Yachting: Strong showing
Tauranga's Jason Saunders has finished 11th from 93 470 entries at sailing's Trofeo SAR Princesa Sofia World Cup event in Spain.
Saunders and helmsman Paul Snow-Hansen only just missed out on the medal race in the men's 470.
The regatta was the third of seven ISAF world cup events for the season, and is the first European regatta of the year as New Zealand's sailors prepare for the London Olympics for which they have qualified for all classes except the star.
Both of the New Zealand sailing team's medal race starters finished fifth overall. Strangely, five of the 10 starters in the finn medal race were determined to be over the start line too early, but New Zealand's Dan Slater was one of the lucky few and he improved his overall standing to finish fifth.
The Star medal race ran much more to the expected form, but Hamish Pepper and Jim Turner didn't have the race they would have hoped for. The new pairing has been pumping out impressive results for the whole regatta, but finished at the back of the medal race and their overall result slipped from second to fifth as a result.
Fishing: Heavy swell
Western Bay of Plenty Services' fishing tournament was this year confined to Tauranga Harbour for all three days of the contest because of the heavy swell in the open water.
The decision was made day by day, but conditions worsened as the tournament progressed - and the storm with 40 knot winds and waves up to 12m that set loose more containers and debris from the Rena wreck on Astrolabe Reef sparked a warning for boats to steer well clear.
In previous years tournament boats usually roamed far and wide in the Bay of Plenty and some boat skippers and anglers took this year's restrictions pretty hard, although the organisers said it was the harbour or nothing.
Making the most of the disappointing situation, the 227 competing anglers on 65 boats discovered that there was some good harbour fishing, with fish of at least six different species of respectable sizes available.
In the end a total of 438 fish were weighed in. The heaviest of species varied from just over 1kg to just under 15kg. The average weight of the weighed in fish was 1.63kg.
The tournament main prize was set down for the heaviest kahawai. This was won by Callum Mitchell fishing from Deepstar with his 2.27kg catch.
The heaviest fish of the tournament was a 14.82kg kingfish landed by Nick Carter (Ninja), with Steve Westlake winning the heaviest prize in two different species.
Results:
Kahawai, Callum Mitchell (Deepstar) 2.27kg.
Kingfish, Nick Carter (Ninja) 14.82kg.
Snapper, Steve Westlake (Devocean) 4.38kg.
Trevally, Steve Westlake 3.44kg.
John Dory, Kathleen Arvidson (Kaytor) 2.75kg.
Red Gurnard, Bruce Stowe (Free Flo) 1.025kg.
Club rugby: Leaders earn win
Seeka KI Western Bay of Plenty club rugby competition leaders Arataki Black were given a run for their money by Rangataua at Te Ariki Park on Saturday before prevailing 19-10.
Katikati kept their season unbeaten record intact in a try scoring romp against Rangiuru at Moore Park, dominating totally to win 89-0.
Defending champions Matakana Island had to work hard to repel a spirited challenge from Te Puna at Maramatanga Park. The home side belied their status near the bottom of the standings, making Matakana work for their 35-22 win.
There was no closer encounter in the Western Bay competition split round than the Te Puke Sports v Greerton Marist game at Murray Salt Stadium. The two sides were unable to be separated at 19-19.
Seeka KI Western Bay senior results:
Te Puke Sports 19 Greerton Marist 19, Matakana Island 35 Te Puna 22, Arataki Black 19 Rangataua 10, Katikati 89 Rangiuru 0, Papamoa def Eastern Districts.
Football: Fightback needed
Whakatane coach Mike Ward had a clear game plan but didn't count on being 2-0 behind after 25 minutes against Rotorua United at Neil Hunt Park on Saturday in the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Federation one league.
United rocked the visitors with good goals from Gary Hamilton-Irvine and Craig Brewer before Whakatane started their fightback five minutes later, playing the ball in behind the United defence for Scott Marrow to lob over 'keeper Andrew Gibbs who was caught in no man's land.
"We thought they would defend high and use Gibbs as a sweeper so we targeted the space in behind their back four," Ward said. It was 2-2 at halftime after Whakatane repeated the tactic, with Brendan Mitchell on hand to beat a stranded Gibbs.
Whakatane went ahead after 10 minutes of the second spell when Mitchell scored from close range after the United defence failed to deal with a corner kick and were in complete control when Marrow netted to put them 4-2 ahead. Late in the game Shadley Petersen showed good control and pace to get United's third but it was too late to peel back Whakatane's 4-3 lead.
At Stembridge Rd, Ngongotaha were expected to be too strong for Waikato Unicol but it was the visitors who took three points with a 3-1 win. "The lads didn't turn up to play (and) Unicol were more desperate to win," Ngongotaha coach Shane Davis lamented.
The visitors led 2-0 before Mitchell scored a good goal to pull one back for the home side but the Villagers' hopes of a comeback didn't eventuate.
A new look Old Blues side held Taupo to 1-1 at halftime, with Franz Marco scoring for Old Blues and veteran Alan Lamb replying for Taupo. Taupo had the better of the second half but although they created a number of chances it was an own goal which sealed their 2-1 win.
Otumoetai had to cobble together a side which included second and third team players. They led Otorohanga 1-0 at the break after Matt Collins slotted a penalty. Collins scored again early in the second half and Trent Hickman made it 3-0 to ensure three points for the Tauranga team.
In other games Claudelands Rovers upset the fancied Melville United side 3-0 and Tauranga Boys' College thumped AFC Fury 5-1.
Waikato Bay of Plenty football men's federation scores:
Federation 1: Old Blues 1 Taupo 2; Otumoetai 3 Otorohanga 0; Tauranga Boys' College 5 AFC Fury 1; Ngongotaha 1 Waikato Unicol 3; Claudelands Rovers 3 Melville United 0; Rotorua United 3 Whakatane Town 4.