Old Boys made to work hard for victory against bottomplaced Excelsior
TOP Citizens Shield qualifier Old Boys was given a real workout by bottom team Excelsior in the main game on Saturday before holding on for a 3426 victory, while Maheno caused a minor upset in the final round, defeating secondplaced Kurow, 4713. They will meet again next Saturday, in Kurow, in one of the semifinals. Old Boys will play Valley in the other semifinal after Valley and Athletic Marist drew 3131.
Excelsior scored early though No 8 Mika Mafi but Old Boys came back through tries by lock Paea Alan and front rowers Ralph Darling and Unga Kefu. Excelsior centre Frank Slater scored near halftime to leave his side just three points behind at the break, 1714.
Old Boys flanker Anthony Amato opened the second half with a try and when winger Anton Ngongo outpaced the defence to score, Old Boys looked comfortable with a 3114 lead.
But Excelsior would not lie down and replacement back Kwaye Ruamati scored. Slater converted and then sliced through the defence to score and give his side a shot at victory.
But Old Boys held on and kicked a penalty in the last minute to make the game safe.
Maheno got a confidence booster when on its home ground, it scored an eight tries to two win.
The Maheno machine rattled on the points in the first half with tries to Andrew Fisher, Levi Emery, Kieran Byrne and Hayden Tisdall, one of which was converted by Emery, to sprint out to a 223 lead. A try to Kurow winger Dean Fenwick had the halftime score at 228.
Maheno continued on the rampage in the second half and tries to Fisher, Emery, and Simon Thorpe gave it a comfortable win.
Valley held on to its fourth place and will play Old Boys in the semifinals, despite being held to a 31all draw by Athletic Marist.
Netball
St Kevin’s A bounced back from its narrow loss to Waitaki Girls’ last Thursday in its interschool with a convincing 4619 win over Athletic Maroon on Saturday. St Kevin’s was strong throughout the court. Jaimee Trainor (GS) and Molly Kay (GA) were outstanding in the shooting circle and midcourters Gemma Dowling and Laura Preston found them with ease.
St Kevin’s led 147 after the first quarter and 2511 at halftime, extending this to 3317 at threequarter time before winning the game 4619.
Maheno had difficulty finding its normal flow against Kurow and struggled to feed the shooting circle. Kat Kawau worked tirelessly at centre and WA for Maheno, which won 2410.
Ashleigh Keown (GS) put the points on the table for Kurow when it could get the ball past Melissa Smith (GK) and Sonya McDonald (GD) but the team will have to improve its consistency to be in the contention for the top four.
Valley Gold is peaking at the right end of the competition. After trailing Waitaki Girls’ Lightning Strike 119 in the first quarter it pulled out to a 1918 halftime lead and pulled away for a 4535 victory. Valley Silver made Waitaki Girls’ Wildfire really work for its win. Valley led 97 after the first quarter and held a 1615 lead at halftime. Waitaki Girls’ Wildfire edged into a 2524 lead at the end of the third quarter before pulling away for a 3430 win.
Football
Meadowbank First XI went to halftime against Northern Hearts in Timaru with a 10 lead, thanks to a Darryl White goal. But the wheels came off and Northern Hearts rattled in eight unanswered goals in the second half.
Indoor bowls.
The composite team of Bede Mallon (s), Joy Gibson and Rhonda Sinclair won the points triples with 44 points. John Brice (s), Norm Robertson and Aylene Millar (Oamaru Club) were second with 41 points. The Yankee bowls was won by Vic Randall (s), Bob Lewis, John Brice and Emma Robb. Bede Mallon (s), Joy Gibson and Alwyn McLay were second.