The Star: February 15, 2024

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18 The Star Thursday February 15 2024 SPORTS NEWS bROUgHT TO YOU bY ANNUAL SALE HURRY!... UP TO 70% OFF ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST Curtains | Blinds | Shutters Unit 2 / 99 Sawyers Arms Rd 03 365 4666 or 0800 836 587 www.venluree.co.nz Old Boys rue missed opportunities • By Sam Coughlan OLD BOYS Collegians will look to win the key moments during Saturday’s clash with St Albans in the two-day competition. Old Boys lost their final match of the 50-over one-day league against Burnside West Uni last weekend to miss out on the semi-finals of that competition, just a year after winning the whole thing. Their focus now turns to the twoday competition, where Old Boys are fifth – but only the equivalent of one win behind leaders Burnside. Old Boys captain Jack Lewis said they have struggled to string results together in recent games. “I think we’ve just been a bit unlucky here and there, we haven’t really put together a solid team performance for the last few weeks,” he said “We always want to win games, get a few young guys some opportunities in prems and look to build for next season and finish on a high. “It’s really just about sorting out a couple deficiencies we’ve had with the bat and maybe sticking to a plan a bit longer GUTTED: Old Boys Collegians players walk off the field after their loss to Burnside West Uni that cost them a place in the semifinals. PHOTO: SHANE YOUNG with the ball and really nailing those down.” Lewis said it was “disappointing” to miss out on the finals in the one-dayers. We wanted to obviously have a chance to defend our title in the finals, but to not even make it to a semi was a tough pill to swallow,” he said. “But at the end of the day, we just weren’t good enough, so we didn’t deserve to be there.” With three games to go across six weeks in the two-day competition, Burnside lead the way on 75.8 points, followed by Lancaster Park (62.8) and Heathcote (61.1). Old Boys face winless St Albans on Saturday and will be looking to force their way up the table, while Burnside play Lancaster Park in a top of the table clash at St Albans Park. Heathcote travel to play fourth-placed Sydenham while East Shirley host Merivale- Papanui – who are also winless. In the women’s one-day competition, North West and Sydenham are set to vie for a spot in the final in the last few weeks of the season. With five rounds remaining, the two teams sit in second and third, both on 38 points, well behind leaders Lancaster Park on 53, while Old Boys prop up the table on 23 points. The top two women’s teams play in the final at the end of the season. The competition was won by Lancaster Park last year. North West beat Sydenham by seven wickets at the weekend to draw level with them on points but move ahead thanks to a superior net run-rate. On Saturday, North West host Lancaster Park at Burnside Park while Sydenham travel to Elmwood Park to take on Old Boys. Saturday fixtures Sydenham vs Heathcote, Sydenham Park; East Shirley vs Merivale-Papanui, Burwood Park; Lancaster Park vs Burnside West Uni, St Albans Park: St Albans vs Old Boys, Hagley Corner Points Burnside 75.8; Lancaster Park 62.8; Heathcote 61.1; Sydenham 52.8; Old Boys 51.8; East Shirley 32.3; St Albans 25.0; Merivale-Papanui 18.3 All-rounder heads off on international rep duties • By Sam Coughlan SYDENHAM all-rounder Raunaq Kapur made a short trip home to represent his native Hong Kong. The 20-year-old played three matches against Malaysia and Hong Kong A in a series that served as preparation for a busy year that includes Asia Cup and T20 World Cup qualifiers. Kapur took a wicket in each game he played but saw limited opportunity with the bat down the order, scoring five in his only innings against Malaysia. He has previously played for Hong Kong’s U19 side in 2019 and played twice for their senior team as a 15-year-old in the same year. Kapur then moved to Christchurch to pursue cricketing opportunities – alongside now- Sydenham teammate Aarush Bhagwat and Lancaster Park’s Kalhan Marc Challu. He has since represented Canterbury’s U19 and A sides and flew home early from his Hong Kong commitments to play for Canterbury A against Auckland. INTERNATIONAL: Raunaq Kapur, pictured bowling for Sydenham, represented his native Hong Kong. PHOTO: ASH HART CANTERBURY SPORTS CORNER LISTEN LIVE ON SENZ CHRISTCHURCH 1260AM IT'S KIWI FOR SPORT. DOWNLOAD THE SENZ APP.
Thursday February 15 2024 The Star Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz SPORT 19 Returning players sign on for Coastal • By Sam Coughlan COASTAL SPIRIT have locked up four key players ahead of the Southern League season. Winger Liam Cotter, who top-scored for Coastal last year with eight goals, joined captain Dominic McGarr, goalkeeper Ellis Hare-Reid and midfielder Joe Hoole in staying with the club in 2024. Head coach Robbie Stanton said it was important to have them confirmed. “They were the core of last year’s team, and that stability is going to be vital for us going forward this year.” Coastal finished last season in third place - the best team aside from regular Southern League table-toppers Christchurch United and Cashmere Technical. The top two teams at the end of the Southern League season, encompassing teams from the South Island, qualify for the National League against the best from across the country. After missing out last year, Stanton wants Coastal to be pushing for that level in 2024. “In all honesty, our goal this year is to play National League and that’s what we’re gearing ourselves up to do,” he said. “The quality of players we’re bringing in probably makes that statement in itself, the majority of them have played National League, or the equivalent of.” Stanton said Coastal have acquired Cashmere Tech’s captain Andrew Storer and Christchurch United midfielder Mason Stearn – both of whom featured in last season’s National League. The Ferrymead Bays duo of Alex Macleam and Ryan Stanley have also joined Coastal for the season. Stanton said the team’s preseason has been ‘disjointed’ so far, but the team should improve quickly. “A lot of players are coming in from out of town, so that’s made a little bit of a soft start. “But pretty much from this week onwards, everyone’s in town, we’re getting them all into Christchurch and getting them bedded down into the training regime.” He said the core group from last year would be important in integrating the new players. “Them seeing the platform that we had last year, in terms of the commitment the players are giving to what we’re doing, will be huge this year. “The squad is really excited, and the club is backing us with everything we need off the pitch to try and make that work.” Stanton said some key preseason friendlies are already confirmed to help the team gel together. “We’ve got pre-season games against Burwood, Christchurch United and Nomads already booked in, and a couple other ones that are tentatively booked in at the moment.” Coastal Spirit’s Southern League season will kick off on March 30. ON LOCK: Coastal Spirit’s Dominic McGarr (left) and goalkeeper Ellis Hare-Reid combine to tackle Declan Tyndall of Cashmere Technical. PHOTO: MITCHELL COZZONE/DUST MEDIA Top teams eyeing spots in semi-finals • By Diane Keenan BISHOPDALE AND Burnside Park’s men’s teams have hit form at the business end of the premier tennis interclub competition with both setting their sights on next month’s semi-final play-offs. Burnside Park will play competition leaders Cashmere at Cashmere on Saturday while Bishopdale will be on their home courts against Elmwood. Bishopdale last week thumped Edgeware Waimairi, scoring maximum points by winning all matches. Their top player, Will Schneideman was impressive in his strong win over Edgeware Waimairi’s Paddy Ou, a highly ranked and rated player from Otago. Captain Grayson Cullen, who played college tennis in the United States, says his team will go into this week’s match with their strongest lineup including fellow college graduates, Schneideman and Maddison Aubrey, club coach Gareth Robb and James Wilson. Elmwood’s match against Cashmere last weekend was rained out after a southerly storm. Cashmere had won all three completed matches, including two long doubles clashes which featured Elmwood’s Alistair Hunt, former New Zealand Davis Cup player, whose singles against Cashmere’s James Meredith was abandoned. Cashmere, the first-round winners, are making easy work of the competition with the team a mix of highly ranked experienced players and talented young players, Lucas Evans and Liam Barrett. There will be some interesting match-ups against WINNER: Bishopdale’s Will Schneideman was impressive in his win over Edgeware Waimairi’s Paddy Ou. Points Men Cashmere 41, Burnside Park 35, Bishopdale 32, Elmwood 24, Edgeware Waimairi 12, Te Kura Hagley 9. Women Elmwood 42, Bishopdale 34, Cashmere 34, Te Kura Hagley 27, Waimairi 12, Shirley 7. Burnside Park which includes EJ Gonzaga who won this week’s Canterbury Secondary Schools championship at Wilding Park, beating Evans in a three-set thriller. Burnside Park only lost just the one match in its game last weekend against Te Kura Hagley, with its top player Ben Smith defeating Burnside’s Finn Emslie- Robson in three sets. Te Kura Hagley this week plays Edgeware Waimairi which is missing its number one, Nic Jenkins due to injury. In the women’s competition Elmwood continues its domination with its team led by Abbey Mason and Louise Oxnevad in the top singles slots being too strong for the opposition. One of its lower order players, Holly-Jayne Feutz is also in form winning the Canterbury Secondary Schools championship for her school, Ashburton College, earlier this week. Elmwood plays Cashmere on Saturday. Elmwood was too strong for Waimairi last week but full marks to Waimairi’s Sophie Ensor who had a straight sets win over her higher ranked Elmwood opponent. Waimairi this week plays Shirley who defaulted last week to Bishopdale who jumped up the table by taking maximum points. Bishopdale’ this week plays Te Kura Hagley whose match last week against Cashmere was abandoned due to rain when they were leading 2-1 with the teams sharing remaining points. LIVE ON SENZ RADIO 1260 AM
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The Star: February 15, 2024

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