.

Dunedin premier assistant coach Ross Hanson has been given a sideline ban by his own club after going on to the field during a game and pushing a player.

Dunedin businessman Ian Taylor has made an impassioned plea for the New Zealand Open to stay at a course he rates among the best in the world.