A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.
Wainui Sharks continued their run of good form with a 6-1 victory over Lytton High School in the only Eastern League Division 1 football game played last weekend.
They are third in the six-team league, on 10 points from six games.
Heavy Equipment Services United and Carpet Court Thistle Massive are first and second respectively, on 12 and 11 points, both having played one game less.
United and Sharks meet in the early game at Harry Barker Reserve on Saturday in a mouth-watering curtain-raiser to the Pacific Premiership match between the United first team and Havelock North Wanderers Seconds.
Wainui led 2-0 at halftime in their match against Lytton at Wainui last Saturday.
Centreback Matt Smith headed in a corner after half an hour, and five minutes later left midfielder Ronnie Potter finished a right-wing cross from close range.
In the 60th minute, right midfielder Michael Smith squared the ball to Damian Archdale, who had found space in the penalty area and made no mistake with his shot.
Striker Sam Royston was fast and busy up front, and made it 4-0 when he intercepted a backpass in the 62nd minute. He struck again in the 82nd minute to make it five.
Midfielder Mal Furlan completed the scoring for Wainui with a volley from the edge of the penalty area after a corner in the 88th minute.
It was a good team performance from Wainui against a school side whose plucky showing earned the reward of a late goal.
Division 2 is shaping up as a three-way battle at the top of the table.
On Saturday, Riverina moved into first place, on 13 points, with a 3-1 victory over Gisborne Boys’ High School (2) at Nelson Park.
Midfielders got Riverina’s goals. Ryan O’Neill chipped the goalkeeper from 30 metres after 20 minutes, Boys’ High got one back 10 minutes after halftime, then 10 minutes later Blake Mulrooney placed his shot from just outside the penalty area beyond the keeper’s reach. O’Neill made it safe for Riverina 15 minutes from the end when he met a cutback and sidefooted home from 10 metres.
Outstanding for Riverina were Grant Dickson up front, Rory White wide on the left, Glenn Higgins and Aaron Walters as centrebacks and Steve Neshausen at rightback.
Boys’ High competed all the way, their best on the day being goalkeeper Regan Cameron, regular first-teamer Adam Simpson helping out at leftback, centreback Corey Boocock and central midfielder Nic Proffit.
Thistle Vintage moved into second place, on 12 points, with a 3-2 win against previous leaders ShipWreck Bohemians, who have 11 points.
The Bohs brought in some of their second-team players, who had the Division 3 bye, to start the game. A midday start meant a hurried trip for those with work or children’s sport in the morning, and a few regulars took the first spell off in the rolling-subs roster.
Thistle striker Shaun Leeper opened the scoring inside 10 minutes at Childers Road Reserve, only for Bohs central midfielder Hayden Donnelly to equalise after 20.
Left midfielder John van Helden restored Thistle’s lead in the 35th minute when he lifted a 30-metre free-kick over the Bohemians wall and beyond the keeper.
Midway through the second half, Bohs central midfielder Matt Sowerby equalised, and it was all on. Bohs left-winger Caleb Craig had the ball in the net, but the goal was disallowed for offside, then Thistle striker Glen Udall scored the winner 10 minutes from time with a run from halfway.
Thistle’s best were man of the match Udall, Leeper, central midfielders Dave Raggett and Josh Hayes, and defender Jared Owen.
For Bohemians, right-winger Daniel Waide was man of the match, while Donnelly, Sowerby, Caleb Craig, central defenders Joe Gloistein and Jim Craig, and left back Chris Cockburn were outstanding.