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SPORT <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> <strong>News</strong>, <strong>May</strong> <strong>12</strong>, <strong>2022</strong> 31 Ashley right on song at Loburn RUGBY By PETER WILLIAMS Two of the lowerranked <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> sides,Ashley and Ohoka, both registered their first wins in the fourth round of the combined Luisetti Seeds rugby competition, while GlenmarkCheviot and Saracens maintained their momentum with good wins. Kaiapoi, though,lost its unbeaten record, succumbing to Celtic in adour affair. AshleyvOxford Ashley had piled on 32 unanswered points, and already claimed their bonus point beforeOxford scored aconverted trybyarguably theirhardestworker, Liam Stevenson, just before half time. It was an impressive display by an onsong Ashley outfitwhich had promisedto deliver aperformance like this for some time. It was more of the same in the second half –Ashley finished with nine tries to its credit and it was not until the last10 minutes, withthe game welland truly in the bag thatthe Ashley performance started to get alittle ragged, andOxford rallied to score two consolation tries which gave the scoreline amodicum of respectability. All the kudos must go to Ashley. Its forward pack, withMatt Kippenberger, Louis James, MattKing and Nic Sim all turning on topshelf performances, dominated allphases of the possession battle and at times completely annihilated Oxford at scrumtime, winning astring of tightheads. Halfback Tyler Power no doubt appreciated getting so much quality ball,but it was his speedy and accurate delivery of that possession that really set alight atalented backline. AllofAshley’s backs had excellent games, keeping the errors to aminimum. The shining star was centre AnthonyTavendale who had ahand in manyofAshley’s triesand scored ahattrick. He sliced the Oxford defence to shreds, seemingly at will. With pointsin this matchdoubling for both the Luisetti Seeds Combined and the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> only competitions, the five points Ashleydeservedly secured puts it in astrong position in the <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> competition, but its probably left its run too late to nail down aspot in the combined quarter finalson June 4. Ashley 56 (Anthony Tavendale (3), Louis James (2), Luke Gold, Jack Marshall, Korbyn Gray, Ben Wicksteed, tries; Marshall, one penalty, two conversions, Korbyn Gray two conversions) beat Oxford 19 (Liam Stevenson, Jireh Vunibaka, Sam Freeman tries, Matt Roberts 2conversions). OhokavRakaia The match at Mandevilledid not reach any great heights,with both teams making alot of mistakes. Ohoka would have been pleasedtonotch up its first win of the season, however. This time it didn’t surrender its halftime lead as it has done more than once this season. Ohoka could thank its loose forward trio of Tom Taylor, Sam Powell and, in particular, Ben Gold for laying the platform for the team’s success. Gold was everywhere, making vital tackles, securing turnover ball and cover defending tigerishly all day. At fiveeighth Paddy McCallum directed play with aplomb, and chose the right time to feed his centres, Scott Allin and Blain O’Loughlin. Their probing runs concerned Rakaia’s defenders as did George Wiggins, playing hiss 100th gamefor the Leading from the front ... Ashley’s captain, Louis James, on his way to scoring one of his two tries. PHOTO:LISA SIM club on the wing, celebrating withagood try. Ohoka 35 (George Wiggins, Tom Taylor, George Wedlake, Tom Wedlake, tries ScottAllin 3penalties and three conversions) beat Rakaia 18. Saracens vHornby While Saracens was first on the board with an early try to Alex Kennedy, Hornby hit backstrongly putting Saracens under pressure by usingits big forwards to find holes around the rucks. Hornby managed to hit the front with a coupleoftries beforeSaracens regrouped and settled into its work, eventually getting some quality ball for the backs who found space and scoredsome good tries. Fullback, Harry Murray bagged four of them, aperformance which netted him the club’s Player of the Day award.Halfback Oscar Burney was another to impress. In the forwards, club stalwart, Willy Kerr turned inhis usual wholehearted effort playing his 150th game for this team. Saracens appeartobethe form side of the competitionpiling on amammoth265 pointsinfour matches whileconceding only 41. Its last three opponents however, have been the three bottom teamsinthe section. It now needstobeat the other unbeaten side Springston, in an away game next Saturday, to set itself up for the playoffs. Saracens 62 (Harry Murray(4), Alex Kennedy, Oscar Burney, Matt Freeman, Ricky Allin, SladeDay triesAllin 7 conversions,1 penalty) beat Hornby10. Rolleston vGlenmark Cheviot Although Rolleston opened the scoring in just the fourth minute, that proved to be its only points of the match. Glenmark Cheviot proceededto run in 11 tries in the processof amassing 71 unanswered points. Caleb Beck had aparticularlystrong game at first five, scoring acouple of tries and havingahandyday with the boot also. Angus Gibb carried hard all day while as always, Jacob Vincent had astrong game in the loose. Rolleston 7lost to GlenmarkCheviot 71 (Jordan Gray, Caleb Beck (2),Jacob Vincent, BlairNorton (2), AngusGibb, Corrigan Harnett (2) Max Murray, Matt Holmes tries; Beck 8conversions). WaihoravHurunui In amatch played at Tai Tapu on Thursday night it was immediately apparentthat the local Waihora sidewas determined to avengethe previous week’s heavy defeat to GlenmarkCheviot. It scored two tries in the first 10 minutes –but it was the only tries scoredall match. This 140 lead was never seriously threatened, althoughHurunui had the best of the territorial battle for the rest of the first halfenabling Digby Heard to narrow the margin with two penaltygoals. The second half was all about defence with Waihora’s line speedand tackle accuracy snuffing out Hurunui’s attempts to close the gap. Hurunui playedmuch of the rest of the game deep in its own half, but its defensive patternsstood up to the test restricting Waihora to just two furtherpenalty goals. Nordy Anderson and Will Jamieson were standouts in the tight for Hurunui, while young halfback Luke Hume, in his debutmatch, directed play efficiently. Waihora 20beat Hurunui 6(Digby Heard 2penalties). Woodend vSouthbridge The unbeaten Southbridgeside was always in control. It had already scored threetries before centre, Ethan Hobbs got Woodend on the board midwaythrough the first spell. By half time Southbridge had stretched the lead to 295. While Southbridge ran in four further secondhalf tries, makingitnine in total, Woodend kept its best to last with hooker Aaron Karauria, who had astrong game, and Jayden Stokeseach dotting downin the last quarter to close the margin up a little. Woodend17(EthanHobbs, Aaron Karauria, Jayden Stokes tries, Aidan Wakefield 1conversion) lostto Southbridge55. Kaiapoi vCeltic Previously unbeaten, Kaiapoi’s stocks took amajor hammeringwhen it lost ahome match to Celtic, 1510. It led 75 at halftime, courtesy of apenalty try on the hooter from an attempted pushover try, but couldonly add asole penalty goal in the second half. It was alethargic performance by Kaiapoi. The turning point cameinthe 61st minute when aKaiapoi kick into Celtic’s territory was gathered and put to the toe. Celtic’s speedy wingerRaitubi Vasarakuta won the race to the ball to score adjacenttothe posts. Codey Grimes, playing out of position at first fiveeighth handledthe emergency assignment capably as did Zane Carey, usuallya flanker,who put up his hand to play at lock. Kaiapoi 10 (apenaltytry, TaineJacobs Lawson apenalty) lost to Celtic 15. Section 2ofthe compeittion is congested. There are no unbeatenteams and only two points separatethe top five teams on the points table. Kaiapoi is now staring at the dauntingtask of beating three of the othertop 4teams over the next three weeks, starting withamouthwateringclash against GlenmarkCheviot side on Kaiapoi’s Club day on Saturday. NORTH CANTERBURYRUGBY SUB UNION-14 th <strong>May</strong> <strong>2022</strong> Luisetti SeedsCombinedDiv 1Pool A Woodend vsAshley, Gladstone Park, 2:45 pm. Methven vs Oxford, MethvenDomain,2:45 pm. Luisetti SeedsCombinedDiv 1Pool B Kaiapoi vs, Glenmark-Cheviot, Kaiapoi Oval, 2.45pm. Hurunui Bye. Luisetti SeedsCombined Div 1Pool C Hornby vsOhoka, Hornby, 2:45:pm. Springston vs Saracens, Springston, 2.45pm. Division 2-Ellesmere&<strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> 13/05/<strong>2022</strong> Hurunui VSaracens, 07:30 PM, Cul1. 14/05/<strong>2022</strong> WoodendVAshley,01:00 PM, Wood1.Kaiapoi GOLDS VGlenmark Cheviot, 01:00 PM, Kai 1.Kaikoura V Oxford, 02:00PM, Kaik1.AmberleyVOhoka, 02:30PM, Amb 1. Combined ColtsA West Melton V Ashley, 01:00 PM, Wmelt 1. Kaiapoi V Prebbleton, 01:00 PM, Kai 2. Glenmark Cheviot BYE. Womens Kaiapoi VCeltic, 01:00 PM, KaiOv. 1st XV RoundRobin RHS 1stXVVSelwyn Combined 1stXV, 02:45 PM, RHS1. U18 Combined RHS 2nd XV VBDI Combined, 01:00 PM, RHS 2. Kaiapoi GOLDVHurunui, 01:30 PM,Wylie. U16 Combined KHS VMCRU: Plains, <strong>12</strong>:00 PM, Wylie. Hurunui VOxford, 01:00 PM, Unallocated. RHSVLeeston Combined, 01:00 PM, RHS 1 Under 13 Hurunui VSaracens, 11:30 AM, Cul 2. Ashley VAmberley, 11:45 AM,LobLr1.Kaiapoi GOLD VOxford, 11:45 AM,KaiOv. Under <strong>12</strong> Hurunui VSaracens,<strong>12</strong>:00 PM, Cul 1. Ohoka Black VAshley, <strong>12</strong>:00 PM, Mand2.Ohoka RedVWoodend,<strong>12</strong>:00PM, Mand 3. KaikouraVOxford, <strong>12</strong>:15PM, Kaik1. GlenmarkCheviot BYE. Under 11 Kaiapoi GOLD VAshley, 10:00 AM, Kai3.HurunuiVSaracens Blue, 10:25 AM, Cul 1. Ohoka Red VWoodend, 10:30 AM, Mand 3.Saracens Red VOhoka Black, 10:30 AM, Sbk4. Kaiapoi BLUE VOxford, 11:00 AM,Kai 3. Amberley BYE. Under 10 KaiapoiGOLDVKaikoura,<strong>12</strong>:05PM, Kai 3. HurunuiVAshley Blue, <strong>12</strong>:10 PM, Cul 1a. Oxford VAmberley Blue, <strong>12</strong>:10 PM, Ox 2a. Ohoka Black VAmberley Black, <strong>12</strong>:10 PM, Mand 3b. Ohoka RedVWoodend,<strong>12</strong>:10PM, Mand 3a. Under 9 Ashley Green VOxford, 10:00 AM, LobLr1a. Kaiapoi GOLD VAshley Blue, 10:00 AM, Kai 1a. Hurunui VSaracens Blue, 10:00 AM, Cul 2a. Ohoka Red V Woodend, 10:00 AM, Mandj5b. Saracens Red VOhoka Black, 10:00 AM, SBJnr7. Glenmark Cheviot BYE Under 8 Kaikoura Blue VGlenmark Cheviot blue, 11:05 AM, Kaik1b. Kaikoura Red VGlenmark Cheviot Black, 11:05 AM, Kaik1a. KaiapoiGOLD VAshley Blue, 11:05 AM, Kai 2c. Ashley Green VOxford, 11:05 AM,LobLr3a.HurunuiVSaracens Blue,11:05 AM,Cul3a.Ohoka RedVWoodend Black, 11:05 AM, Mandj6a. Saracens Red VOhoka Black, 11:05 AM, SBJnr6a. Amberley BYE. Under 7 SaracensRed VOhokaBlack,10:50AM, Sbk1a. Kaiapoi BLUE VOxford Red, 10:50AM, Kai 2a. Kaiapoi GOLD VAshley Blue, 10:50 AM, Kai 2b. Ashley Green VOxfordBlack,10:50 AM,Lob 4a.HurunuiBlackVSaracens Blue, 10:50AM, Cul4c. Hurunui VAmberley,10:50 AM,Cul4a.Ohoka Green VWoodend Black, 10:50 AM, Mandj4a. Ohoka RedVWoodend Green,10:50 AM, Mandj5a. Glenmark CheviotBYE. Under 6 Kaiapoi BLUE VWoodend White, 10:00 AM, Kai 2b. Kaiapoi GOLD VAshley Blue, 10:00 AM, Kai 2a. Hurunui Black V Saracens Blue, 10:00 AM, Cul3a. Ashley Gold VGlenmark Cheviot Blue,10:00AM, Lob 4a. Ashley GreenVOxford, 10:00 AM, Lob 4b. Glenmark Cheviot Black VAmberley, 10:00 AM, Chev2a. Ohoka Green VWoodendBlack, 10:00AM, Mandj4a. Ashley White VGlenmark Cheviot Gold, 10:00 AM, Lob 5a. Ohoka RedVWoodend Green,10:00AM, Mandj5a. Saracens RedVOhoka Black,10:00 AM,SBJnr6a. Printed draw proudly supported by Four Seasons Realty Your home forlocal property 0800 7891011 Four Seasons Realty 2017 Ltd|Licensed Agent REAA 2008 For all draw information and updates please keep up to date with <strong>North</strong> <strong>Canterbury</strong> Rugby 2472877b