16 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2023</strong>
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday <strong>August</strong> <strong>10</strong> <strong>2023</strong> <strong>The</strong> <strong>Star</strong> SPORT 17 Hornets a step away from first grand final in nine years • By Jaime Cunningham MOMENTUM WILL be on the Halswell Hornets side as they look to win their sixth match in a row when they take on the Hornby Panthers in Saturday’s preliminary final. <strong>The</strong> Hornets are in search of their first grand final appearance since 2014 after a narrow 20-16 win over the Eastern Eagles at the weekend. <strong>The</strong> two teams last met in June, when the Panthers emerged with a 26-<strong>10</strong> win. It was also the last time Halswell lost this season. Hornets head coach Ray Hubbard said the team’s preparation for their fourth match-up against Hornby Ray Hubbard have been meticulous. “We’ve been fairly consistent lately but just need to take advantage of the situation we’re in, so we look back and see we’ve given everything.” Hubbard said they were in the lead for a majority of the match against the Eagles but it was a “real competitive game”. “It could’ve gone either way, they never let us get away. “Defensively we were pretty solid but I was super happy with our halves Jamie Nuttridge and • By Jaime Cunningham A REMATCH of Tuesday’s thrilling 34-34 draw between Kereru A and Technical A will headline the premier netball semi-finals. <strong>The</strong> two sides have met twice this season, with their first match-up back in April ending in a slim 54-52 win to Kereru. It was a similar scene in the last round robin match on Tuesday, with Technical leading by four heading into the last quarter. After trailing in the first three periods, Kereru finally kicked into gear in the last 15 minutes, drawing level with Technical. In the other semi-final, it will be a rematch of last year’s final between UC A and Lincoln University A. Both teams have managed onegoal wins over each other this season and go into the playoff on the back of strong wins. UC A produced possibly their best game of the season with a 50-goal thumping of Kia Toa A, 81-31. Goal shoot Vika Koloto was FORM: Halswell Hornets second rower Phil Nati (left) helped the team claim their fifth win in a row against the Eastern Eagles in Saturday’s elimination final. Below – Keith Darby prepares to tackle an Eastern Eagle player on the charge. PHOTOS: SETA TIMO Cameron Greig. “Our game control there was really strong.” It was a different story for the Massetti Cup winning Panthers who emerged on the wrong side of the scoreline in Saturday’s qualifying final against the Linwood Keas. Linwood half Daniel Hartley slotted a last-minute field goal to once again instrumental for UC, netting 55 goals from 57 attempts at 96 per cent. <strong>The</strong> clash will be a battle of the shooters, with Lincoln University’s Kate Grant also consistently effective. Grant shot 48 goals from 52 attempts in Lincoln University’s 63-34 win over their B team in the last game of the round. Lincoln University B will be hoping to secure fifth place after their loss on Tuesday. <strong>The</strong>y take on Kia Toa A in the first of two seeding semi-finals for the bottom four teams. In the other bottom four semifinal, Hearts St Peters A will look beat the Panthers 21-20. <strong>The</strong> loss was Hornby’s first in eight games, with their last coming against the Eagles on May 13. <strong>The</strong> preliminary final will be the third time in a row Hornby and Halswell have met at this stage of the playoffs. Despite recent history going against them, the Hornets are Tight semi-final expected after round robin draw to back up their 44-35 win over Kereru B when they play each other again next week. Both teams will be playing to avoid potential relegation to premier 2 next year. Premier stats: Lincoln University A 63 (K Grant 48/52, E Hargreave 9/13, T Placid 6/12) def Lincoln University B 34 (A Guard 24/33, J Riordan 7/<strong>10</strong>, G Cameron 3/5). Qtrs: 18-8, 36-15, 50-26, 63-34. UC A 81 (V Koloto 55/57, T Rollo 18/24, K Lane 8/8) def Kia Toa A 31 (R Peteo 7/<strong>10</strong>, C Corbett 8/13, F Laikong 11/19, M Ruki 5/<strong>10</strong>). Qtrs: 20-9, 40-19, 60-25, 81-31. Kereru A 34 (S Wolfgramm 22/27, H Tallentire 4/6, S Adams 8/12) drew Technical NC A 34 (O Wilkie18/25, A Hendry 15/16, M Kay 1/6). Qtrs: 8-9, 16-17, 22-26, 34-34. Hearts St Peters A 44 (T Dunn 20/26, B Ferguson 2/4, S Johns 22/26) def Kereru B 35 (S Cusak 17/22, F Ross 13/23, S Timpson 5/5). Qtrs: <strong>10</strong>-6, 18-18, 32-26, 44-35 prepared to play their own game. “We can be guaranteed that Hornby will be disappointed,” said Hubbard. “Our focus is to make sure we’re not caught up in the rivalry and be confident in our own game. If we want to be the best, we’ve got the beat the best, which is this week’s assignment.” •More sport, pages 18-21 DRAWS / STANDINGS FOOTBALL Southern League: Dunedin City Royals v Cashmere Technical, Saturday noon, Sunnyvale (Dunedin); Selwyn United v Green Island, Saturday 12.30pm, Foster Park; Ferrymead Bays v FC Twenty 11, Saturday 2.45pm, Ferrymead Park; Nomads v Coastal Spirit, Saturday 2.45pm, Tulett Park; Nelson Suburbs v Christchurch United, Sunday noon, Saxton Fields (Nelson). NETBALL (BISHOPDALE YMCA, TUESDAY) UC A v Lincoln University A; Kereru A v Technical A; Lincoln University B v Kia Toa A; Kereru B v Hearts St Peters A. RUGBY LEAGUE Premier preliminary final: Hornby Panthers v Halswell Hornets, Saturday 2.45pm, Leslie Park. HOCKEY (SATURDAY) CPL men’s: HSOB/Burnside v Carlton Redcliffs, Ngā Puna Wai 1, 3pm; Harewood v Marist, Ngā Puna Wai 1, 4.30pm; Hornby v Avon, Nunweek Park 1, 1.30pm; Southern v University, Nunweek Park 1, 3pm. CPL women’s: Marist v Carlton Redcliffs, Ngā Puna Wai 1, 1.30pm; Harewood v HSOB/ Burnside, Ngā Puna Wai 1, 1.30pm; Hornby v Southern, Nunweek Park 2, 12.<strong>10</strong>pm. POINTS Southern League: Christchurch United 40, Cashmere Technical 32, Dunedin City Royals 25, Coastal Spirit 25, Nelson Suburbs 22, Ferrymead Bays 22, Nomads 17, Green Island 12, Selwyn United <strong>10</strong>, FC Twenty 11 6. Premier netball: UC A 24, Kereru A 22, Technical A 22, Lincoln University A 21, Lincoln University B 12, Kereru B 5, Hearts St Peters A 5, Kia Toa A 4. CPL men’s: HSOB/Burnside 34, Carlton Redcliffs 32, Harewood 25, Marist 24, Hornby 18, Avon 11, Southern 9, University 5. CPL women’s: Marist 29, Carlton Redcliffs 27, Harewood 22, HSOB/ Burnside 21, Avon 14, Hornby 7, Southern 0.
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