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Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Ashburton Guardian 17
■■ FOOTBALL
False start for Methven FC Methven FC’s seniors were meant to make their Mainland Football division three competition debut on Saturday, and they were ready. But, their opposition weren’t, and it turned out to be a false start, with the Universities AFC Sisters side Methven FC were due to play unable to field a team and being forced to reluctantly forfeit the match. Although the match will go into the books as a 3-0 win to Methven FC, it was a disappointing start to the season for the Methven side, with their players keen to get their season under way af-
ter picking up a win in their own inaugural pre-season tournament – the Methven Supervalue Cup – late last month. They will now have to wait until round two to get out onto the park, with a match against Burwood AFC at Christchurch’s Clare Park awaiting them on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Methven FC Reserves did take to the field on Saturday in the first round of the Mainland Football division six competition, and they got off to a winning start. They took on Banks Peninsula
in Akaroa and won 6-0, having already beaten them 13-2 in Methven a fortnight before. Any thoughts the hosts may have had of revenge were quickly dealt a blow as newbie Fissore Stimolo made it 1-0 to the visitors with only 10 minutes played, and by the half hour mark it was 2-0, with Stimolo doubling his tally. Josh Burrows was a vital part of the build-up to that goal and was himself in the goal-scoring action just before halftime, getting on the end of a glorious through ball from Kobee King, putting the ball into the top right corner and
leaving the keeper bewildered. Methven’s onslaught continued in the second half and through a series of fortunate events Dylan Sheer found his first attempt ricochet back to him and volleyed his rebound beyond the despairing keeper to make it 4-0. Burrowes’ second goal of the afternoon made it 5-0 and the day was completed by veteran Martin Dodson latching onto a loose ball deep in the 18-yard box and putting it away to finish the scoring off. The division three side is set
In brief
■■ CRICKET
Turpie named Mid Canty’s top cricketer By Erin Tasker
erin.t@theguardian.co.nz
A young player who produced one of the most memorable moments of the Mid Canterbury cricket season has been named the district’s senior player of the year. Richard Turpie took home the Ivan Griffiths Memorial for overall senior representative player of the year at the Mid Canterbury Cricket Awards on Friday night. In just his second Hawke Cup game for Mid Canterbury he turned almost certain defeat into an unlikely victory virtually single-handed. The 18-year-old produced an incredible spell of bowling against Otago Country which featured a quadruple wicket maiden, including a hat-trick. He finished the innings with figures of 8/13 which earned him a spot on Mid Canterbury Cricket’s honours board, and ensured Mid Canterbury beat Otago Country which kept them in the running to earn a Hawke Cup challenge, which they ended up doing. It was a standout moment in what was a stellar first season for Mid Canterbury’s senior side for the youngster, and a big part of why he was rewarded with the senior representative player of the year title. Taking out the junior representative cricket equivalent – the Gary Ashworth Memorial – on Friday night was Archie Redfern, who was also named Mid Canterbury’s under-17 player of the year, while the under-15 player of the year title went to Angus Jemmett. Lachie Jemmett was named the primary, and South Island primary schools’ tournament player of the year, while Year 7 player of the year was Will Lemon and Year 5/6 player of the year was Blake Robinson. When it came to the senior club competition’s individual awards, Coldstream’s Jono Print went home with both the batting trophies on offer. He won the Supporters Club
to head to Warren Park to play Hornby United AFC Pressies next weekend. Meanwhile, Methven FC’s 14th grade side will head to Rolleston to play Selwyn United’s 14th Grade Black Demons side this weekend, after starting their Mainland Football 14th grade competition with a 1-0 win over the Papanui-Redwood AFC Leopards on Saturday. The newly formed young Methven side hosted the Leopards and the winning goal came late in the game off the boot of Patrick McHugh.
Watford fights back Watford have produced one of the great FA Cup comebacks by coming from two goals down to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 after extra time in a memorable semi-final at Wembley Stadium. Substitute Gerard Deulofeu proved Watford’s hero as they reached the FA Cup final for the first time in 35 years in astonishing fashion. The Spaniard scored a sensational individual goal to drag his side back into the match when they were 2-0 down with 11 minutes left. He then slotted home the winner in extra time to book a final date with Manchester City on May 18. - PA
Praise for Spiranovic Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has hailed the class of Socceroos central defender Matthew Spiranovic following his successful return to A-League action. Playing his first game in five weeks, the 30-year-old was a composed and commanding figure in the Glory’s 3-0 win over Central Coast in Gosford on Sunday. The victory gave Perth a six-point lead with just three rounds remaining. - AAP
Smith hitting form
Richard Turpie was named overall senior player of the year at the Mid Canterbury Cricket Awards. PHOTO SUPPLIED
Trophy for the highest batting aggregate with 294, and the G. Murray Memorial for the highest batting average of 42. Tech’s Callum Gallagher won the ACCA Wicket Keeping award with 18 dismissals for the season (one stumping and 17 catches), while his team-mate Jason Morrison was recognised for the best bowling performance of the season, with 5/12. Bevan Ravenscroft took home the Ken Butler Memorial for taking the most wickets, with 21 for the season, while his Lauriston
side was awarded the J.R. Mousey Fielding Trophy. When it came to the senior competition’s team trophies, Tech dominated. They won the Studholme Shield for the best overall team, after winning the Pritchard Shield and Muirhead Rosebowl limited overs trophies, and sharing the T20 Trophy with Lauriston after a dramatic final which ended in a draw. Tech also finished the season with the Bevan Stroud Memorial challenge trophy locked away in
its trophy cabinet. In the junior grades, the sixth grade pre-Christmas competition was won by Allenton Mainland Wool, while the post-Christmas competition was won by Lauriston Syngenta. In fifth grade it was Allenton Mainland Wool that came out on top pre-Christmas, while they finished joint top post-Christmas with Methven Eddington. Fourth grade’s pre-Christmas competition was won by Allenton South Island Seed, while Lauriston won post-Christmas.
Steve Smith has scored an impressive first half century in this year’s Indian Premier League in a further boost to Australia’s hopes of retaining the World Cup later this year. The 29-year-old Smith, who underwent elbow surgery earlier this year, top-scored with 73 not out for Rajasthan Royals in their relatively meagre total of 3-139 in Jaipur. West Indies all-rounder Narine (47) then combined with Australia’s Chris Lynn (50) in a 91-run opening partnership in 8.1 overs to set up an eight-wicket victory with 37 balls to spare. - AAP
Test a day-nighter New Zealand will play Australia in a day-night test at Perth. Despite time zone misgivings about staging it in Perth, Cricket Australia will schedule a first ever day-night test in the western state, with play likely to start at 1pm local time each day. The five-dayer will be played at Optus Stadium, the 60,000-capacity venue completed in 2017. The December clash will be the first match of a three-test series. - NZME