The Star: May 06, 2021

More documents

Recommendations

Info

The Star Thursday May 6 2021 32 SPORT Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Talent on show throughout codes • By Chris Barclay WHEN LINWOOD and Hornby meet for the first time in a new Canterbury Rugby League premiership season it’s typically a rematch of the previous battle for the Pat Smith Trophy. The Northern Bulldogs bucked that trend in 2020, but for Keas veteran Alex Todd the rivalry with the Panthers endures ahead of a clash between the competition’s two unbeaten teams on Saturday. Before the Kaiapoi-based Bulldogs could not prevent Linwood claiming their fifth successive title, Hornby were the runners-up the previous four seasons. A no-nonsense prop, Todd brings up the disappointment of the 2009 final, rather than the victories, when revisiting an encounter he relishes. “For me personally it always has been the rivalry,” he explained. “When I first started playing prems [in 2008] we had a good couple of battles. We lost in 2009. They’re always a quality opposition. They’re well-coached and well-drilled. It’s always a tough game.” Uncompromising in the middle, the hard heads from both clubs have formed friendships off the field. “A lot of the older boys get on well – I went to Corey’s 40th last year, it was a pretty good do,” Todd said. The 31-year-old said celebrations at Leslie Park hinge on keeping Panthers second rower Corey Lawrie quiet. “He’s always floating around the middle there. We have to keep him busy on defence,” Todd said. At the other end of the experience spectrum, Todd was wary of the threat posed by Panthers fullback Sincere Harraway, who opened the campaign with backto-back hat-tricks. “I watched him in the under- 20s. He’s a player you’ve got to keep your eye on, he’s got good footwork,” he said. Both teams head into the fifth round in impressive form, with the Panthers on top via points differential. Hornby thrashed the Northern Bulldogs 44-10 last weekend while the Keas rolled the Eastern Eagles 42-22 after trailing 10-0 early at Wainoni Park. The Celebration Lions’ resurgent campaign also regathered momentum by crushing the cellar-dwelling Papanui Tigers 62-20, the highest score of the season so far. Lions stalwart Kasi Leka racked up four tries from five-eighth while his brother Taniela contributed a try and nine goals as the siblings thrived in an 11-try rout that enabled the club to bounce back from a narrow loss to Hornby. Celebration were in Papanui’s predicament in 2020, propping up the table, but are now third behind the pacesetters leading into their encounter with the Riccarton Knights. Halswell round out the top four with a three-win (including a default by Papanui), one-loss record after a 20-point victory over Riccarton. They now head to Kaiapoi and attempt to extend the fifth-placed Northern Bulldogs’ slump under Frank Endacott. Marist Albion are the only unbeaten team heading into round five of the Christchurch Metro Cup club rugby competition, with last year’s runners-up boasting the maximum 20 points. They feature in the fixture of the weekend when they host second-placed Linwood at Edgar McIntosh Field on Saturday. Even if they suffer their first loss, they will still remain on top of the ladder. The status quo remained in the Mainland Football premiership with champions Cashmere Technical maintaining top spot with a 5-1 thumping of Nelson Suburbs while second-placed Coastal Spirit drew 1-1 with third-ranked Christchurch United. Eighth round fixtures indicate the top three should solidify their places with Cashmere Technical facing Selwyn United, Coastal Spirit in a local derby with Ferrymead Bays FC and Nomads United hosting Christchurch United. Lincoln University maintained their lead in the Christchurch Netball Centre’s premier grade RIVALRY ROUND: Linwood Keas stalwart Alex Todd is looking forward to another tussle with Canterbury Rugby League premiership rivals Hornby at Leslie Park on Saturday. when they defeated Technical B 81-21 on Tuesday night while Technical A and Kereru A are also undefeated. Saints recorded the biggest score of the third round, a 103-23 romp over Villa Maria. In the opening round of Canterbury Hockey’s men’s and women’s premiership grade competition, reigning champions Marist and Harewood recorded 3-1 scorelines against new Porritt Cup holders Southern United and Hornby respectively. Marist take on HSOB/Burnside on Saturday. In the women’s schedule Harewood has an early bye, giving unbeaten Marist and Carlton Redcliffs to build on their round one victories. Top of the tables Christchurch Metro Premier Cup men’s rugby P W L D PD Pts Marist Albion 4 4 0 0 38 20 Linwood 4 3 1 0 44 14 Burnside 4 3 1 0 25 14 Lincoln University 4 2 2 0 5 12 Sydenham 4 2 1 1 -7 12 Christchurch 4 1 2 1 7 11 University 4 2 2 0 -3 10 Shirley 4 1 3 0 -14 10 New Brighton 4 2 2 1 1 9 Sumner 4 1 2 1 -17 8 HSOB 4 1 3 0 -11 6 Belfast 4 0 3 1 -68 5 Canterbury Rugby League Men’s Premiership P W L D PD Pts Hornby Panthers 4 4 0 0 90 8 Linwood Keas 4 4 0 0 78 8 Celebration Lions 4 3 1 0 74 6 Halswell Hornets 4 3 1 0 64 6 Northern Bulldogs 4 1 3 0 -6 2 Riccarton Knights 4 1 3 0 -82 2 Papanui Tigers 4 0 4 0 -100 0 Eastern Eagles 4 0 4 0 -136 0 Mainland Football Men’s Premiership P W D L GD Pts Cashmere Technical 7 6 1 0 16 19 Coastal Spirit 7 5 1 1 8 16 Christchurch Utd 7 4 2 1 18 14 Nelson Suburbs 7 3 1 3 1 10 Nomads Utd AFC 7 3 0 4 -4 9 Ferrymead Bays 7 3 0 4 -6 9 Selwyn Utd FC 7 1 1 5 -8 4 Halswell Utd AFC 7 0 0 7 -25 0 Weekend match-ups •Christchurch Metro Premier Cup (all Saturday at 2.45pm) Christchurch v Belfast, Christchurch Park; Sydenham v Burnside, Sydenham Park; University v New Brighton, Ilam Fields; Lincoln University v HSOB, Lincoln Uni; Marist Albion v Linwood, Edgar McIntosh Field; Shirley v Sumner, Burwood Park. •Canterbury Rugby League Premiership (all Saturday at 2.45pm) Northern Bulldogs v Halswell Hornets, Murphy Park; Hornby Panthers v Linwood Keas, Leslie Park; Riccarton Knights v Celebration Lions, Wainoni Park; Papanui Tigers v Eastern Eagles, Papanui Domain. •Mainland Football Premiership Halswell United v Nelson Suburbs FC, Halswell Domain, 11.30am Saturday; Cashmere Technical v Selwyn United, Garrick Park, 2.45pm Saturday; Nomads United v Christchurch Utd, Tulett Park, 2.45pm Saturday; Coastal Spirit v Ferrymead Bays FC, Linfield Park, 12.30pm Sunday.
• By Chris Barclay IT’S CUSTOMARY to get straight back in the saddle after a setback, although veteran harness driver-trainer Kevin Townley will take time to consider if and when it is wise to climb into a sulky after his latest accident. A 70-year-old requiring a hip replacement is not unusual, but the background to Townley’s procedure in Christchurch Hospital sets the West Melton-based horseman apart. “I was going up in the air and the next thing I remember was all these faces staring down at me,” Townley recalled when revisiting his crash with Murano at Rangiora on April 18. “I’ve seen the replay, I suppose I was two or three metres in the air, then I got run over. It [the footage] doesn’t show that.” The stewards’ report states Gift Card fell and checked Murano plus Tom Brady. Townley was one of three drivers dislodged by the incident. Murano, which avoided injury, galloped on before being corralled. “[Murano] fell in a split second – apparently it stood on a shoe. You think very fast on the track and in a split second I thought: ‘There’s no way out of this one’,” Townley said. He was treated at the track and transported to Christchurch Hospital with hip, rib and lung damage. He was released last Friday to continue his rehabilitation with wife Margaret. “My left hip was smashed up pretty bad so I got a total hip replacement but there’s still a fracture or two to heal. Hopefully they’re healing all right with the new apparatus on board,” he said. Townley already has a plate and several screws in his shoulder following an accident during track work. After a crash during a trial at Motukarara, a horse trod on his hand, breaking all the bones. He was also kicked in the head by a horse before a race in Westport in 2017, with a helmet fortunately bearing the brunt of the blow. Townley shrugged off those incidents – and several others through the years – reasoning: “It can be a bit of a rough industry, you expect things like that. I’ve bounced back pretty good but there must be an age where you don’t.” That might be approaching, with Townley conceding the Rangiora spill was the worst he has experienced. “It’s not great timing to be fair – at 70 you don’t bounce back Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz quite as well either. I don’t know how much I’ll be able to do in the future. That will work itself out I guess.” Townley returned to his stable on Tuesday to check on his small team. “We’ll see how the next couple of months go and how I get around. I’ve got to lift my leg into the sulky don’t I,” he said. The surgical advice was to release the reins but he would not be pushed into retirement. “I just have to judge it myself really. There’s no rush, I’ve got another month before the bones are healed anyway.” Townley started training in with his father Doody in 1987 before training in his own right from 1995. He has 263 winners and another 230 with his dad. Most of his horses are spelling now although Harbour Queen placed third at Methven on April 26, just the tonic as he followed the race from his ward. Townley has also been boosted by the harness racing fraternity. “I’ve been inundated by offers of help,” he said. SPORT 33 Crash puts driving on hold Grasstrack REINED IN: Veteran harness racing trainer-driver Kevin Townley is making a patient recovery from surgery following a serious crash during a race at Rangiora (below). PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN & TRACKSIDE (below) Thursday May 6 2021 The Star to build on season’s success • By Dave Di Somma GRASSTRACK RACING has been a massive success this season, and there will be even more meetings in 2021/22. The dates calendar has 38 grasstrack meetings next season, including three dual code. That’s four more than this season, and includes the return to Hawera in Taranaki. Their two meetings will be held over Waitangi weekend (February 4 and 6, 2022). There will be two other North Island meetings, at Wairarapa and Kapiti, and 34 in the south. Mt Harding at Methven and Motukarara will be the busiest grasstracks, with seven meetings each next season, while Westport gets three and Geraldine doubles its quota to two. Gore will also race on the grass twice, as will Oamaru and the Forbury Park Trotting Club at Wingatui. Methven hosted the last grasstrack meeting of the season on April 26. Methven Trotting Club president Mark Lemon is reasonably happy with next season’s allocation, saying the club can handle one meeting a month, although he thinks nationwide there is still potential to have even more meetings over the warmer months. “We should be having a meeting on every Sunday, and we are not doing that.” Grasstrack racing’s popularity with punters is well known. This season Methven turned over more than $1 million at five of its seven meetings, with a best of $1,565,647 on October 11. The Hororata Club’s meeting there also did $1,132,720. Said Lemon: “When you add it all up it was over $9.5 million at Methven . . . the only two we didn’t do a million on were the two when we only had nine races.” – Harness News Desk Turn the rainy season into the dry season. Great prices on a great range of dryers. As temperatures tumble, it might be time to consider getting yourself a new dryer. Especially as you’ll have a few more layers to launder. It’s the perfect time of year to take advantage of our great deals, on top brand laundry appliances. If you find the same product cheaper anywhere else, we’re happy to match the price*. *T&Cs apply, see smithscity.co.nz/price-promise for details.
Page 1 and 2: of Hillary’s team lived and worke
Page 3 and 4: • By Samantha Mythen SHAY HORAY
Page 5 and 6: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star THE CI
Page 7 and 8: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star • B
Page 9 and 10: Latest Canterbury news at starnews.
Page 11 and 12: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 11 FRE
Page 13 and 14: Latest Canterbury news at starnews.
Page 15 and 16: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 15 spo
Page 17 and 18: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star Latest
Page 19 and 20: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 19
Page 21 and 22: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 21 STY
Page 23 and 24: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 23 Sat
Page 25 and 26: AUTUMN IS a great time to tackle jo
Page 27 and 28: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 27 SCH
Page 29 and 30: SENIORS’ LIVING LIFE [Edition dat
Page 31: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 31 CHR
Page 35 and 36: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star CROSSW
Page 37 and 38: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 37 Ral
Page 39 and 40: The Star Classifieds Board Retired
Page 41 and 42: Incorporating ISSUE 685 | FrIday 16
Page 43 and 44: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 43 chr
Page 45 and 46: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 45 Big
Page 47 and 48: Thursday May 6 2021 The Star 47 If

The Star: May 06, 2021

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?