Steve Hepburn

Technology helps back up umpiring decisions in cricket .

Michael Bracewell has been dropped after a series of poor scores but it is hoped his demotion will be a catalyst to come back a better player.

Weightlifting, of both the power and the Olympic kind, is going through something of a resurgence in the South.

Nothing beats experience and that certainly rings true for the Green Island senior side.

Attendance at the NRL match between  Canterbury Bulldogs and  New Zealand Warriors was below what was hoped for but the night has been deemed a success.

The derby marathon behind them — with plenty of casualties and just the one win — it is hardly going to be a walk in the park this week for the Highlanders.

Not only Forsyth Barr Stadium hosted rugby league yesterday. Just next door, at Logan Park, a junior tournament was held for school league players.

Gareth Evans is fast becoming a jack of all trades.

Raelene Castle has a big job on her hands.

It will be the Smith show for the Highlanders tomorrow night and the youngest of the lot has received a big endorsement from his coach.

Nothing seems to bother Marty Banks.

The Warriors have brought in the experience for the match under the roof against the Bulldogs on Friday night.

This must be some kind of record for this season - it has been three days and the Highlanders have not picked up any more injuries.

It had to happen - now the Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has gone down with injury.

The Dogs and the Warriors are due to hit town tomorrow night.

The New Zealand Open will stay in its pro-am format and remain in Queenstown for the next "100 years".

They are down at least half a dozen All Blacks between them but neither the Hurricanes nor the Highlanders are going to let that affect them when they go into battle in Wellington on Saturday night.

There is not a whole lot of love for those from the South in this year's New Zealand Rugby Almanack.