Rugby: Players named
Four Bay of Plenty players have been named for the June 10 encounter between the Graham Mourie coached North team and Tony Gilbert coached South team in Dunedin.
The squads boast a number of former All Blacks, players in the All Blacks' wider training group, hardened Super Rugby players, up-and-comers and a member of the IRB Sevens world series-winning New Zealand team.
Bay of Plenty prop Josh Hohneck will play for North from out of the Chiefs' wider training group, with the North team also including Steamers flanker Luke Braid, who captains the Blues in Super Rugby.
Bay wing Lelia Masaga will play for the North side on the wing while Culum Retallick is the sole Bay player in the South pack.
The teams do not assemble in Dunedin until Friday. The match kicks off at 2.05pm.
North Island:
Forwards: Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Hurricanes), Toby Smith (Chiefs), Josh Hohneck (Chiefs), Dane Coles (Hurricanes), Tom McCartney (Blues), James Broadhurst (Hurricanes), Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs), Filo Paulo (Blues), Faifili Levave (Hurricanes), Brad Shields (Hurricanes), Scott Waldrom (Chiefs), Luke Braid (Blues). Backs: Brendon Leonard (Chiefs), Alby Mathewson (Blues), Andrew Horrell (Chiefs), Hadleigh Parkes (Blues), Richard Buckman (Hurricanes), Charles Piutau (New Zealand Sevens), David Raikuna (Blues), Lelia Masaga (Chiefs), Lachie Munro (Blues), Robbie Robinson (Chiefs)
South Island
Forwards: Jamie Mackintosh (Highlanders), Chris King (Highlanders), Ma'afu Fia (Highlanders), Jason Rutledge (Highlanders), Quentin MacDonald (Crusaders), Jarrad Hoeata (Highlanders), Tom Donnelly (Crusaders), Culum Retallick (Highlanders), Tim Boys (Highlanders), Scott Fuglistaller (Highlanders), Matt Todd (Crusaders), Luke Whitelock (Crusaders). Backs: Jimmy Cowan (Highlanders), Willi Heinz (Crusaders), Tom Marshall (Crusaders), Glenn Dickson (Highlanders), Kendrick Lynn (Highlanders), Adam Whitelock (Crusaders), Kade Poki (Highlanders), Buxton Poppali'i (Highlanders), Patrick Osborne (Crusaders), Kurt Baker (Highlanders).
Club rugby: Bonus concerns
Two weeks ago it was Matakana Island being robbed of the chance of bonus points and affecting their chances of playing for a Baywide title and promotion to division one next year.
Last weekend it was Katikati's turn when Te Puke Sports B defaulted for the second time in three weeks in the Seeka KI Western Bay of Plenty club rugby championship. The opportunity to gain an extra bonus point disappeared with the default, effectively ending Katikati's chances of a home final in three weeks. The subject of bonus points and competition formats was a hot issue of discussion at the senior clubs delegate meeting last Monday. All Western Bay clubs will now have an opportunity to have their say on next year's rules and format in a special meeting to be held in late July.
Tauranga Sports put on an outstanding display of rugby to cement their place at No1 on the points table with a 39-26 win over Arataki. Tauranga's backline is going from strength to strength although Arataki will be happy with their four tries and a valuable bonus point, leaving them confident they can make the Baywide competition and have another shot at the final that narrowly escaped them last year.
Judea's visit to Matakana Island didn't go exactly to script with the home side running in five tries to three to take out the tough encounter 29-17.
Papamoa were too strong for Greerton, winning 37-18, Mount Maunganui beat Eastern Districts on Friday night and Te Puna were too strong for Rangiuru.
Seeka KI Western Bay senior scores:
Eastern Districts lost to Mount Maunganui, Arataki Black 26 Tauranga Sports 39, Matakana Island 29 Judea 17, Rangiuru 12 Te Puna 22, Katikati bt Te Puke Sports by default, Papamoa 37 Greerton Marist 18.
Standings after week 11: Tauranga Sports 50, Katikati 48, Arataki Black 44, Matakana 43, Mt Maunganui 40, Papamoa 35, Te Puna 23, Greerton Marist 19, Rangataua 18, Te Puke Sports 12, Rangiuru 12, Judea 11, Eastern Districts 9.
Golf: Davis does well
Tauranga golfer Sam Davis has joined New Zealand No1 amateur Vaughan McCall in a top 15 finish at the Carrick Neill Scottish Open strokeplay championship at Kilmarnock.
McCall, the 20-year-old from the Gore Golf Club who earlier this year became the first golfer in 24 years to win both the national strokeplay and amateur titles, shot a three under par 70 in the final round to climb 28 places into a share of 14th.
McCall lost touch with the leaders in the second and third rounds with scores of 75 and 76 respectively but rallied in the final round with three birdies in a bogey-free round to finish the tournament on even par.
Davis, the Bay of Plenty rep, also enjoyed a fine event in Scotland. He carded a two under 71 in the final round to also finish on an even par total and a share of 14th place in the international field.
Paul Barjon of France claimed the title by four shots from South African Haydn Porteous with a five under par 68 in the final round on a 10 under par total.
The other New Zealand golfers in the field - Ben Campbell, Blair Riordan, Daniel Pearce and Omanu's Craig Hamilton - all missed the cut of the top 41 players after two rounds.
Football: College praised
Taupo coach Paul Drake had praise for the young Tauranga Boys' College side after they put in a good effort before going down 3-0 at Crown Park in the Waikato Bay of Plenty division one football clash.
Needing to win to lift the Challenge Shield, the students tried to take the game to Taupo but were on the back foot early after conceding an own goal. They went further behind when Alan Lamb scored.
It looked as though Tauranga Boys' would be shut out of the game by halftime when Taupo were awarded a penalty, but it was a rare miss from the spot by Lamb so it was 2-0 at the break.
Ben Westerman added to the lead with a good goal but that was the only goal of the second half. "We were a bit off the boil today," Drake said, "but we still managed a win against a good young side so we'll take the points and look to get our game back on track for next week."
After 90 minutes at Waipuna Park both coaches were left disappointed after Old Blues and Rotorua United drew 2-2.
United Coach Neil Rush was philosophical. "We deserved to win and the penalty decision to give Old Blues the draw was questionable to say the least. I can't fault the team's effort today and they deserved a better reward," he said.
Old Blues coach Andy Legget lamented his team's first half performance. "Although Rotorua played well we didn't help our own cause and were lucky to be only 2-1 down at halftime. I can't see how Rotorua United are bottom of the league."
After Andy Cooper opened the scoring for Old Blues with a goal after just five minutes, United dominated the first half with player of the day Lawrie Scott scoring two good goals.
In the 80th minute the referee reacted to a linesman's flag and awarded a penalty which Cooper converted to tie the scores.
AFC Fury and Melville United were evenly matched and battled out a 0-0 draw, while Claudelands Rovers were untroubled to beat Otorohanga 6-1.
In the federation's second division Tauranga City retained the lead after thumping West Hamilton 7-0 while Cambridge kept in touch with a 3-1 win over Rotorua United. The other two games were drawn with Clube Alegria and Te Awamutu finishing 2-2 and a 1-1 draw between Tokoroa and Katikati.