A great year for hockey star from Palmerston North

Palmerston North’s Anna Willocks is proving to be a gun hockey player while studying in the United States at St Joseph’s University in Philadelphia.

Willocks has been named the league’s offensive player of the year for the third consecutive season, the first to claim the honour, and was named in the Allconference First Team.

She ranked second in the Atlantic 10 in goals (16), assists (10), and points (42) after leading the league in scoring in each of the past two seasons. She moved into second place on the Hawks’ alltime lists for goals and points, and now leads the school’s career assists record with 27.

Willocks isn’t just excelling in hockey either, as she was was also named in the All-academic Team.

Captain Cully

Former Manawatu¯ Turbos skipper Callum Gibbins has taken just six games to make his mark at Glasgow. Gibbins captained the Scottish club to a 31-21 win over Leinster in the Pro 14 on the weekend in his first season with the side.

Meanwhile, former Turbos fullback Semisi Masirewa has headed to Japan now the Force are no longer in Super Rugby.

Production line

After Jamie Booth’s elevation to the Hurricanes, Manawatu¯ can claim more halfbacks in 2018 Super Rugby squads than any other province. He joins Aaron Smith and Kayne Hammington, both with the Highlanders, making Manawatu¯ the only union with three.

Canterbury are the next best with Mitchell Drummond and Jack Stratton in the Crusaders, while Ere Enari was signed, only to break his leg. But Stratton is from Feilding High School and Enari from Tu Toa, so Manawatu¯ could claim them too.

Mumbai to Manawatu¯

George Worker may have got a bit of a surprise upon his return from India. The Manawatu¯ cricketer arrived back from the New Zealand A tour and came home from Auckland so he could have a bat for his club side Marist.

The conditions at Palmerston North’s Manawaroa Park would have been a stark contrast to Mumbai and Visakhapatnam, and poor old Worker was out for four.