Selwyn_Times: May 11, 2022

Selwyn Times Wednesday May 11 2022
26
SPORT
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Springston’s powerful start too much
• By Tatiana Gibbs
SPRINGSTON remain unbeaten
in the Luisetti Seeds Combined
division one rugby competition
with a dominant opening half
securing a 38-25 win at West
Melton on Saturday.
Springston wasted no time in
putting points on the board in
the fourth round encounter,
with wing Sean Howson dotting
down in the second minute of
the game. Midfield back Caleb
Early followed four minutes
later.
West Melton’s secured their
first points via a rolling maul and
muscled the ball about 10m to
Springston’s goal line to bring the
score to 14-5.
But Springston added three
more tries in the opening half,
a sequence that included a diving
finish by Conner Hamlin in
the corner, to lead 31-15 at the
break.
West Melton rallied in the
second half, spending majority
of the opening 10 minutes inside
Springston’s territory and were
rewarded with a try in the 51st
minute.
• By Tatiana Gibbs
PREBBLETON’S women’s
rugby team secured the first win
of their comeback season on
Saturday, defeating Ashburton
Celtic 29-15 in the Canstaff
premiership.
Playing in the senior women’s
competition, comprising five
metro and three country clubs,
and for the first time in 20 years,
Prebbleton’s victory was one
to savour, five rounds into the
schedule.
Head coach Kevin Scovell was
stoked after the squad endured
a tough initiation against four
experienced Christchurch sides.
“We’ve had some tough games
but each week the girls are learning,
growing and getting better
and better, and (Saturday’s)
result showed it,” he said.
“They’re just loving it. They’re
just so keen to learn and soak up
BACKPLAY: Midfield back Benjamin Gameson strives to make ground as Springston’s Thomas Cockburn makes a grab at
the ball, while Springston wing Conner Hamlin confronts defensive attention, from Dane Lieser (left) and Harry Pringle at
West Melton Domain.
“Our first 20 minutes was fine,
and then it all seemed to just all
go to individual play after that,”
said Springston coach Warwick
Reid.
“We let ourselves slip a bit
there and in the second half
[West Melton] came out nice and
strong.”
Springston now sit second in
pool C, five points behind leaders
Saracens, with a game in hand.
West Melton coach Chris
Fifield said in spite of loss, his
what we’re giving them.”
Second five-eighths Sarah
Lindsay scored two tries and
added two conversions in a
player of the day performance.
Club president Jeromy
Knowler was a part of the support
crowd who travelled to
Ashburton to watch the side.
“Gee it was great to watch.
They just kept tackling and tackling.
They turned the ball over
and they just went for the whole
game,” he said.
“They’re really young for a
women’s team. You notice that
when they’re up against those big
four in the women’s grade, but
they’re just full of enthusiasm.”
Each team in the competition
plays each other once, before
splitting into a top four, bottom
squad keep putting better performances
on the park each week.
“We’ve improved a lot from the
last few games,” he said.
“When we held on to the ball,
we certainly got inroads with it
and our scrum was really good
LANDMARK VICTORY: Prebbleton celebrated their first win of this season, their first in the
senior women’s competition for two decades, after beating Ashburton Celtic.
four competition.
Currently sixth, Prebbleton
face another top team, Canterbury
University, in their next
assignment on Saturday at Ilam
Fields.
After a two decade absence
of women’s senior rugby at
Prebbleton, Knowler said there’s
a real buzz after Thursday night
training when the entire senior
… we’re pretty happy other than
a few loose lineouts.”
West Melton now face Lincoln
in an Ellesmere round on
Saturday, that has both teams
searching for their first wins in
the sub union competition.
Tackling key to win for Prebbleton women
group are having dinner together
in the clubrooms.
“Now to have the woman’s
team in there, it adds another
dimension to the club,” he said.
“It’s bloody awesome because
they’re a great bunch of girls,
that’s for sure.”
Coach Scovell can’t wait for
Thursday’s session, knowing a
massive round of applause from
the men will come their way.
“I’d really like to thank
Caitlain (Blanchard) our playercoach,
Steph (Broomhall) my
tech adviser and Kris (Wenmoth)
the team’s manager for all
the hard work they’ve put into
this team,” he said.
Standings after five rounds:
Christchurch 25, Lincoln University
25, Canterbury University
20, High School Old Boys 15,
Linwood 10, Prebbleton 5, Celtic
0, Kaiapoi 0.
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