Formula One driver Liam Lawson has claimed a career-best fifth at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix - Max Verstappen won the race

The Panthers are purring at the business end of the NRL league season in pursuit of a fifth straight premiership - they've thrashed the Bulldogs 46-26 to advance to a preliminary final against the Broncos in Brisbane on Sunday.



The Silver Ferns have dismantled South Africa 77-51 in their opening netball test at Auckland.



A trio of stalemates in Premier League football - Manchester City and Arsenal drew 1-all, as did Aston Villa and Sunderland, while the Bournemouth-Newcastle fixture finished scoreless.



Gaby Smith has claimed silver in the 100 metres breaststroke SB9 class on the opening day of the para swimming world championships in Singapore.



Connor Bell has placed 10th in the discus on the final day of the world athletics championships at Tokyo - New Zealand finish the meet equal fifth on the medal table with two golds and a bronze.



Golfer Ryan Fox has finished tied for 14th on seven-under par at the European Tour's French Open, nine strokes adrift of winner Michael Kim.



The men's pair have advanced to tomorrow's semi-finals and the women's quadruple scullers are into Thursday's final on the opening day of the rowing world championships in Shanghai.



The Black Foils have finished eighth at the latest Sail GP event in Geneva, and slip to third overall with two rounds remaining.



Bay of Plenty have trounced Manawatu 55-19 to wrap round eight of rugby's NPC - North Harbour remain 0 and 8 after losing 22-21 to Northland, but now have the incentive of Ranfurly Shield challenge against Otago on Saturday.