Athletics: Goal realised
Bronze in the 100m was good but gold in the 200m was better as Tauranga sprinter Joseph Millar achieved his goal of becoming Australasia's quickest at the Australian athletics championships in Melbourne over the weekend.
Millar was third in Saturday's 100m final, finishing in 10.49, just 1/100th sec off silver, with Aussie winner Josh Ross's 10.23 an Olympic B qualifying standard.
But the best was still to come for the 20-year-old Aquinas College student in the 200m, who won four golds at the New Zealand track and field championships at Waitakere.
He was second in his 200m preliminary round to advance to the 200m final, running 21.20, which would have been a personal best but for a tailwind reading of 2.1m/s, 0.1m/s too high.
Millar was the second fastest qualifier for the final and nailed the personal best, clocking 21.27 and achieving his goal.
"I had a great start, backing off slightly in the turn as I hit top end. I was around fourth coming off the turn into the straight just behind Tama (new Zealander Tama Toki). We were very close along the straight, I edged forward toward the front as the others started to fade, focusing on the line."
Millar's wasn't the only golden performance, with Tauranga's Brent Newdick winning the decathlon with 8057, seven points better than the performance standard set for the London Olympic Games. Newdick set personal bests in two of the 10 events, 7.56m in the long jump and 48.25m in the discus throw.
The 27-year-old has a best score of 8114 points set in Austria in May last year.
His performances in Melbourne were: 100m 11.02s (-0.7) 856, long jump 7.56m (+1.6) 950, shot put 14.48m 758, high jump 1.95m 758, 400m 49.22s 851, 110m hurdles 14.55s (0.0) 905, discus throw 48.25m 834, pole vault 4.70m 819, javelin throw 56.43m 684, 1500m 4m 46.21s 642, total 8057.
Millar's sprint times:
200 metres open final: 1, Joseph Millar, NZL, 21.27. 2, Matt Davies, QAS, 21.36. 3, Tama Toki, NZL, 21.43. 4, Sean Wroe, VIS, 21.44. 5, Alexander Carew, VIC, 21.44. 6, Liam Gander, NSW, 21.53. 7, Mangar Chuot, WA, 21.60. 8, James Grimm, NSW, 21.72.
100m open final: 1, Josh Ross, VIC, 10.23. 2, Tim Leathart, NSW, 10.48. 3, Joseph Millar, NZL, 10.49. 4, Carl Van der Speck, NZL, 10.65. 5, Aaron Stubbs, QLD, 10.70. 6, Mitchell Williams-Swain, QLD, 10.75. 7, Matt Davies, QAS, 12.24, Aaron Rouge-Serret, VIC, DQ.
Rugby League: Eels' perfect start
Otumoetai Eels have made a winning start to the Bay of Plenty district rugby league competition with a comfortable 48-18 win over Forestland on Saturday.
The news wasn't as good for Tauranga Whalers, the defending premiership champions, who crashed to a 48-20 defeat to Pacific Sharks and could be in for a long season minus last year's dominant frontrower Brendon Anderson.
A hat-trick for Pikiao Warriors hooker BJ Raroa helped to secure an opening season 34-20 win for his side over the Ngongotaha Chiefs.
In Tokoroa, the Bay Sprint Couriers Eels got their campaign off to an impressive start with eight converted tries against a rejuvenated Forestland Falcons.
Although the Falcons had their moments, with classy 17-year-old Axel Kingi scoring two brilliant solo efforts, they were always in catch-up mode after being down 4-30 at halftime.
Former Papakura Sea Eagle Tane Taitoko and Tane Leef played blinders in attack and defence for the Eels, with ex-English Super League half Josh Weeden kicking all eight conversions, half from the sideline, and steering his side cleverly.
Otumoetai host Pacific this weekend at Mitchell Park, with Tauranga hosting Ngongotaha at Arataki Park.
Bay of Plenty district rugby league round one:
Premiers: Pikiao 34 Ngongotaha 20, Tauranga 20 Pacific 48, Forestland 18 Otumoetai 48, Central 36 Taupo 32. Premier reserves: Pikiao bt Ngongotaha by default, Tauranga 16 Pacific 50, Forestland 18 Otumoetai 44, Central 30 Taupo 40, Mangakino 15 Turangi def, Reporoa 26 Putaruru 8.
Football: Taupo on top
The top of the table clash between Taupo and Whakatane Town at Crown Park was predicted to be tight and tense, but two goals in each half by the home team saw them run out comfortable 4-0 winners.
Coach Paul Drake was more than happy with the way Taupo played. "We played with real composure and control today and dominated possession," he said after Chris Roberts and Byron Thessam netted goals in both halves.
At Stembridge Rd, Ngongotaha bounced back from a lacklustre performance last week to take a commanding 4-0 lead over Tauranga Boys' College in the first half. They let the pressure off somewhat in the second spell but still won 6-1 with strikers Mitchell Miller, Dane Willemsen and Neil Slater each bagging a brace.
Old Blues coach Andy Legget was happy with his team's 4-0 win over Otorohanga. "We blooded some reserve team players today and they did well." Franz Marco (2), Mo Gunfield and Hayden Fowke scored for Old Blues.
Otumoetai were expected to easily account for AFC Fury but found themselves 1-0 down at halftime. Andy Gibbs made it 1-1 shortly after the break but with Otumoetai down to 10 men, a Fury penalty and a late goal had them 3-1 ahead when the final whistle blew.
It is shaping to be a long and testing season for Rotorua United coach Neil Rush after United suffered their third consecutive loss, going down 7-1 to Claudelands Rovers at Neil Hunt Park. United looked dispirited and disjointed from the kick off and Rovers fully deserved their 4-0 lead at the break.
Waikato Unicol, who are becoming the dark horses of the competition, held on for a 1-1 draw with Melville United.
Points after three rounds: Taupo 9, Whakatane, Claudelands, Ngongotaha, 6, Unicol 5, Melville, AFC Fury 4, Tauranga Boys, Otumoetai, Otorohanga 3, Rotorua 0.
Federation division two scores: Cambridge 0 Tauranga City 4, Katikati 1 Clube Algeria 3, Rotorua United 1 Tokoroa 1, West Hamilton 3 Matamata 1.
Football: Shore can
North Shore United have grabbed the top spot in the Northern League second division table, with their next stop Tauranga's Links Ave reserve on Sunday to take on Tauranga City United.
Shore remain unbeaten in the league so far, downing Onehunga Mangere on Sunday, and will rate their chances against Tauranga after they slipped up again on the road trip to Auckland, going down 2-1 to Western Springs.
Tauranga trailed 2-0 at halftime, with Western Springs' Peter Lane netting twice, but pulled one back in the second half through Connor Irvine to remain seventh in the 12-team competition.
Hibiscus Coast edged Manukau City to hold on to third on goal difference from Warkworth, who were too good for Fencibles, running out 7-3 winners.
Matamata Swifts' resurgence continued and they downed winless Papakura 2-1 after trailing 1-0 at halftime.
Northern League second division:
North Shore United 2 (Jaryd Gray, Chris Bryson) Onehunga Mangere 1 (Navd Arminian). HT: 1-1.
Papakura City 1 (Daniel Billot) Matamata Swifts 2 (Scott Parsonage, Jack McNab). HT: 1-0.
Fencibles 3 (Brock Kayll, Jayden Henry, Ben Murphy) Waiuku 7 (Daniel Baldwin 2, Wayne Trout 2, Neil Heron, Derek Sinclair, Elliot Crean). HT: 2-4.
Western Springs 2 (Peter Lane 2) Tauranga City 1 (Connor Irvine). HT: 2-0.
Warkworth 2 (Stephen Gove, Shaun Steffener) Mangere United 1 (own goal). HT: 1-0.
Hibiscus Coast 1 (Trent Mayes) Manukau City 0. HT: 0-0.
P W D L F A Pts
1. North Shore 5 4 1 0 11 3 13
2. Hibiscus Cst 5 4 0 1 12 4 12
3. Warkworth 5 4 0 1 8 3 12
4. West Springs 5 4 0 1 7 4 12
5. Mangere Utd 5 2 1 2 5 7 7
6. Matamata S 5 2 1 2 4 7 7
7. Tauranga C 5 2 0 3 8 10 6
8. Fencibles 5 1 1 3 9 9 4
9. Onehunga M 5 1 1 3 7 9 4
10. Manukau C 5 1 1 3 5 6 4
11. Waiuku 5 1 1 3 7 13 4
12. Papakura C 5 0 1 4 5 13 1
Cricket: Cadets fourth
Otumoetai Cadets have finished fourth at the national club cricket championship at Auckland's Cornwall Park after losing their playoff to Wellington's Eastern Suburbs.
Cadets, the Northern Districts representatives, qualified in third for the playoffs after losing their opening games to St Albans and Takapuna but battling back in the rain-affected tournament.
They qualified third after a 57-run win over United Palmerston North in their fina round-robin game but their 186 against Easts wasn't good enough, with the Wellington champions winning by three wickets.
National club championships (Cornwall Park):
Otumoetai Cadets (reduced to 48 overs) 259-7 (Trent Boult 79, Jonathan Boult 44, Josh Evemy 38) bt United Palmerston North 202 (Abhi Ganugapati 64, Todd Mancer 39) by 57 runs.
Final points: St Albans 13, Takapuna 10, Otumoetai Cadets 7, Easts, United Palmerston North, Taieri 4.
Final: Takapuna 238-9 (Jono Sole 98, Daniel ter Braak 34; Michael Davidson 3-39) bt St Albans 97 (Elliot Herd 4-19) by 141 runs.
3rd-4th: Otumoetai 186 (Matthew Hill 46, Benjamin Christensen 33) lost to Easts 187-7 (Ben Orton 38; Nick Earl 4-25) by 3 wkts.
5th-6th: United Palmerston North 158 (Sonpreet Singh 45, Scott Major 38; Ryan Senior 4-27) lost to Taieri 162-9 (Senior 55no; Sonpreet Singh 4-54) by 1 wkt.
Rugby: Wins for top pair
Katikati and Arataki Black continued their unbeaten start to the 2012 Seeka KI Western Bay of Plenty club rugby championship when they posted solid wins on Saturday.
At Moore Park in Katikati the home side were always in control against Arataki Red, winning 52-10.
Joint championship leaders Arataki were given a good test by Te Puke Sports at Grenada Park, with Te Puke in contention early before being beaten 36-10 in a fast-paced contest.
Papamoa got their championship aspirations on track with a 34-5 defeat of Rangataua at Gordon Spratt Reserve while Judea defended the Hardy Rosebowl against Eastern Districts, winning 27-15.
Mount Maunganui bounced back from last week's loss to archrivals Tauranga Sports to edge Greerton 14-0 and Tauranga Sports cruised past Te Puna at Maramatanga Park 37-10.
Seeka KI Western Bay senior scores:
Judea 27 Eastern Districts 15, Mount Maunganui 14 Greerton Marist 0, Arataki Black 36 Te Puke 12, Katikati 52 Arataki Red 10, Tauranga Sports 37 Te Puna 10, Papamoa 34 Rangataua 5, Matakana Island beat Rangiuru won by default.
Hockey: City teams on fire
It was a near cleansweep for all four Tauranga teams as Intercity hockey sparked into life at Pukekohe on the weekend.
In the men's premiership Otumoetai were too strong for Rotorua Indians, winning 4-0, while Mt Maunganui edged Kohekohe 4-3.
Thames Valley, Fraser Tech and Rotorua Aces announced themselves as early title contenders with big opening day wins.
Reigning women's champions Otumoetai started with a 2-1 win over Hamilton Old Girls but Mt Maunganui found the going tough, hammered 9-1 by a rampant Fraser Tech, with Rotorua Aces also in top form with an 8-1 defeat of Taupo.
Intercity scores:
Premier Men: Otumoetai 4 Rotorua Indians 0, Mt Maunganui 4 Kohekohe 3, Thames Valley 6 Hamilton OB-Suburbs 0, Fraser Tech 7 Onewhero 1, Rotorua Aces 12 Te Awamutu 1, Pukekohe Indians 5 Waiau Pa 3.
Premier Women: Otumoetai 2 Hamilton OG 1, Fraser Tech 9 Mt Maunganui 1, Waikato University 1 Onewhero 1, Te Awamutu 5 Franklin 1, Rotorua Aces 8 Taupo 1.