Selwyn_Times: June 14, 2023

Selwyn Times Wednesday June 14 2023
18
SPORT
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Prebbleton finally get shot
at Combined Country title
• By Jaime Cunningham
FOR THE first time in the
club’s history, Prebbleton have a
chance to win the Luisetti Seeds
Combined Country title when
they take on Ashburton Celtic
on Saturday.
Prebbleton made their first
combined final with a 15-10 win
over Waihora at the weekend,
while the Magpies suffered semifinal
heartbreak for the second
year in a row.
The final will be played at
Prebbleton Domain as it was
Ellesmere’s turn to host it.
Celtic overcame Kaiapoi 23-21
after a nail-biting second half to
make the final.
But it was a familiar semi-final
ending for Waihora, who narrowly
lost to Prebbleton in last
year’s Coleman Shield semi-final
28-27 after a Ted Coleman penalty
in the dying minutes.
Prebbleton managed a late try
in the first half to go into the
break leading 7-0. Waihora’s
only try came from an intercept
by winger Josh Brown. Another
Prebbleton try soon followed to
put the home side up by 15-10.
Prebbleton head coach Simon
Fitzgerald said it was a tight
battle and both teams failed to
capitalise on all their chances.
“We made errors, which let the
opposition back into the game,
and gave away 17 penalties while
Waihora gave away seven.”
Waihora dominated periods
of the semi-final, but head coach
Ross Soper said they failed
to make the most of it when
needed.
“We kept making mistakes at
the wrong times and had the opportunity
to win the game with a
try in the corner, but the ball was
fumbled, which was the story of
the day,” Soper said.
Prebbleton’s defence has been
integral this season and ultimately
won them the semi-final.
CLASH: Flankers Eddie Sunia (Prebbleton) and Bailey Clark (Waihora) eye each other up
during a scrum. Below – Waihora lock Amoraki Cowan fends off prop Dion Falconer.
PHOTOS: SMR EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Said Fitzgerald: “It was an
incredible defensive effort, with
about 200 tackles made at a 90
per cent completion rate.”
He said they will need to
improve their lineouts, set pieces
and maintain their strong defence
against Celtic.
“The focus is just on us.
“Celtic will stick to their
processes and hold on to the ball,
but we’ll look to grind out on
defence.”
While Prebbleton will have
the luxury of playing at home
again, Celtic will make the 75km
journey from Ashburton.
Fitzgerald said playing the
team’s first combined final at
home will be a “bonus”.
“Our supporters have been
great all year,” he said.
Waihora now turn their focus
to winning the Coleman Shield
for the first time since 2018, with
a week off before they take on
Lincoln-Rolleston on June 20.
Both Prebbleton and Waihora
have recorded maximum points
so far.
The remaining Ellesmere
teams go into a rest week after
playing each other in playoff
games on Saturday. West Melton
overcame a 7-5 halftime deficit
to take out ninth place over Darfield
at Glentunnel Domain, 22-
21. West Melton overcame a 7-5
halftime deficit to beat Darfield
22-21 at Glentunnel Domain and
take out ninth place.
Darfield will have an opportunity
to get one back over West
Melton next month when the
two teams face off in a Coleman
Shield round robin match.
Southbridge thumped Lincoln-
Rolleston 76-12 to take out 15th
place. Springston grinded out a
36-27 win over Hornby to finish
17th.
The Coleman Shield round
robin continues on June 24.
The final between Prebbleton
and Ashburton Celtic starts at
2.45pm. The game is expected
to be live streamed at www.
facebook.com/PrebbletonRFC
Semi-final results:
Prebbleton 15, Waihora 10;
Ashburton Celtic 23, Kaiapoi
21.
Playoff results:
5th/6th: Saracens 32,
Methven 27.
7th/8th: Ashley 31, Glenmark
Cheviot 29.
9th/10th: West Melton 22,
Darfield 21.
11th/12th: Hurunui 64,
Southern 19.
13th/14th: Rakaia 43,
Ohoka 40.
15th/16th: Southbridge 76,
Lincoln- Rolleston 12.
17th/18th: Springston 36,
Hornby 27.
19th/20th: Oxford 24,
Woodend 20.
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