The world's best bowl skaters descended on Wellingtons iconic Waitangi Park in New Zealand, competing in one of the most prestigious skate events of the year, Vans Bowl-A-Rama.

Referee Steve Walsh pushes aside Conrad Smith during the Hurricanes 18-12 loss to the Reds on Friday night. Video / Youtube: GorillaRugbyshow

Blues 34 Crusaders 15 The Blues crushed the Crusaders in a solid performance at Eden Park. Head Coach John Kirwan said "it's a very special time for us as Blues people because this was a great football side that came here to Eden Park".

Five of the six division winners at the Whangamata leg of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge repeated the dose with class performances that saw them match results from the first event held at Mount Maunganui three weeks ago, with the final day being played out in clean 1.0m waves and light onshore winds.

Lionel Messi tries his luck at cricket in a new television advertisement. Video / Youtube: HerbalifeINTL

Kiwi and Lockwood Racing driver Fabian Coulthard talks about the challenges of the new V8 Supercars season which begins this week.

New Zealand solo speedway champion Jason Bunyan gets another chance to pit his skills against the world's best riders at the opening round of the 2013 FIM Speedway Grand Prix world series. The world speedway circus made its first appearance last year at Western Springs, and again will take to the track for the 2013 Buckley Systems New Zealand FIM Speedway Grand Prix, on Saturday, March 23.

Herald Rugby scribes Gregor Paul (Herald on Sunday) and APNZ Sports reporter Patrick McKendry look ahead to round two in Super Rugby with an eye towards the Eden Park clash between the Blues and Crusaders.

The roar of race cars this weekend on the streets of Adelaide will not be limited to the V8 Supercars in the Clipsal 500. After winning the Bathurst 12 Hour Erebus Motorsport will be out to repeat that effort with a former Formula 1 driver drafted in to drive one of the best looking cars in racing.

The Herald cricket team of David Leggat and Andrew Alderson review the current England tour of New Zealand and look ahead to the deciding ODI at Eden park, all with an eye towards the looming Test series.

Ross Taylor's century against England in Napier may have seemed like the former skipper announcing himself back into the New Zealand setup, after sitting out the South African tour in December-January. However the former skipper reckons he's never left it. Taylor's even 100, his seventh ODI century, was his best innings by far since coming back into the national team after losing the leadership.

Pushing the boundaries of a normal skydive, Chuck Berry jumps out of a helicopter with a Red Bull event tent at the New Zealand International Air Show!

Two of motorsport's promising young guns have been confirmed as team-mates in a brand new team in the Dunlop V8 Series. The pair of 17-year-olds have the racing credentials and a team boss willing to take them all the way starting next week on the streets of Adelaide.

An amazing behind-the-back table tennis winner from the ITTF Kuwait Open. Video / Youtube: Videolandmarks

Highlanders skipper Andrew Hore speaks to ODT rugby columnist Paul Dwyer about becoming a father, the toughest player he's ever faced, and his team's chances ahead of their clash with the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.

The Super Rugby season has kicked off in Aussie, and the Kiwi teams are about to start. Herald Rugby experts Wynne Gray and Gregor Paul look ahead to the possible winners and losers.

New Blues captain Ali Williams and fellow All Blacks star Piri Weepu made a big splash with the fans at a family day at North Harbour stadium, both being 'good sorts' in braving the 'dunking' machine.

One match each and the decider being played this evening, Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum will bowl first if given the chance, and English paceman Steven Finn welcomes the Kiwis aggression in the field.

The most hilarious dive you are likely to see in the history of boxing. Video / Youtube: Jeremy Boniface.

Black Caps fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan spoke to the media as the English and Kiwis traveled to Wellington to contest the deciding T20 match with the teams locked at one game all.

Lewis Palmer high school junior Anna Olson heaved this shot almost the entire length of the court in the final moments of the third quarter against Cheyenne Mountain high school in Colorado. Video / Youtube: Coach Babbitt

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum played down his personal contribution to his side's emphatic 55-run Twenty20 win over England in Hamilton last night. He had no need to. Without McCullum's rasping 74 off 38 balls, New Zealand would have been in big trouble. As it is, he carried them to 192 for six, then found his bowlers in purposeful mood to seal a convincing win, bowling England out for 137.

NZRU CEO Steve Tew welcomed representatives from NZ's five franchises to officially launch the start of the 2013 Super Rugby season. The Chiefs start as defending champions and with all eyes on the Auckland Blues' new coach John Kirwan.

Black Caps all rounder Ian Butler talks about the teams loss at Eden Park, and what the team needs to do to get back to winning matches.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson and England player Luke Wright front the media as the two teams prepare for the second T20 international on Tuesday.

Brendon McCullum is looking forward to the Twenty20 against England at Eden Park - it's the opening match in his first home series as New Zealand skipper. With Ross Taylor back in the team - welcomed with open arms by McCullum, coach Mike Hesson and the rest of the team - the messy captaincy saga may finally have reached its conclusion.

Erebus Motorsport, the group bringing AMG Mercedes to V8 Supercars, will this weekend take on the Bathurst 12 Hour in a pair of exotic GT race cars. The two car effort features a mix of V8 Supercar talent and a German Mercedes legend.

An experienced cowboy was knocked unconscious and suffered possible spinal injuries at the Outram Rodeo yesterday. Cam Billing, of Te Awamutu, was airlifted by the Otago Regional Rescue Helicopter, after his horse reared in a stall as the gate opened for his ride in the open saddle bronc competition. "The horse reared and slammed him into the back of the chutes. It wasn't him getting bucked off that caused the injury. He was injured before he even came out," Fred Doherty, of the Outram Rodeo, said last night.

Watch the preview clip of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship stop in Sweden, featuring drivers Sébastien Loeb, Mads Østberg, and Sébastien Ogier.