Excitement machine Winiata again shows her talent

The Manawatu women’s team were the entertainers of the national sevens championships at Rotorua at the weekend, especially little speedster Selica Winiata.

During the final, where Manawatu beat Auckland 19- 12, Winiata scored one of the best tries of the tournament.

She put a grubber kick through the Auckland defence, dribbled the ball 15 metres along the touch line, just keeping it in somehow, then dived on it to score.

When the Toyota Racing Series,

By George Heagney which ends with the New Zealand Grand Prix at Manfeild next month, blasts off again, it will be a case of spot the Kiwi.

This year there will be only four out of a grid of 23 drivers from 13 nations, although veteran Kenny Smith is sure to line up, aged 71, in the grand prix. Costs are ruling out New Zealanders.

There were the same number in 2011- 12 and only three plus Smith last year. Fitzherbert Park has another audition this week before the big stuff returns in March.

The Central Hinds women’s team have three games against the Canterbury Magicians this weekend and it will give the iconic Manawatu ground another chance to strut its stuff on its path back to being a firstclass ground. Cameron Rowe made it a brothersister act in representing Manawatu when the batsman made his debut against Wanganui in their Hawke Cup game at the weekend. The 19- year- old’s younger sister Hannah, a 17- year- old medium pace bowler, has already played for Manawatu, as well as Central Districts.

While Cameron has supremacy in the backyard now, both he and Hannah may soon be overtaken by youngest sibling, 15- year- old Braden. This year’s Manawatu summer open tennis tournament will only feature the cream of the young crop this year. The tournament at Feilding Tennis Club which runs from Wednesday to Friday, will only feature junior grades and no senior competitors because senior numbers are low. Dane Cleaver’s form at the provincial A tournament for Central Districts has earned him a callup to the actual Stags squad this week.

The Manawatu wicketkeeperbatsman blasted 131 not out from just 71 balls against Auckland A last week, catching the selectors’ eye and he will be in the squad for CD’s HRV Cup Twenty20 match against the Auckland Aces in Auckland tomorrow. Manawatu All Black Aaron Cruden’s top- secret wedding to Grace King took place at the weekend near Palmerston North.

It is understood guests, including All Blacks Aaron Smith, Brodie Retallick and Sam Cane, didn’t know where the wedding was and were taken to it by bus.

The couple have reportedly signed a deal with a women’s magazine to publish photos of the ceremony.