Tuck’s goals a silver lining for Marist

Palmerston North Marist footballer Jerram Tuck has a chance to finish top of the Central League golden boot standings, unbelievably from the ninth-placed team in a 10-team league. The striker scored a hat-trick against Western Suburbs at the weekend, taking his goal tally to 15 for the season, only one goal behind leader Ben Harris, of Miramar Rangers. Marist’s next game is against relegation-bound Petone next week, the only game left in the competition, so Tuck has the chance to at least tie or lead the standings if he finds the back of the net.

Vintage Olympian

It has been confirmed Palmerston North’s Julie Brougham is not only the oldest Olympian in New Zealand history, but the oldest athlete competing at the Rio Olympics from any nation. The 62-year-old dressage rider finished 44th in her Olympic debut. She will need to make it to the 2028 Games to be the oldest Olympian in history, a record held by Swedish shooter Oscar Swahn, who was 72 when he competed in 1920.

Taking on the men

Manawatu Cyclones and New Zealand women’s speedster Selica Winiata has been spotted at Turbos training mixing it with the men. Not one to shirk the physical stuff, Winiata has been mucking in, tackling the bigger men and word out of Turbos camp is she has been treated like one of the boys.

Sad time for Yellows

Feilding Yellows lost three clubs stalwarts recently, with the deaths of life members Bill Meder, Rex Hunter and Terry Packer. Manawatu’s All Black halfback Aaron Smith, himself a Yellows man, paid tribute to Hunter during the All Blacks’ 42-8 thrashing of Australia in Sydney on Saturday night, with ‘‘Rex’’ and ‘‘Hunter’’ written on his wrist strapping. Packer was involved in getting the Yellows clubrooms extended in the 1970s.

Medal winner

Sarah Goss is the only Manawatu athlete to win a medal at the Rio Olympics. Goss and the New Zealand women’s sevens team won a silver medal after losing the final to Australia, but none of Manawatu’s other Olympians got on the podium.

Award for Hemopo

New Manawatu Turbos lock Jackson Hemopo farewelled Otago rugby by being named joint winner of the Dunedin club player of the year.

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