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www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz<br />
NEWS<br />
<strong>Ashburton</strong> <strong>Courier</strong>, <strong>August</strong> <strong>20</strong>, <strong>20</strong><strong>20</strong><br />
35<br />
Latetry lossfor pluckySpartans<br />
Supporters of the Mid<br />
CanterburyCombinedfirst XV<br />
had plenty to cheer about last<br />
weekend,even if they weren’t<br />
allowed to be at therugby<br />
ground.<br />
TheSpartansled<br />
competition leadersSt<br />
Andrew’s College2414at<br />
halftime and lost 3035 after a<br />
STAC try againstthe run of<br />
play in thefinal minutes.<br />
Coach Shane Enright said<br />
theaim of the game had been to<br />
have fun and stunthe<br />
competition.<br />
Unbeaten STAC ended up<br />
leaving with five points, but<br />
they had to work for it.<br />
Theclose loss alsogave the<br />
Spartans apoint and lifts them<br />
up the table aboveRoncalli<br />
andLincoln combined.<br />
Thematch was playedunder<br />
covid restrictions, with<br />
spectators bannedfrom the<br />
grounds at <strong>Ashburton</strong> College.<br />
Many watchedthe game<br />
through the fence,keeping<br />
sociallydistant, but they were<br />
loud when it mattered.<br />
The Spartans drew first<br />
bloodwith apenalty kickedby<br />
Charlie Brown, butSTAC came<br />
back with two easy converted<br />
tries.<br />
But then theMid Canterbury<br />
forwardsbegan to man up<br />
around the ruckand the<br />
Spartanswent on attack. Lock<br />
Pasi Hala hit agreat ball on the<br />
angle to run through at least<br />
three STACdefendersand<br />
scoreunder the posts to make<br />
thegame 1014 with 14 minutes<br />
to go in the firsthalf.<br />
The Spartans kept the<br />
pressureonand goodkick<br />
downthe blind side bounced<br />
nicely forTaurangi Daniel,<br />
whohad chasedthe ball and<br />
then scored under the posts.<br />
Mid Canterburyled 1714.<br />
With afew minutes to go<br />
before the break,slippery<br />
Tommy Patterson stepped left<br />
then rightfor atry, whichwas<br />
converted by Brown to give Mid<br />
Canterburya2414 lead.<br />
Thecompetition leaders<br />
stepped it up in thesecond<br />
half, scoringearly to trail 2124<br />
and then again to lead 2827.<br />
Brownbanged over another<br />
penalty to give the hosts a<br />
3028 leadwithabout five<br />
minutes to go.<br />
STAC’s bigcentre came to<br />
the party, runningthrough<br />
some tackles to go 70 metres<br />
for atry and conversion to give<br />
them a3530 lead.<br />
The Spartans wereback on<br />
attack when the finalwhistle<br />
sounded.<br />
BJ Fakataha was the player<br />
of theday, withhonourable<br />
mentionstoSam Ree, Isi Ula,<br />
George Penjueli, Ghost Toueli<br />
and captain Michael<br />
Hennings.<br />
Enright also praised the<br />
work at scrumtimeand said<br />
the whole squad putinagreat<br />
effort overall.<br />
Spartans play ShirleyBoys<br />
at<strong>Ashburton</strong> Collegeon<br />
Saturday.<br />
Spartans player Charlie Brown<br />
lines up this penalty to claim<br />
the first points in the STAC<br />
game.<br />
Rep team selected for Hanan Shield<br />
Mid Canterbury Netball senior<br />
rep coach Claire Tappin has<br />
named a10playersideplus<br />
three reserves to defend the<br />
Hanan Shield in <strong>Ashburton</strong> on<br />
September 6.<br />
The sidewas selected after<br />
trials at theEA Networks<br />
Centre last weekendand will<br />
train this Sunday and<strong>August</strong><br />
30, ahead of theshield games<br />
against South Canterbury and<br />
North Otago. It will be managed<br />
by Caroline Polson.<br />
It includes AliceEddington,<br />
Kelsey Bewley, Meg Ashworth<br />
(Hampstead); LeanneClemens,<br />
Anita Watson(Methven);<br />
Hayley Tallentire, Poppy<br />
Kilworth (<strong>Ashburton</strong> College);<br />
Charlotte Samson, AbiLunn<br />
(United); AliceBreading<br />
(Celtic). Reserves areCaitlin<br />
Adlam and SophieWorsfold<br />
(Celtic)and Loumaile<br />
Manumua (United).<br />
Netball is able to proceed<br />
this week with premier, social<br />
and senior competitions under<br />
Alert Level 2, buthas stopped<br />
netballfor Year16 players,<br />
though teamscan train as long<br />
as covid guidelines are<br />
followed.<br />
Administratorshave been<br />
working hard behind the scenes<br />
to ensure top levelgamescan<br />
go ahead, and clubs and schools<br />
havebeen advisedofprotocols<br />
they are expected to follow.<br />
Under Alert Level2,<br />
gatherings of more than 100are<br />
banned.<br />
No spectators will be allowed<br />
in the EA Networks stadium for<br />
any Mid CanterburyNetball<br />
competition games,teamswill<br />
warm up outdoors, andexit the<br />
stadiumimmediately after<br />
games.There is no shaking<br />
hands at the endofgames.<br />
Teams arebeingadvised to<br />
keep an eye on the netball<br />
website fornew drawsand<br />
information.<br />
In premier one tonight,<br />
Hampstead plays <strong>Ashburton</strong><br />
College at 6.05pm,Methven<br />
plays Celtic Bat7.10pm and<br />
Celtic Aplays United at 8.15pm.<br />
Trials for the Mid Canterbury Netball senior rep team were held at the weekend.
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