Local sports news

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Gis Int up against ‘whirlwind’Gisborne Intermediate came up against a whirlwind pitcher who proved their undoing in the Bay of Plenty-Poverty Bay Intermediate Schools Softball Tournament boys’ final last month.

Tauranga Intermediate beat Gisborne 12-8 in the final, thanks mainly to the pace of a pitcher that Gis Int teacher and coach Rapiata Ria said most adults would have trouble handling.

“He did the damage,” Ria said.

“He also had the benefit of a sharp catcher.”

Gisborne knew what they were in for, as they had already met Tauranga in pool play. That clash ended in a 2-2 draw.

Gis Int advanced from their pool in second place, ahead of Whakatane and Rotorua, and played their way into the final.

“Simione Latu was the best batter at the tournament,” Ria said.

“He was hitting the ball out of the park.

“Kaiaio Tangira had a good all-round tournament. His fielding game was next-level.

“And pitcher Tane Moeke was outstanding for his all-round play and leadership.”

Comedy at the cricketThe Poverty Bay under-15 cricket team of 2006 could empathise with the trials and tribulations of this year’s side.

They went down to Bay of Plenty Coastlands first-up at Taupo before losing the next two and a-half days to rain . . . the half-day in comic farce.

The game, due to start late just before lunch, was to be played on the lower tier of the three level Owen Delany Park ground.

Poverty Bay were to play on the lowest level. The umpires appeared and having forgotten the match-balls, were mini-carted back up to the stadium by a groundsman.

There they took lunch, the Bay and their opponents being none the wiser. Barely had they reappeared, than the tournament organiser ran down the hill, ordering all teams back up to the pavilion — an armed man was at large, the police believed him to be in the area.

All eight teams were counted off before news came that the alert had been an exercise, and there was no danger. Then it rained again and play was cancelled.