Ashburton Courier: September 24, 2020

www.ashburtoncourier.co.nz
Tinwald girls
nab trophy in
final seconds
An unlikely shotinthe final 20 seconds
earned the Tinwalddivision twowomen’s
team abig South CanterburyHockey trophy
at the weekend.
Theside of Year9­11 girls from Ashburton
College andMtHutt College has trekked to
Timaru every Sunday andtook thetrophy
with a3­2 win over Roncalli College’s First
XI.
CoachJen Muir saidTinwald hadbeen
behind mostofthe game after an early goal
by JessiePitney but the scores werelocked
2­2 with timealmostup.
Tinwald hadbeen defending its goal when
theymanaged to snaffle possessionand
Laura Walshmade abreakdown the right
side.Pitney,the rightstriker,was waiting in
the circle and playedareverse shot that sent
the ball into the back of thegoal.
Shewas immediately mobbedbyher teammates
andMuir,who co­coaches with
husband Skip,held their breath whilethe
match went intoumpires’ time. Luckily,that
was brief.
Muir saiditwas afantastic finish to the
season,consideringthey almost didn’t enter
whenCovid­19 upset early season
preparations.
Roncallihad been hotonattack as the
finalwounddown.Tinwald had levelled the
scores afteragoal from Walsh and some
great workfrom goalie Caitlin Muir kept
theminwith achance.
Jen said the group was amix of talented
and new players and theyhad gelled
throughoutthe season, underthe captaincy
of Piper Hood.
She saidthe players hadconfidencein
eachother’s ability to do their job on the
pitchsowhen Walsh took thefast break, she
had support.
Pitney’s shothad aone in 10 chance of
succeeding, and it did.
Muir said the teamcame home with three
cupsfrom the competition after being topon
points after roundrobinplay.
She saidthey grateful to the parents and
supporters whohelped throughout the
season and whomadethe triptoTimarufor
the final.
The second division grade includes
Wakanui(whowon the plate final) and
school teams fromaround South Canterbury.
It wasagood weekend for other Mid
Canterbury seniorhockeysides, the
Wakanuiwomen beat Cambridge 5­2 to win
the top women’s grade final, while the
Wakanuimen lost 4­1 to Temuka intheir
divisionone final.
Covid worries
stop salmon run
Thisyear’s edition of theRakaia Salmon Run
has become another covid casualty.
The event’sorganising committee said the
uncertainty of running an eventundercovid
restrictions, rules andprotocols wastoo much
for its small volunteer group.
The decisiontocancel the event, sponsored
by JacksonHolmes, came with
disappointment andsadness. The event was to
havebeen held on October17,now theday of
the general election.
Spokesperson JoBurrowssaid there had
beenalot of deliberationand discussion
about continuing,given the preparation and
promotion already done.
Astatement by the committeesaid: ‘‘It was
decided thatthe health and safety, and also
welfare ofour competitors, volunteers,
marshalls and general community was more
important than the risks involved,asmany of
ourmarshalls and volunteers areelderly and
are in the deemed riskcategory.
‘‘Asyou will be aware the coviduncertainty
atthistime has also brought with it alot more
rules andprotocols to abide by, andsofor our
small volunteer committee itwas too large a
responsibility to run asuccessful and stress
free event.’’ Theevent will be back in 2021.
The winning Tinwald division two hockey team and their trophy haul from the 2020 season.
MID
NEWS
Ashburton Courier, September 24, 2020
TOWN
Mar
di
Gr
as
MONDAY 28 SEPT
9am -4.30pm
East Street, Ashburton
Stalls Raffles Fundraisers Food Entertainment
Crafts Clothing Jewellery Fun for the kids Plants
See you there!
21
PHOTO ROBYN HOOD
2316882