Another Manawatu Super Rugby player
Former Manawatu Turbos first fiveeighth Isaac Thompson has finally cracked Super Rugby after making his debut for the Brumbies against the Sharks on Saturday night.
Thompson, whose brother Rob plays for the Highlanders, came on in the 65th minute of the match and kicked a conversion to level the scores with 10 minutes remaining.
But the Brumbies went on to lose the game 27-22.
Thompson, 29, has had to battle hard for his debut after being on the fringe of the Brumbies for two years.
Coaching firepower
The Manukura boys sevens team had a handy new coach for the Sir Gordon Tietjens Sevens at the weekend in the form of four-code international Kristina Sue.
The New Zealand sevens, Black Ferns, league and touch representative transferred to the school this year from Whanganui Girls’ College.
Sue split her time on Friday night between the tournament and the Manawatu Sports Awards, where she was a finalist in the sportswoman of the year and part of the Manawatu women’s sevens team who won team of the year.
Memorial match
Freyberg batsman Luke Murray was the deserved winner of the Dan Gregory player of the day award at the Madsen Memorial Trophy cricket match on Saturday.
Murray scored a ton as Freyberg beat the New Zealand Air Force team by 168 runs at Manawaroa Park, in the memorial match for two Freyberg cricketers - Gregory and Hayden Madsen - who were killed in a helicopter crash in 2010.
Freyberg were put into bat by the air force and scored 278-5 thanks to Murray’s knock and 85 from Central Districts player Bevan Small, then Freyberg bowled them out for 110.
Smith moving on
Simon Smith, the Palmerston North stockcar driver who was badly burnt after his car caught fire in 2015, hopes to be back behind the wheel at the Arena within the next 12 months.
Smith said he hoped to drive a couple of laps around the track to get closure from the crash that almost cost his life.
But he will have to travel to achieve the goal.
Smith and partner Denise Heaven are moving to Samoa this month.