Sport 24 Ashburton Guardian
Saturday, August 10, 2013
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief
■ HOCKEY
Oracle facing ban
Derby down to the wire
America’s Cup defenders Oracle are being investigated for misconduct after it appears they deliberately broke the class rules during the AC45 World Series regattas. Regatta director Iain Murray protested to the international jury earlier this week after being notified by the measurement committee that two AC45 catamarans belonging to Oracle and one belonging to Ben Ainslie Racing had been illegally modified. Oracle chief executive Russell Coutts yesterday quickly moved to distance himself and his frontline sailors from any wrongdoing. - NZH
Name change for Hull English Premier League side Hull City are to change their name to Hull City Tigers, owner Assem Allam said in an interview published on Friday, explaining that the new title would make the club stand out. “Hull City is irrelevant,” the Egyptian-born businessman was quoted as saying by the Hull Daily Mail. “My dislike for the word ‘City’ is because it is common. City is also associated with Leicester, Bristol, Manchester and many other clubs. I don’t like being like everyone else. I want the club to be special. It is about identity. City is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long.” - AFP
Sharks hang tough Wakanui Black’s Hugh Copland battles for the ball with Wakanui Blue’s Brad Going. By Jonathan Leask
jonathan.l@theguardian.co.nz
Following three draws the Wakanui senior men’s hockey derby finally found a winner on Thursday night. After 280 minutes of hockey Wakanui Black emerged the victor of the Wakanui Blue holding on for a 4-3 win, 7-6 on aggregate over the four games. The previous three games were in the Mid-South Canterbury competition but with the two sides beating Tinwald twice each but unable to beat each other, they needed to play a Mid Canterbury final for the Bowman Cup. Black dominated the first half with Hugh Copland scor-
ing from a penalty corner to lead 1-0 at the break. Black continued to dominate with scores from Adam Wilson and Andrew Moore putting the defending champions out to a comfortable 3-0 advantage, only for Blue to bounce back. “We dominated the first half and then after two quick goals looked like we had it,” Black’s Mark Bennett said. “But as they usually do Blue came back at us.” Blue returned fire with goals from a one-handed Hayden Sinclair, playing with an injured hand, and Stephen Blain to make it 3-2. Black responded with a goal to Ryan Hampton before Blain
found himself in the open and slammed in his second to set up another tense finish. Blue were on the hunt again and had numerous opportunities to level the scores but couldn’t find the back of the net. “When they went 3-0 midway through the second half I thought we were dead in the water,” Blue’s Sam Moore said. “We fought back hard and took it down to the wire with a penalty corner on full-time that didn’t drop. “I guess it was good to finally get a result between us because we can be friends again and there won’t be that tension around the club.” The two Wakanui sides now
photo tetsuro mitomo 060713-tm-162
join forces along with Tinwald to take on the West Coast in the annual representative fixture tomorrow. Last year Mid Canterbury took two trophies to the West Coast and in a rare feat returned with them both still in tow courtesy of two 4-1 wins on the Saturday. Mid Canterbury B retained the Robert Fraser Trophy and the A team defended the Lindsay Aldridge Trophy in a rare away double, which they will hope to repeat at home this year. Tomorrow’s games: Mid Canterbury B v West Coast B 1pm Mid Canterbury v West Coast 2.30pm
For all the focus on Cronulla in 2013, lost amongst the ASADA investigation into the NRL club is the Sharks’ on-field success. Still searching for a first premiership, the Sharks - sixth on the ladder - seem poised to have a serious tilt at the title, provided the offfield distractions don’t tear the club apart. Their preparations for tonight’s home game against Newcastle have again been impacted by the ASADA probe with several players believed to have recently held their interviews with the anti-drug agency. But the squad has shown a remarkable ability to shift focus to games throughout the season. “We’re not really listening to what everyone’s saying about us with the off-field incidents, we’re just trying to keep it under wraps,” centre Jonathan Wright said. “... just making sure we come away with the two points, that’s the main thing at the moment. If we’re going under the radar, that doesn’t really bother us too much.” - AAP
■ GOLF
Squash results
Jack bags another ace
Results from the Celtic Squash Club’s winter league competition this week: Paul Cousins lost to Chris O’Reilly 2-3, Marie Kennedy lost to Chris Thompson 0-3, Scott vandenberm beat Mark Shera 3-0. Phil Andrew lost to Rebecca Abernethy 1-3, Di Ness beat James Hunn 3-0, Petr Holub beat Adam Clement 3-0, Jock O’Connor beat Ed Harrison 3-0. Robbie Kok lost to Chrissie Stratford 2-3, Ron Carlson beat Cath Blacklow 3-0, Steve Devereux lost to Craig Campbell 1-3, Billy Nolan beat Pat Summerfield 3-0. John McDonnell beat Mick Hooper 3-2, Pete Blacklow beat Nigel Tew 3-2, Jane Lowe lost to Scott vandenberm 0-3.
By Max towLe Jack Allan hit his first hole-inone at Mayfield Golf Club as a 25-year-old, and 45 years later, he’s done it again. The 70-year-old was several shots back of the leaders at Mayfield’s annual MixedAmerican Tournament recently and not having the best day. “We were playing like dogs,” Allan said.
“I was actually quite embarrassed with how we’d played until that point.” At the par 3, 14th hole, he placed his ball on the tee, hit a looping shot with his trusted 8-iron and a poor round was instantly transformed into a moment of glory. “I pitched the ball up above the pin and it spun back in.” Allan has been playing at Mayfield for over 50 years.
He loves the sport and tries to play as often as he can. The hole-in-one couldn’t save a poor scorecard, but it meant an even bigger round in the clubhouse. “I ended up getting drinks for over 50 people afterwards,” he said a tad ruefully. Right: Jack Allan, waiting a long time between aces.