Bay Harbour: April 25, 2018

Wednesday April 25 2018
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Sumner head into Anzac
Day match undefeated
• By Gordon Findlater
SUMNER HEAD into today’s
match against Burnside
undefeated after continuing their
good run of form in the Hawkins
Metro Premier Cup by beating
Sydenham on Saturday.
Their 35-20 win over
Sydenham was the first time
Sumner have defeated the ‘bus
drivers’ since moving to the
metro premier grade in 2010.
The Sumner wave came
out rolling and dominated
possession in the first half,
which coach Martin Dodgson
was quick to attribute to
the team’s attacking coach,
Gareth D’Almeida.
“He came up with a wicked
game plan,” said Dodgson.
While Sumner may have
their attack sorted, the club is
understood to be on the hunt
for a new meteorologist, after
making a weather prediction
that would have given Jim
Hickey nightmares.
“It was absolute genius
planning on my behalf,” joked
Dodgson.
“I said to Dylan [Nel] ‘win
the toss and take the howling
gale because it’s going to rain at
half-time’. And just before kick
off, it’s not a breath of wind and
boiling hot. He looked at me
and said he’s never listening to
me again.” In the unpredicted
TRANSITION: Hayden O’Donnell made a successful switch
from halfback to fill in Sumner’s gap at first-five.
PHOTO: ROZELLE MAY
dry conditions, Sumner piled
on three first half tries courtesy
of Hayden O’Donnell, Nel
and William Saukuru to lead
21-8 at the break. The home
side also started the second
40min relentlessly with second
half tries to Nel and Filimoni
Waqainabete.
However, Sydenham kept
coming back late in the game
to reduce the gap with two late
tries.
Sumner successfully addressed
their first-five injury dilemma
by playing back-up halfback
O’Donnell as first receiver.
“He’s played their a little bit
in the past . . . he’s just a really
chilled out guy and he actually
went really, really well,” said
Dodgson.
The team may have also
escaped a scare after centre
Wesley Mauafu left Saturday’s
game early due to a dislocated
shoulder.
The injury often comes with a
12-16 week recovery. However,
Mauafu appears to have struck a
lucky break.
“The physio did all the
strength tests on him afterwards
and said ‘his shoulder is as good
as new because it popped back in
really cleanly’,” said Dodgson.
It’s hoped he could even be in
contention for Sumner’s clash
with Burnside at St Leonards
Park today.
A busy eight days of rugby
will be concluded at St Leonards
when Sumner host fellow
table-toppers and competition
favourites Lincoln University on
Saturday.
BAY HARBOUR
PAGE 15
Juniors dominate doubles
at Tennis Canty champs
WINNING PAIR: Isaac Boomer
and Jack Hansen-Ratter after
their title-winning performance
at Tennis Canterbury’s junior
championships.
SPORTS
SUMMER TENNIS Club
juniors were among the winners
at Tennis Canterbury’s junior
championships at Wilding Park
last week.
The all Sumner duo of Isaac
Boomer and Jack Hansen-
Ratter dominated the 10 and
under boys doubles competition,
dropping just three games
in their three matches. They
had victories of 4-1, 4-0 in the
quarter-final, and 4-0, 4-1 in
the semi-final to progress to
the final where they met Anzac
Robinson Hawkins and Jimmy
Rumble.
Isaac and Jack brushed aside
their competition in the final to
win 4-1, 4-0.
In the 11 and under boys
doubles, Sumner’s Archie Whithear
teamed up with Bishopdale’s
James Kirk to win the title.
They progressed to the final
comfortably before defeating
the Queenstown pairing of Dan
Milburn and Noa Milburn 1-4,
4-2, 12-10.
TEAM UP: Archie Whithear
teamed up with James Kirk
to win the 11 and under boys
doubles title.
style
noun
elegance and sophistication.
synonyms: flair, grace, poise,
polish, suaveness, urbanity, chic,
finesse, taste, class, comfort,
luxury, affluence, wealth,
opulence, lavishness.
MAGAZINE
STYLE.KIWI