No win, but Maheno earns respect with fightback
North Otago sports roundup
COURAGE does not always win games but a brave Maheno side learned on Saturday it can earn you respect.
The team was beaten by unbeaten competition leader Old Boys, 5517, in the main North Otago game.
Secondplaced Kurow beat fourthplaced Athletic Marist at Kurow, 5437, while at Weston, Valley beat Excelsior, 3814.
Energy was not enough to lift Maheno over Old Boys.
It had an aggressive scrum, but the pace and explosive skill of the Old Boys players resulted in eight tries.
To Maheno’s credit it played out the full 80 minutes, outscoring Old Boys in the final quarter.
Old Boys led 480 at halftime after leading 100 at the end of the quarter, with tries to flanker Anthony Amato and prop Brandan Mangold.
Old Boys put the foot down in the second quarter with tries to Amato, Timoci Bulitavu, Inoke Naufahu and two to Ralph Darling.
Naufahu added four conversions, giving Old Boys a 480 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Maheno outscored Old Boys, with tries to Robbie Smith, Jordan Oatley and Jackson Attfield, along with a conversion from Tatupu.
Canadian fullback Anton Ngongo scored a try for Old Boys.
Kurow went on a tryfest, scoring nine in beating Athletic Marist, 5437.
The first half was even. The home side fell off too many tackles and went to the break tied at 2020.
Kurow applied the pressure in the second half and two tries to Fale in the space of two minutes proved key.
Ben Nowell, who scored in the first half, for Athletic got his third, while Taina Taumo scored his third in the second half as well.
In Weston, Valley’s Brad McKenzie’s accurate boot gave his team 18 points, helping Valley to a 3814 win over Excelsior.
Netball
St Kevin’s senior A continued its winning streak beating Athletic Maroon 4617.
Athletic started well with Blayze Rooney working hard on defence.
Gemma Dowling was in fine form for St Kevin’s at both ends of the court, getting valuable
ball at goal attack and directing the attack end when she moved to wing attack.
Molly Kay and Maddison Skinner combined well in the shooting circle for St Kevin’s while Renee Webster was a strong GA for Athletic.
The North Otago under 17 squad had its first win in the premier grade, leading Valley Silver 137 after the first quarter and 2217 at halftime. The squad pulled away for a 4321 victory.
Valley Gold was too strong for Waitaki Girls Wildfire with a 4228 victory, while Maheno got its first win of the season, beating Waitaki Girls Lightning Strike 2016.
Football
Meadowbank teams came home with two from two in the South Canterbury league.
The Meadowbank First XI, after a goalless first half against Timaru City, pulled away in the second half for a 20 win in the first division.
In the 55th minute John Easton found the goal from a corner and in the 83rd minute Sullivan Martin added the second goal.
In the reserve grade Meadowbank beat RoncalliThistle, 43.
Indoor bowls
At the triples tournament on Friday night, the Oamaru club team of Bede Mallon, Andy Blakeley and Norm Robertson won, and Gordon Robb, Barbara Allan and Diana McGregor, from Meadowbank, were runnersup. The Yankee bowls was won by Wally Strachan, Bob Lewis and Rosalie Newlands from Denis Lewis and Rhonda Sinclair.