Clutha emerges on top in ha
Rugby
In one of the most exciting finishes in recent finals, Clutha sneaked a 3629 win over Heriot in extra time in the Southern regional club semifinal in Balclutha on Saturday.
Heriot had the first half momentum and threw everything it had at the Clutha side. Its set piece was dominant and it was on the front foot. At one stage of the first half the visiting side was 295 ahead. Clutha nabbed a try before halftime to make the score 2912 at the break.
There was a big momentum swing in the second half.
Clutha made the most of possession and ran around the larger Heriot side. Clutha’s bench provided a much needed boost of enthusiasm and desire to keep their side in the hunt. Clutha managed to pull level at 2929 at fulltime.
The game went to extra time and Clutha found the ticker to pull off a late win. Daniel Moyle scored two tries for the travelling Heriot side. Veterans Craig Stanway, Aaron Kimura and Blair Young also crossed the line and each of them led by example. Prop Blair Young was Heriot’s best on the day.
Clutha’s neversaydie attitude and superior fitness got it across the line in the end. Replacement forward Connor Mills once again showed his class. He entered the game with 20 minutes left in regular time and his impact was instant. He made plenty of tackles and scored two of his side’s tries, one in extra time to seal the win. Winger Kane Teunissen also scored a double. Josh Turnbull and Sylvester Reeves also contributed fivepointers.
Crescent will be joining Clutha in the final after a hardfought 2422 win over Clutha Valley at Kaitangata. This contest was even from the start. Both sides enjoyed possession and territory in the first spell and produced numerous chances. Crescent went into the halftime break 1710 ahead after scoring two late firsthalf tries.
The second half was equally brutal.
Valley played some fantastic rugby and came back into contention. Crescent managed to hold on to the lead and repel Valley’s fastfinishing attacks to take the win. Crescent winger Nico Burgess scored a hattrick of tries and kicked two conversions for a great day.
Flanker Andy Carruthers scored the home side’s other try. Carruthers and fellow flanker Jamie Sutton were strong for Crescent. Talisman Harley McHardy ran the cutter well, and Josh Cook was sharp at halfback. Hamish Wilson, Todd McCammon and Macrae Sanderson scored Valley’s tries. The midfield pairing of Crewze Kingi and Jonny Sargent were again strong. Macrae Sanderson added some power and energy off the bench.
Toko finished off Lawrence’s season with a 3631 win at Milton.
Fullback Jacky Scott picked up a brace of tries as the home side crossed six times. Hooker Sam Sharpe, lock Matt Lyon and second fiveeighth Dylan Greer all played well.
Simon Chamberlain and Sam Cross were Lawrence’s best.
Clinton will play Toko in the bottom four final after a 2016 win over Owaka at Clinton. Clinton had a strong first half with the wind and defended stoutly as Owaka mounted a secondhalf comeback. Pivot Jared Edwards was a pivotal part of Clinton’s success. Jock Berney scored Owaka’s only try and was its best player.
Netball
Clutha started its game against Black Gold strongly, with its defence of Nic Prue and Sophie Flett disrupting the incoming Black Gold ball, which was turned over either from rebounds or intercepts. Clutha’s midcourters were driving hard on to the ball and turning to look for the everpresent Bailee Hutton under the post, who rarely missed.
Despite continued pressure from Black Gold in the midcourt, it was was unable to stop the ball getting down to Clutha’s shooters, and Clutha led 228 at halftime.
Black Gold started to make better connections in the third
quarter and Mona Waikato was able to put the ball through the hoop with her long shots.
Towards the end of this quarter the defence for Black Gold, Olivia Smith and Hannah Phillips, was able to disrupt incoming balls, with some muchneeded pressure on the shoots, but Clutha was still 3117 after three quarters.
Black Gold came back at Clutha in the final quarter with some brilliant pressure throughout the court, but Clutha held out to win 3929.
Gemma Bradfield from Clutha had an outstanding game on defence and Amy Morrison from Black Gold dominated the midcourt. This win made Clutha winners of the top premier section.
Southern P upset Hillend A by winning 3026, which will push Hillend to the premier two section next year. Southern’s best was was Caitlin Gouman and Hillend’s Rebecca Coote played well.
School A lost to Redwyns 3220. Best for the school side was Amber Mowat, and Kayla Dent was good for Redwyns.