Valley cruises to win at Kurow, moves to third equal
Rugby
VALLEY continued its rising form, moving to third equal in Citizens Shield rugby.
It outplayed secondplaced Kurow 5217 at Kurow on Saturday, scoring eight tries to three. It led 210 at halftime.
Old Boys dominated the first quarter against Athletic Marist and went on to win 5224.
Ralph Darling scored from a lineout drive and five minutes later charged down an Athletic clearing kick to score his second.
Athletic sent left winger Timoti Hanipale in, but almost immediately Old Boys hit back when lock Laua Limuloa touched down.
Minutes later big winger Sale Pi’i brushed defenders aside to take his side out to a 247 lead.
After Athletic lock Veipueki Vaipulu scored an unconverted try, Old Boys led 2412 at halftime.
Old Boys tighthead prop Kelepi Funaki smashed his way over before Athletic flanker Junior Fakatoufifita went in for the first of his two tries.
Old Boys stretched its lead to 3824, Siione Halalele and Ofa Fatafehi adding further tries as their side took the game 5224.
At Kurow, Valley, which had ended Old Boys’ winning run last week, took Kurow by the scruff of the neck and raced out to a 210 halftime lead, eventually cruising to a 5217 win.
In a lowscoring game in Oamaru, Maheno had to come from behind to down bottom
team Excelsior 1510.
Netball
Maheno and Waitaki Girls’ Lightning Strike fought out a 3333 draw in premier grade netball.
Waitaki started well with three unanswered goals to go into the second quarter, holding a 107 lead.
Maheno, however, got back into the game, with Shannon Vince at goal shoot enabling Maheno to level the score 1919 at halftime.
The score fluctuated in the third quarter, with Waitaki Girls’ goal keep Holly Beazer coming up with valuable ball, and Waitaki led 2825 and the end of the quarter.
Maheno made combination changes going into the final quarter.
Mel Smith at goal keep came up with crucial ball and the Waitaki shoots found it difficult to get possession into the circle.
Maheno came back strongly to win the last quarter 85 to draw the game.
In other games, Kurow almost caused the upset of the competition but was beaten by top seed St Kevin’s A 2924.
Waitaki Girls Lightning Strike beat Athletic Maroon 4521 and Valley Gold beat Valley Silver 4510.
Hockey
A hattrick of goals to Keenan Bridger, backed up by two goals to Deon Bridger, enabled Pirata Blue to beat Pirata White 62.
Two goals to Waitaki Girls first XI by Jordon Cunningham guided the side to a 51 win over Pirata Black, while a brace of goals to Rory McLeod, Ethan Johnson and Bradley Jones helped Waitaki Boys’ second XI beat St Kevin’s girls development XI 80.
Waitaki Girls’ first XI beat Waitaki Girls Development XI 100.
In South Canterbury league men’s hockey, Wakanui defeated Tainui 40.
Indoor bowls
At the Indoor Bowls National Championships held in Ashburton last week, the Southern Zone masters team beat the Northern Zone 2721 for the first time.
Mike Howard, from the Oamaru club, was the skip of the Southern Masters triples team with Allan Reif (South Canterbury) and Barry Cadogan (Otago). They had two wins and a draw in their three games.
The Oamaru club fours, played on Friday, was won by Bede Mallon, Andy Blakeley and Norm Robertson, who beat Mike Howard (s), Sue Jones, Marilyn Velenski and Ngare Smart 110 in the final.