Collingwood battle Riwaka Football alive and kicking in Collingwood

JO RICHARDS

Junior football is now well established at Collingwood with home team GBAFC Aorere playing and training on Collingwood Area School grounds.

Last Saturday morning, Aorere hosted Waimea Plains in a 10th Grade, Takahe division fixture. At this level, seven-a-side matches are played on a reduced size pitch, but the essence of the game is unchanged.

Collingwood's first away game of the season took them to Riwaka. The game started well with Collingwood on the attack, but were denied by the home side who made inroads in behind the visitor's defence and were rewarded with a couple of tries.

A suspected spinal injury to a Collingwood player meant a 30-minute half time while waiting for the rescue helicopter. He was flown to Burwood Hospital, Christchurch where he is now recovering. Collingwood started the second half with more purpose and ground Riwaka down and narrowed the deficit to three points before Riwaka kicked a penalty. In the final five minutes Collingwood put more pressure on the Riwaka line but couldn't quite cross the line. Final score: 30-24 to Riwaka.

Coach Graeme Miller said it was a tough contest. "Hopefully a week off for King's Birthday will allow some healing."

Results And Fixtures

GOLF: 16 May. Stableford - Hidden Partners: M Solly & B Miller. 17 May. Club Champs:

G Bradley bt G Rowe 2/1, G Little bt R Young. Stableford: M Dixon 35, D Jerram 33, J Solly 33. Closest to pin: 3/12 M Dixon, 4/13 J Solly, 8/17 and 9/18 D Win. Best gross:

M Dixon 85. 24 May. Club Champs: G Bradley bt J Crocker 5/4. Stableford: R Young 39,

S Kerr 36, D Win 36. Closest to pin: 3/12 S Kerr, 4/13 J Solly, 8/17 D Win, 9/18 R Young.

Twos: H Hills, A Bradnock, J Crocker. Best gross: D Win 78. 27 May. Club Champssenior final: J Riordan bt W Collie 1up. Hay Cup (Net): N Gardiner 71, R Heuvel 76, M Dixon 77. Closest to pin: 3/12 R Heuvel, 4/13 M Dixon, 8/17 and 9/18 R Young. Happy wanderer: R Young. Best gross: R Dyce.

BRIDGE: 24 May. Rangihaeata Pairs Session 1: E Bradshaw/R McDonald 63.19%; P Nelson/D Perreau 61.90%; H Curtis/A Mace 57.14%. H/cap: P Nelson/D Perreau

64.40%; E Bradshaw/R McDonald 62.19%; H Curtis/A Mace 53.39%. 26 May.

Individual Session 5: E Bradshaw/D Perreau 58%; A Mace/H Curtis 57%; C Mead/C

Furness 48%. H/cap: E Bradshaw/D Perreau 58.75%; A Mace/H Curtis 53.25%; S Douglas/J Massey 49.25%.

BASKETBALL: NBS Tākaka Basketball League 2023. Week 4: Jazz Electrics 64 v GB

Scaffolding 18. MVP, Mull. Laser Electrical 46 v Bloody Legends 38. MVP, Brooks. Bye - Bricklayers.

FOOTBALL: 27 May. Men’s Division 2: GB Mountain Goats 12 v FC Nelson 2nd XI 1.

Men’s Masters: GB Stingrays 2 v Wakefield FC Masters 1. Women’s Premiership: GB

Shield Maidens 2 v Mapua Cougars 4. 15-17 Grade - Blue: GB Gladiators 1 v FC Nelson

U15 8. 13-14 Grade - Yellow: Mapua Rangers Allstars 1 v GB Pumas 2; GB Panthers 5 v Nelson Suburbs FC United 1. 13-14 Grade - Red: GB Wahine Toa 2 v Motueka AFC Wasps 3.

While Aorere’s mixed squad of 12 includes four who are new to football, all who took to the pitch on Saturday gave the impression they’d been playing the sport for quite a while. Displaying a composure that belied their experience, the home side players, including stand-outs Coby Heuvel and Leroy Steel, appeared comfortable in possession, communicated well and looked up before making passes to teammates. Such organisation put Aorere in control of the game from which they emerged 8-1 victors.

After the match, coach Duan Evans provided some explanation of his side’s performance. “They play together at lunchtimes, and we have practice on Wednesdays. And on Monday the football club’s development officers come in.”

Given the popularity of the game in and around the township, Duan reckons that, in 2024, Collingwood will field teams in both the 10th and 11th Grades. “Next year we’ll have a second team.”

GBAFC president Phil Smith, who was officiating the match, is equally bullish about future prospects. “It’s really good having a team based here. It’s the start of something big.”