REGIONAL RUGBY
Rugby
Heriot leapfrogged Toko into fourth spot with an impressive 5533 win in their match played at Heriot on Saturday.
Heriot’s forwards set the platform and their backs ran off it extremely well.
Heriot held on to the ball for long periods and starved the Toko side of ball for much of the first half.
However, Toko managed to cross twice, keeping its hopes alive.
The score was 3114 to the home side at the break.
Toko saw more of the ball in the second half and constructed some attractive rugby.
On defence, however, it let itself down.
It missed numerous first up tackles and Heriot ran away with the game.
Heriot scored nine tries and centre Tuka Smith and wing Lee Stiven picked up three tries each.
Prop Blair Young grabbed a double and first five George Shield also crossed.
Barnstorming Toko winger Jacob Jenkins picked up a hat trick and prop James Agnew scored his team’s other two tries.
A Clutha Valley had to dig deep to beat Lawrence 2927 in Roxburgh.
Lawrence played with a strong breeze at its back in the first half and displayed some very wellstructured rugby.
It ran in four first half tries to be ahead 247 at the break. Lawrence first five Joe Andresen helped himself to two, while backs Hayden Wyber and Hamiora Kerekere also crossed.
A halftime tuneup seemed to work for Valley, as it clawed its way back into the game and eventually took the win.
It enjoyed more possession in the second spell and treasured the ball.
Valley captain Brayden Wilson had a strong game. He scored a brace of tries and
added 19 individual points to his team’s total, while loose forward Damian Wilson was strong in his 50th appearance.
A Crescent held off Owaka 2821 at Kaitangata.
Both sides had numerous chances in the first half, but the home side went into halftime with a slim 1410 lead.
The second half was much of the same, a tight affair with many chances for both sides. Crescent outscored Owaka four tries to three but Owaka’s kicker missed 12 important points off the tee.
A Clutha put in a huge team effort to beat Clinton 387 at Clutha to retain both the McIntosh Cup and the Helen Huddleston/George McKenzie Memorial Trophy.
Netball
Clutha came out with fire in the belly, paving the way for a 5727 win over Hillend.
It showed patience and care with its ball handling from the start and the midcourt attackers pounced on any loose balls.
The ball was delivered to Bailee Hutton, who was on fire under the post or from wherever she took the ball, with precision shooting throughout the game.
She was supported well by Kobie Latta.
Clutha’s speed and ball movement unsettled Hillend and it was unable to get opportunities.
By halftime Clutha was up 288.
In the third quarter Hillend wing attack Tiriti Erihe started finding Sasha Cochrane by her fast bullet passes that were put through the hoop.
It was not enough to unsettle the onpoint Clutha team.
Redwyns had a stunner of a game against the top of the table Black Gold, claiming a 2717 win.
School A and Southern Plumbing went head to head in a close match which ended in a 2525 draw.
At the start of the games all teams observed a minute’s silence for the recent death of centre umpire Jenny Blackmore. Umpires wore black armbands.