2022 in Review: June
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By Aiden McLaughlin
In netball’s ANZ Premiership, the top two teams in the regular season meet again as the Central Pulse beat the Northern Stars 56-37 in the Grand Final.
The Blackcaps complete a three-test tour of England. Despite the visitors having chances to press home the advantage in all three encounters, England, under McCullum and Stokes, show their attacking intent through the series to chase down targets of 275+ in all three tests to complete a series whitewash.
The Pacific Four Series takes place in Tauranga, Auckland and Whangārei between the Black Ferns, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Played in a round-robin format, New Zealand will all three of their matches to take the trophy.
The Crusaders beat the Blues 21-7 in the final of Super Rugby Pacific at Eden Park.
Ireland arrive in New Zealand for a five match tour, including three tests against the All Blacks and two matches against the Māori All Blacks, who they lose their first match to in Hamilton, 32-17.
The 32nd and final team for the 2022 Men’s Football World Cup in Qatar is decided as the All Whites are defeated 1-0 by Costa Rica in their intercontinental playoff in Doha. The Central Americans take an early lead and Chris Wood’s response near the end of the first half is ruled out by the video assistant.
The first season of the women’s National Basketball league, ‘Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa’, gets underway as Mainland Pouākai defeat Southern Hoiho 73-63 in Christchurch.
The Warriors announce that head coach Nathan Brown is leaving the club and Stacey Jones will take over the role for the rest of the 2022 season.
Brendon Hartley wins his third Le Mans 24-hour race, this time alongside Sébastien Buemi and Ryo Hirakawa.
Rafa Nadal wins his 14th French Open Singles title, defeating Casper Rudd in the final. It’s Nadal’s 22nd Grand Slam victory. The women’s singles title is won by Iga Swiatek; it’s her second title at Roland Garros as she beats Coco Gauff in straight sets.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick becomes just the second golfer after Jack Nicklaus to win the US Amateur and US Open on the same course. He’s victorious at Brookline by one shot, ahead of Masters Champion Scottie Scheffler and US Open runner-up Will Zalatoris.
Meanwhile, LIV Golf, the Saudi-backed venture, holds its first event at the Centurion Club in Hemel Hempstead, just outside London. 18 members of the 48-strong field are inside the top-100 in the world rankings – meaning 30 of them are not. Players include Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood, with the US$4 million prize for the winner going to former Masters winner Charl Schwartzel.
The Golden State Warriors clinch their seventh NBA championship, defeating the Boston Celtics 4-2.
In ice hockey, the Colorado Avalanche beat the two-time defending champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning, 4-2, to win their third Stanley Cup title.
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