Sport 18
Ashburton Guardian
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
www.guardianonline.co.nz
In brief
■ RUGBY
Hammers hit by injuries By Jonathan Leask
Jonathan.l@thegaurdain.co.nz
Injuries have forced the selector’s hands for Mid Canterbury’s first outing of the year against Ellesmere in Leeston today. Mid Canterbury rugby coach Grant Keenan is without at least 12 of the initial 32 man squad named a fortnight ago for today’s match- opening the door for some other players to put their hands up. One of those will be the converted loosehead prop Mark Andrew. A front row shortage in Rakaia had forwards coach and vastly experience front rower Craig Dunlea push Andrew from loose forward into the front row, and Keenan is excited to utilise his mobility and versatility. “He’s played the last few games there and got really good shape,” Keenan said. “Mark’s got some ins-andouts to pick up as a front rower but he has tenacity, grit and determination to be successful.” Adam Williamson gets his chance at tighthead while Mid Canterbury centurion Jimmy Carr is at hooker, with new front row prospects Penisimani Fakatoka, Fillipo Siakai , Vili Finau all waiting in the wings. The other notable selection comes at open side flanker. Mid Canterbury 2015 player of the year Gary Redmond has withdrawn from the squad, giving Tyler Koning the chance to impress at seven. With Tevita Ula still serving a suspension, Andrew Smith is on the blindside and Seta Koroitamana will get a run at number eight, with Jon Dampney out injured.
Jonathan.l@theguardian.co.nz
Dallas McLeod landed a 40m penalty with two minutes to play for Ashburton College to beat Waimea 13-12 in Nelson in the UC Rugby championship on Saturday. Outscored two tries to one, the boot of McLeod was the difference as Waimea gave up a penalty and college were able to hold on in the final minutes. Against Timaru Boys they had gone ahead with little time left only to drop the kickoff - gifting Timaru Boys’ the chance to win the game. This time they made no mistakes, closing out for the cru-
Ashlee Strawbridge, Beth Stringer, Charlotte Morrice, Charlotte Roberts, Danielle McArthur, Destiny Cawthorn, Emma McDowell, Grace Pierce, Hannah McDougall, Hayley Riordan, Holly Gray, Jessie Banks, Julie Mushonga, Kate Brady, Kristie Hunter-Letham, Leigh Harrison, Maddie Reed, Mauai Mareko, Meg McIntyre, Mollie Gibson, Natasha Drummond, Natasha Waddell, Olivia Bryning, Phoebe Bradley-Doig, Rosemary Taggart, Samantha Holden, Sophie Bell, Summer Anderson, Vicki, Pluck, Zoe, Diedricks. Trial on Tuesday 5-6pm if you are unable to attend or have any queries please contact Kirsty Naish 027 944 6869 or kirstynaish@hotmail. com
Kiwis at Wimbledon
Rakaia’s Andrew Letham on the charge against Celtic on Saturday, will move back to his preferred fullback spot for Mid Canterbury against Ellesmere in Leeston today. PHOTO TETSURO MITOMO 270615-TM-069
Adam Ross and Logan Bonnington will partner up at lock – with Maikeli Mudu, Sam Watt and Eric Duff all able to cover lock and loose forward from the bench. There is some big question marks in the backline with a major one at halfback. Potential loan player Johnny Thompson (Southbridge) injured his shoulder at the weekend and with Will Mackenzie on his honeymoon the only other option in the squad is Davey Maw - who was pencilled in to start at first-five. Maw could possibly slide in
and bring Welshman James Miller in at 10, but Keenan was yet to decide on his options last night. Andy Hamilton gets the nod at 12 and outside him could be a trial for potential import Sam Franklin - a Samoan 7s representative who has played for the Junior Warriors league team. Giddeon Lambrechts and Christian Vainerere should get the start on the wings with Andrew Letham at fullback. There are plenty of questions a month out from the Ranfurly shield Challenge
against Hawke’s Bay but Keenan hoped to answer a couple by giving everyone a run today. Mid Canterbury had a convincing 38-6 win over Ellesmere in Ashburton last year, making it back-to-back wins over the sub-union. Maw landed a 40m penalty to win 19-17 at Kirwee in 2013 for the Hammers’ first win in nine years. The Mid Canterbury Development team plays the Ellesmere Colts in the curtain raiser at 1.30pm before the main game at 3pm.
McLeod’s boot saves College By Jonathan Leask
Under 15 netball trials
cial win. They claimed the kick-off and began to punch it up in tight but conceded the penalty. Luckily it was out of range and Waimea had to kick for the lineout where College came up with the steal to be able to put an end to it. College started well enough when the midfield linked up for a try five minutes in after Malakai Cakaunitabua made the incision and linked up with Alifeleti Prescott. McLeod landed his first penalty before the hosts replied with a converted try to go to halftime at 10-7. “We had two other clear opportunities with just a simple
draw and pass to put the outside man away but didn’t do it,” College coach Dave McCrea said. Waimea scored the go-ahead try midway through the second half to lead 12-10. The hosts had been winning the battle up front and the depleted College side struggled to find their way over the host’s line as both sides made plenty of mistakes. The college forwards then took over in the closing stages, keeping it in tight to earn a penalty and McLeod’s long range effort late was enough to get them the four points, pushing them up the ladder to tenth with five rounds to play.
College’s next opponents St Andrew’s – remain unbeaten following a 12-9 win over St Bede’s. Defending champions Christchurch Boys’ High School had some trouble putting away Lincoln but remain on top with a 35-26 win. Nelson held on to beat third placed Shirley 21-19 to move up to fourth and Marlborough had a big 40-17 win over Timaru Boys’ to remain in sixth while Burnside ended their losing skid with a 22-6 victory overs St Thomas. Christ’s College collected a 28-13 win over Rangiora to leapfrog St Thomas into eighth place.
A feast of tennis will be served up at Wimbledon with four Kiwis competing in the tournament’s main draws that started today. World number 95 Marina Erakovic will play Kazakh Yulia Putintseva in the first round of the women’s singles draw while Marcus Daniell, Artem Sitak and Michael Venus are competing in the men’s doubles. Erakovic reached the third round in 2008 and 2013 and she could potentially meet five-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams in the second round. - NZME
Pakistan lose test Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the second Test at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo yesterday to level the three-match series 1-1. Chasing a target of 153 runs, the hosts made light of a 30-minute delay due to a wet outfield to race to victory in 26.3 overs. Pakistan had won the first Test in Galle by 10 wickets. The third and decisive match starts in Pallekele on Friday. - AFP
Ennis faces ban NSW are facing a crisis at hooker for State of Origin III with Michael Ennis hit with a grade-one careless high-tackle charge for his shot on North Queensland prop Matt Scott. Ennis was widely tipped to be the back-up to Robbie Farah who is undergoing scans to the fractured hand he suffered in the Wests Tigers’ NRL loss on Sunday to Penrith. Ennis can’t escape a ban with an early guilty plea, as 38 carry-over points mean if he pleads guilty, he gets one week. Fighting the charge and losing would also end up with him missing one week of action. - AAP
Goucher lashes out Kara Goucher, one of the athletes who has levelled explosive doping allegations against Alberto Salazar, lashed out at her former coach for branding her a liar. Goucher was angered by Salazar’s lengthy open letter refuting the accusations levelled three weeks ago in a BBC/ ProPublica documentary, in which Salazar portrayed her husband, Adam Goucher, as “belligerent” and said he dismissed them from his Nike Oregon Project training group. Goucher confirmed she had first spoken to the US Anti-Doping Agency about her concerns in February 2013 and had spoken to them again “very recently”. - AFP