ASHBURTON GUARDIAN, Saturday, May 11, 2013
Weekend
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SPORT • Big bucks for cricket The Nine Network will decide whether to match a $500 million offer for cricket television rights while being taken to court by Cricket Australia. Nine has about four weeks to match the Ten Network’s offer for the sport’s television rights. But in a twist, Cricket Australia has started legal action involving Nine, its long-time broadcast partner. It’s understood CA wants a court ruling on whether the rights to the Twenty20 Big Bash League and other domestic cricket should be included in Nine’s current ‘last rights’ contract. Nine’s deal gives the network the last rights of refusal - effectively, a chance to match any bid from rival networks to televise cricket. - AAP
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• Broncos good to go
Check out our video Photo Tetsuro Mitomo 100513-TM-013
Fun on court for young Ferns
Allenton’s Olivia Pearce sends a pass up court during the opening night of the Fun Ferns Netball last night. Mid Canterbury’s netball stars of the future started their season in both the Fun Ferns and Young Ferns. Fun Ferns is for kids aged seven and eight and sees them play games of netball where they change position every quarter, to find out more about each position. Young Ferns takes place inside the Ashburton College gymnasium and is for kids aged five and six.
Heat goes on New Zealand shooters dragged at three-quarter time following passive performances for her struggling Mystics side. New Zealand’s top shooters are With shooting stats in the midunder pressure to start perform- 90s, Latu and van Dyk still top ing after a quiet start to the tran- the league in terms of accuracy, stasman league. but it is their volume that is raisThe mixed form of the Magic’s ing alarm bells, with both players well down on their usual scoring Irene van Dyk and her underrates. study in the national team, Van Dyk has been particularly Cathrine Latu, has led to conquiet. She is seventh in the list of cerns over the Silver Ferns’ goals tallied, having put up 150 shooting stocks. The pair were fewer shots than league leader benched in the final quarter of Jhaniele Fowler, of the Steel, over their respective matches last weekend - for Latu it was the sec- the first seven rounds. Latu is fourth on the list, but still well ond week in a row she had been
By Dana Johannsen
back from the top two of Fowler and Romelda Aiken (Firebirds). Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu acknowledged the shooting volume of the pair is a concern for her. “In Irene’s case I do think it was a one-off, but with Cathrine the volume has been slightly more of an on-going issue with her, but I think we’re settling a couple of feeding lines in front of shooters and that connection takes some time to get right.” The lacklustre form of van Dyk and Latu has heightened concerns over the number of
shooting imports playing for New Zealand franchises. Along with the Steel’s Jamaican import, the Tactix key scoring weapon is English shooter Jo Harten, while Australian Caitlin Thwaites takes on the bulk of the shooting duties at the Pulse, alongside former Silver Fern Donna Wilkins. With the Kiwi franchises reliant on imports to fill key shooting roles, there are limited development opportunities for young local players, which is crippling New Zealand’s depth in an area of court they have traditionally - NZH struggled.
Injury-hit Justin Hodges, Josh McGuire and David Stagg have all been cleared to tackle Parramatta today in an NRL clash that has Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin worried. “They’re a very dangerous side,” said Griffin after his three indoubt players got through a light session at Red Hill in Brisbane yesterday morning. “They’ve got plenty of strike across the park with Chris Sandow, Jarryd Hayne (Jacob) Loko and Reni Maitua and their forward pack has plenty of power and aggression.” Having all three players passed fit adds 450 games of NRL experience to - AAP Griffin’s line-up.
• Castro shoots record Adam Scott couldn’t make a putt and Jason Day couldn’t find a fairway but Australia’s top golfers still scrambled into contention after the first round of the lucrative Players Championship in Florida. While Greg Chalmers took top Aussie honours on opening day with a four-under 68 to be tied 10th, big guns Scott and Day were just a shot behind at three under. American Roberto Castro Adam Scott equalled the course record, held jointly by Greg Norman and Fred Couples, at nine-under 63, but this event invariably gets tougher each day and his lead is by no means safe. Castro finished three clear of world No.2 Rory McIlroy (66), while world No.1 Tiger Woods is among six golfers tied fourth at five-under - AAP 67.
Mid Canterbury Sports Awards 2012/2013 Proudly brought to you by - Ashburton Guardian, Ashburton Trust and Sport Canterbury MID CANTERBURY
Event date Friday 17 May This year’s guest speaker is former New Zealand Warrior and professional boxer Monty Betham and the special guest MC is TV presenter Charlotte Bellis. There are Senior and Junior sections in all categories and all nominations will be recognised on the night of the awards.
TICKETS FOR THE EVENT ARE NOW ON SALE They can purchased at Sport Canterbury, Mid Canterbury Office in the Midlands Seed Building, 393 West Street • •
Sorry NO EFTPOS available
Monday – Friday 11.30am to 5.00pm Adults $55 Job spec Or phone 307 0475 Ashburton to order and Guardian Students $40 arrange a pick up time
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