10 Minute Sport: Court-side prizes, Golf strength

Netball: Court-side prizes

Two young netball fans were at the heart of the thrilling on-court action at Sunday's ANZ Championship game, flying the flags of Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic and West Coast Fever in a game that saw the Magic emerge winners for the second time this season with a 65-49 victory.

Jodi Ryan, 14, and 9-year-old Emmerson Rhodes, who both won the opportunity in the ANZ Future Captains competition, met captains Laura Langman and Catherine Cox before joining the two teams on court for the televised opening of the game.

For Jodi, an Otumoetai College student who has played netball for six years, the experience was a chance to learn some new skills.

"It was such an awesome night. I've been to a couple of live games before but it was a totally different experience being on court in front of everyone. The best part was being able to watch the players up close, I'm going to try a few of their moves next time I play."

Emmerson, who plays for the Allandale Magic team in Whakatane, couldn't believe she had won.

"I'm turning 10 [today] so going to the game and getting to meet the captains was like an early birthday present. It was a bit scary standing beside the players as they're really tall, but it was so fun and I've asked Mum to enter me in every netball competition from now on."

Football: Tight at bottom

The battle of the bottom in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty federation football league between Rotorua United and Otorohanga ended in a 1-1 draw, but of the two coaches United's Neil Rush would have been the happiest.

Late withdrawals meant United had only the bare 11 so Rush had to take his boots. And with Josh O'Sullivan getting an early shower for two yellow cards they finished with 10 men.

After a scoreless first half Gary Hamilton-Irvine gave United the lead in the 55th minute but Shayne King denied the visitors an unlikely win with a goal in the 90th minute. "It was a gutsy effort and the boys battled hard," Rush said. "At least we didn't lose any ground."

At Crown Park, leaders Taupo were made to work hard for their win against AFC Fury. Although the home side had the better of territory, possession and scoring chances they were scoreless at halftime. Fury stung Taupo early in the second half to lead 1-0, and as the clock ticked down the Taupo supporters became more concerned.

Bevan Woltersdorf left the field temporarily for a head injury which required a trip to hospital and 10 stitches. With 10 minutes left Jesse Smith was on the end of a corner and drove the ball into the box where Alan Lamb was on hand to score. Shortly after, it was Lamb who put the home side ahead, when he coolly converted from the penalty spot.

At Rex Morpeth Park, an under-strength Ngongotaha took the lead against Whakatane Town with a goal from Jordan Payne. Playing a defensive formation of 4-5-1 the Villagers held the lead until Wade Maloney scored for the home side to make it 1-1.

Claudelands Rovers stayed in touch with leaders Taupo with a hard fought 2-1 win over Otumoetai on a superb Fergusson Park surface. The visitors took the lead before Grant Cooper equalised in the 30th minute, however it was Rovers who claimed the win with a second-half goal.

Old Blues coach Andy Legget was left lamenting his team conceding soft goals after a 4-2 loss to Melville United. "We are fighting for survival this season and we need a bit more mongrel." Andy Cooper and Andy Carter scored for Old Blues.

Tauranga Boys' College had a 1-0 win over Waikato Unicol.

Federation division 2 results: Matamata 1 Tokoroa 2, Rotorua United 0 West Hamilton 3, Clube Alegria 1 Tauranga City 4, Te Awamutu 1 Katikati 0.

Golf:  Lee again strong

As if he hadn't caught the selectors' eyes already, Rotorua teenager Peter Lee has produced another top performance to enhance his prospects of being picked in the Bay of Plenty team for their national interprovincial challenge in Dunedin later in the year.

Lee, beaten in the New Zealand matchplay final at Mt Maunganui two weeks ago, finished sixth overall at the Muriwai Open, 10 shots behind winner Fraser Wilkin, with amateurs filling four of the top six spots.

Lee had rounds of 70, 72, 69 and 72 for a three-under par total, with Tauranga left-hander Sam Davis two shots back (74, 68, 72, 71) to also continue his good form.

Jared Pender (74, 70, 72, 74) and Dean Sipson (7,1 74, 71, 74) were the best of the Tauranga-based professionals on two-over par, with Taupo's Troy Ropiha (71, 80, 71, 74) six shots further back.

Omanu's Craig Hamilton (plus 11), Tauranga's David Feeney (+14) and Mt Maunganui pros Luke Nobilo (+21) and Ben Taylor (+24) all survived the cut but didn't feature over the weekend.

With Lydia Ko blitzing the women's field by 17 shots with a course record seven-under-par 65 in the blustery final round conditions, Tauranga's Grace Senior (76, 74, 84, 80) finished equal eighth in the women's field, with Opotiki's Tyla Kingi nine shots back after rounds of 79, 76, 89 and 81.

Hockey:  Bigham saves day

Otumoetai owe plenty to right wing Andrew Bigham, with his second-half goal the clincher as they maintained their unbeaten start to the men's premier Intercity club hockey competition at the weekend.

Bayleys Otumoetai downed Te Awamutu 4-3 after leading 3-1 at halftime with Bigham bagging a hat-trick, including a skilful goal in the second half when he received the ball behind the Te Awamutu defence then drew the keeper out of the goal and deftly slotted the ball in the net. The goal turned out to be vital in the context of the game because Patrick Wilson replied with a classy goal for Te Awamutu with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Te Awamutu then threw everything into the closing stanza and, despite several chances, could not find an equaliser.

Mount Maunganui triumphed 4-3 over Waikato University reserves, with former Black Stick Lincoln Churchill grabbing a hat-trick for the CMS-sponsored side.

Mount Maunganui found the Varsity reserves more of a handful than expected at Hamilton. Churchill dominated the scoresheet, but the result could have gone against the Mount if Varsity had been able to convert their penalty corners.

Mount turned with a two-goal lead, but early in the second spell Varsity scored twice to draw level. A penalty stroke put Mount Maunganui ahead again and Churchill scored a scorching field goal to seal the win.

In the premier women's competition reigning champions Otumoetai had their match deferred due to the national under-21 tournament in Hamilton, with Mount Maunganui, the only other local team, given a 6-0 lesson by Te Awamutu, with former international Robbie Matthews prominent at centre half for the winners as they slotted three goals in each half.

Midlands Intercity scores:

Premier Men:

Otumoetai 4 (Andrew Bigham 3, Mark Whitaker) Te Awamutu 3 (Patrick Wilson 2, Chris Rees-Gibbs), HT 3-1.

Mt Maunganui 4 (Lincoln Churchill 3, Rob Lethbridge) Varsity Reserves 2 (Heath Sinclair, Will Harding), HT 2-0.

Thames Valley 9 Kohekohe 0, HT 5-0.

Waiau Pa 3 Rotorua Indians 2.

Suburbs Old Boys 4 Onewhero 0, HT 1-0.

Waikato Uni v Pukekohe Indians, Rotorua Aces v Fraser Tech both deferred.

Premier Women:

Waikato University 2 (Jess Nesbitt, Georgia Williams) Taupo 2 (Ellie Heanon, Samara Heany), HT 1-1.

Te Awamutu 6 Mt Maunganui 0, HT 3-0.

Hamilton Old Girls 3 Onewhero 1, HT 3-0.

Rotorua Aces 4 Franklin 4, HT 2-2.

Fraser Tech v Otumoetai deferred.