ance
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Sport
Wednesday 21 June 2023
Buzzer-beating try topples Central JACK MALCOLM
Stoke’s Tevita Koloamatangi was in top form on both attack and defence, says coach Joe Kirker after a tense battle with Central. Photo: Evan Barnes/Shuttersport.
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FRANKLIN BULLS vs WELLINGTON SAINTS
AUCKLAND TUATARA vs NELSON GIANTS
HAWKE’S BAY HAWKS vs OTAGO NUGGETS
MANAWATU JETS vs WELLINGTON SAINTS
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It was thunderous from the local crowd as Stoke captain Taine Robinson scored to take the lead with minutes on the clock to bring home a massive win over Central. Following a giant 106-3 win over Murchison in the second division, Stoke’s first division team had their work cut out for them against last year’s Tasman Trophy winners and they looked to be in all sorts of trouble late in the game before a breakaway try sealed their win and the top spot on the competition leaderboards. In other results from the region, Marist were too good for Nelson in their local derby 47-10, Kahurangi outclassed Moutere 67-0 and Waitohi beat Waimea Old Boys 31-24. While in local women’s rugby, the Tasman Trophy finalists have been found as Marist beat Waimea Old Boys 32-15 and Kahurangi beat the Wairau Wāhine 47-10 in the semi-finals. Having scored three times in the opening 15 minutes to build a 21-0 lead, Stoke let Central back into the game as the momentum swung multiple times in an exciting match that went down to the final whistle. Having trailed for the majority of the game, Central dragged themselves back into it on the back of their powerful set-piece. With kicking almost perfect from both teams - a long penalty kick from over 50m out the only miss of the day - it was all or nothing for Central as they continued their march forward. A great inside ball and multiple broken tackles as Central’s centre
Nigel Satherley slipped through the defence to tie the scores at 21-apiece. Stoke built the pressure and scored through number 8 Tevita Koloamatangi as he crashed through the defence following an attacking lineout after a penalty to give his team a seven-point lead. Minutes later he was shown a yellow card as Central looked to maul the ball over the try line, giving them even more emphasis and dominance in the forwards, as the visiting crowd erupted in celebration as they tied up the scores with 10 minutes on the clock by pushing the scrum over the line. It looked like the tide had well and truly turned, that was until a thunderous breakaway run by reserve forward Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta as he effortlessly bumped off the first tackler and skipped through the ankle tap attempt before beating the last line of defense and offloading the ball to Taine to run under the posts. Stoke coach Joe Kirker says it was an “awesome” win for his boys. “We’ve been on a roll, but we knew coming up against this team that it was a whole different factor. “We knew we’d have to be physical up front and we let them get back into the game. We played with a high tempo and that’s hard to keep up. We always knew they were going to come back. . . the message at half-time was pretty much keep doing what we’re doing.” He was impressed with how the forwards put their heads down and continued to work under the adversity, saying they just had to get on with the job.
Strong local showing in national squad Three local volleyballers have been selected for the women’s national team for a tour of Chile, flying out this weekend. Lily Zwart, Holly Chandler and Katie Adamson were selected in the 12-person Volley Ferns squad announced last week. Holly says it’s exciting to make the next step up and to be recognised as one of the best in the country, having previously made national age-group teams in both indoor and beach volleyball. Having made the squad last year, she says they did not travel to compete because of costs and Covid 19 and it’s exciting to get the opportunity to wear the silver
fern and represent her country. “This is my first time playing for the Volley Ferns. . . It will be cool to play with the people I’m usually playing against. “It’s a cool achievement to come from New Zealand and to go over there and compete at that level. Everywhere else is so much bigger than us.” Holly says Chile is known to have a strong volleyball programme. Having travelled to Christchurch multiple times for training camps, she says she still didn’t expect to make the team. “I guess I’m not one to rate myself, so I kind of hoped but didn’t actually really expect it.”