Football: Fortunes improve
Tauranga City United's stay in sixth spot in the Northern League's second division has been shortlived - they're back up to fifth after a morale-boosting defeat of Western Springs at Links Ave on Sunday.
Tauranga's three goals - scored by Isaac Bright, Jindrich Hahn and newcomer Jason Walker - all came in the first half and has leapfrogged them over Warkworth on goal difference, although the win has come too late to give them a realistic chance of finishing in the top two and getting promoted.
They sit on 23 points, eight behind second-placed North Shore who inched clear of Western Springs, and have a game in hand, with a 3-2 win over Onehunga-Mangere.
Tauranga's win was their first in a month and they have six games left - North Shore (away), Manukau City (home), Warkworth (away), Matamata (home), Fencibles (home) and Waiuku (away). That's a potential 18 points on offer - faint hope, but then what are the odds?
Hibiscus Coast further consolidated their stranglehold at the top with a 2-0 defeat of Manukau City and now have an 11-point buffer on the chasing pack.
Second division:
Tauranga City 3 (Isaac Bright, Jindrich Hahn, Jason Walker) Western Springs 0. HT: 3-0.
Mangere United 2 Warkworth 2 (Cody Piper, Joel Kiernan). HT: 1-1.
Onehunga Mangere 2 (Marc Lindsay, Tim Knight) North Shore United 3 (own goal, David Fahy, Jaryd Gray). HT: 1-3.
Waiuku 2 (Neil Holyoake, Cody Ralph) Fencibles 2 (Dominic Harvey, Stephen Lawry). HT: 0-2.
Matamata Swifts 1 (Jack McNab) Papakura City 1 (Raj Sharma). HT: 0-1.
Manukau City 0 Hibiscus Coast 2 (Daniel Bungard 2). HT: 0-2.
1. Hibiscus C 16 14 0 2 43 13 42
2. North Shore 15 10 1 4 32 21 31
3. West Springs16 9 1 6 29 28 28
4. Mangere Utd 15 8 3 4 27 23 27
5. Tauranga C 16 7 2 7 27 25 23
6. Warkwth 16 6 5 5 22 21 23
7. Fencibles 16 5 4 7 23 31 19
8. Matamata S 16 4 6 4 17 25 18
9. Waiuku 15 5 2 8 38 38 17
10. Onehunga M 16 4 3 9 25 38 15
11. Manukau C 15 3 3 9 17 24 12
12. Papakura C 14 2 2 10 22 35 8
Volleyball: Wins in Hamilton
Familiar faces were on hand to greet the Tauranga women's team in the opening round of volleyball's Northern League competition, with Tauranga playing Hamilton in Hamilton.
The first game saw Tauranga B beat Hamilton B 3-1 in a close fought game. Tauranga won the first two sets 26-24, 25-21, but lost the third to a determined Hamilton 22-25. The fourth set was again close with Tauranga emerging as 25-23 victors. Kylie Rae, Sage Hemara and Kerryn Schroeder all played well for Tauranga.
In the second game Tauranga A played Hamilton A. Tauranga fielded a makeshift team with the US university-bound players Andrea Tauai and Melissa Cairns filling in for Lisa Claassen (injured), Leigh Gallagher (honeymoon) and three players - Amy Hunter, Holly Boyle and Lauren Mayer - who were at a national under-19 camp. Beniece Douch was also away at the world under-19 beach championships.
Despite this, Tauranga started strongly, winning the first set 25-10. The second and third sets were much closer with Tauranga emerging 25-22, 25-20 winners, taking the game 3-0. Despite the dominant scoreline it was an entertaining game with excellent attacking and recovery work from both teams.
"Sally Davenport stepped into the setting role with a strong game," coach Stewart Henderson said. "Simone Head and Melissa Cairns hit well on the outside, ably supported by Kim Wiersma and Andrea Tauai playing well through the middle, Andrea for the first time in this position. Stephanie Pierce had her best game for Tauranga so far, hitting and serving strongly, along with Abbie Meredith also playing well in her first game for the A team as libero."
Tauranga will get a much better gauge of their progress so far this season when they travel to Auckland this weekend to take on North Harbour and national champions Manukau South.
Northern league (Hamilton):
Men:
Reserves: Hamilton b Waitakere 3-1, 20-25, 25-18, 25-21, 25-17.
Premiers: Waitakere b Hamilton 3-2, 26-24, 23-25, 27-29, 25-21, 16-14.
Women:
Reserves: Tauranga b Hamilton 3-1, 26-24, 25-21, 22-25, 25-23.
Premiers: Tauranga b Hamilton 3-0, 25-10, 25-22, 25-20.
Golf: Team moves up
Bay of Plenty's leading golfers will have slightly further to drive in next year's men's championship pennant competition after Kawerau won promotion back into the top flight for the first time since being demoted in 2003.
Kawerau, who triumphed 5-4 over Tauranga to win the Senior A title, downed Whakatane 9 matches to 3 at Te Puke on Sunday to gain promotion and send their Eastern Bay neighbours back into the Senior A division for 2013.
Kawerau dominated the morning foursomes to lead 3-1 and made no race of the singles to shut Whakatane out, with Aaron Rangihika, Warren Anderson, Glenn Tait, James Hunt, Hemana Waaka and Jordan Rangihika all getting afternoon wins on the par 72 layout.
Bay of Plenty golf promotion/relegation playoff:
Foursomes: Kawerau 3 Whakatane 1. Singles: Aaron Rangihika def Henry Spring 2 and 1, Warren Anderson def Darryl McEwan 3 and 2, Zane Rangihika lost to Stew Stephen 1 down, Eru Osbourne lost to Adam Broadmore 5 and 4, Glenn Tait def Raniera Mason 1 up, James Hunt def Steve Heberley 4 and 2, Hemana Waaka def Stephen Boon 4 and 2, Jordan Rangihika def Steve Brile 7 and 6.
Rugby League: Back on track
Bay Sprint Couriers Otumoetai Eels Premiers got back on track in the Waicoa Bay rugby league premiership with a resounding seven try, six conversion 40-16 win over Ngaruawahia's Turangawaewae on Saturday in ice-cold conditions in Ngaruawahia.
After a tumultuous four weeks in which they lost 20 players through overseas work commitments, injury and retirement, the Eels were left wondering whether they could field a team to stay competitive after losing their previous two games.
When the club's two squads were called to assemble together at the departure point on Saturday, only 20 players showed up, with the Eels opting to default their reserve grade match in Rotorua against the Central and fulfill their Waicoa Bay premiership commitments against Turangawaewae.
It was the right call, with the Eels leading 16-6 at halftime, despite highly questionable refereeing decisions that led to six Otumoetai tries being disallowed.
With the score locked at 16-all heading into the last 20 minutes there was the possibility Turangawaewae was going to grab the win, but finally the Eels, led by brilliant half Josh Weeden, decided to knuckle down and play attacking rugby league from anywhere on the field.
Forwards James Poharama and Tane Taitoko, both back after being unavailable the previous week, rallied to dominate the middle of the field. From the forward domination, wing Ryan Gordon went over for his fourth hat-trick of the season, taking his tally to 23 in 11 matches and giving the Eels a well-earned win ahead of the playoffs in two weeks.
In Hamilton, Tauranga Whalers continued their winning drive by overcoming a strangely stubborn Hamilton Hornets 30-28 to retain third spot. Tokoroa's Pacific Sharks hammered Hukanui 48-0, Taupo were on the end of a 56-4 drubbing from Waikato champions Hamilton City Tigers and Ngaruawahia Panthers hammered an injury-plagued Pikiao Warriors 56-18.
This weekend has Pikiao travelling to Otumoetai in a game that could possibly decide who qualifies in second spot from the blue pool for the playoffs. Tauranga Whalers takes on leaders Ngaruawahia Panthers at Waipuna Park, Hamilton City Tigers play Hukanui, and in the match of the day Taniwharau Taniwha host Pacific Sharks in Huntly.
Waicoa Bay scores:
Otumoetai 40 Turangawaewae 16, Tauranga 30 Hamilton Hornets 28, Hamilton City Tigers 56 Taupo 4, Ngaruawahia 56 Pikiao 18, Pacific 48 Hukanui 0.
Football: Game drawn
Taupo dropped two points in a 2-2 draw against Whakatane Town, while second placed Claudelands Rovers took maximum points from a 4-0 win over Rotorua United to close within a point of Taupo at the top of the Waikato-Bay of Plenty federation league's first division.
Taupo would have been disappointed to drop two points at Rex Morpeth Park but it could have been worse after Nathan Kinney and Brendan Mitchell gave Whakatane a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Taupo coach Paul Drake wasn't happy as the teams headed for the changing rooms. Whatever he said it worked as Taupo took control from the re-start. Alan Lamb scored in the 55th minute and although Whakatane withstood the onslaught for another 20 minutes it was Lamb who got them back on level terms.
When things are going bad the rub of the green seems to go against you and Rotorua were without four key players when they met Claudelands at Galloway Park. Down only 1-0 at the break United had competed well, but when Claudelands scored from the penalty spot in the 65th minute heads went down and they conceded two late goals.
Ngongotaha had three players back from university and Mitchell Miller signalled his return with a first half-hat trick to give the Villagers a 3-0 lead over Tauranga Boys' College at the break. They continued to dominate in the second half but didn't capitalise on chances they created with the only second half goal scored late in the game by Tauranga Boys' to make the final score 3-1.
At Fergusson Park, Otumoetai found themselves 2-0 down at halftime against AFC Fury after a lacklustre performance. It was a different team that came out for the second half and although they dominated they couldn't score.
Old Blues, who were at home against bottom of the table Otorohanga, also found themselves 2-0 down after 45 minutes. Goals to Franz Marko and Phil Ranger levelled the score but when the Otorohanga 'keeper denied them from the penalty spot it looked as though the visitors might sneak a point.
But patience was key and when Old Blues put pressure on Otorohanga they were rewarded in the 89th minute when Hare Puna scored to give them a 3-2 win.
"It may not have been a convincing ninety minute performance but we will take the points," coach Andy Legget said.
Melville United retained third with a 2-0 win over Waikato Unicol.
In division two, with Clube Alegria beaten 4-0 by Tokoroa, the title race should be fought out between Tauranga City, who beat Rotorua United 6-1, and Cambridge, who downed bottom of the table Matamata 5-2.
Hockey: Side too strong
CMS Mt Maunganui found reigning Intercity champions Thames Valley too hot to handle at Ngatea on Saturday in the men's premiership.
Down just 1-0 at the turn, Mt Maunganui couldn't hold out the attacking skills of Thames Valley, who rattled in another four goals in the second half, with the unbeaten side remaining at the top of the points table.
Pukekohe Indians surprised Rotorua Aces 6-5 in Hamilton while, in the second tier championship, Bayleys Otumoetai men were held to a 2-2 draw by Suburbs Old Boys.
Bayleys Otumoetai women thrashed Onewhero 8-0 at Tauranga Hockey Centre after leading 6-0 at halftime, with Monique Eades scoring a hat-trick. Mt Maunganui battled back from 2-0 down at the break against Te Awamutu before going down 3-2, with second half goals from Melissa Hartigan and Sue Furmage.
Intercity scores:
Premier men:
Thames Valley 5 (Adam Smale, Nick Ross, Auke Idema, Dee Crookenden, Ricky Haywood) Mt Maunganui 1 (Brad McKenzie) HT 1-0.
Pukekohe Indians 6 Rotorua Aces 5, HT 3-1.
Fraser Tech v Waikato University deferred.
Otumoetai 2 Suburbs Old Boys 2, HT 1-1. Bayleys Otumoetai men's team was held to a draw at Hamilton.
Waiau Pa 1 Kohekohe 1, HT 0-0.
Varsity Reserves 5 Rotorua Indians 2, HT 0-0.
Onewhero 2 Te Awamutu 1, HT 2-1.
Premier women:
Otumoetai 8 Onewhero 0, HT 6-0.
Hamilton Old Girls 3 Onewhero 0.
Fraser Tech (N Cotton, A Nutha) 2 Rotorua Aces (C Galvin, M Waaka) 2, HT 2-0.
Hamilton Old Girls 3 Franklin 2, HT 0-2.
Te Awamutu 3 (Acacia Kelson, Neve McLean, Jasmin Thompson) Mt Maunganui 2 (Melissa Hartigan, Sue Furmage), HT 2-0.
Waikato University 5 Taupo 2, HT 1-1.
Athletics: Runners excel
Tauranga runners have grabbed two titles and a slew of podium finishes at the North Island crosscountry championships at a chilly Spa Park in Tauranga.
Tauranga Ramblers' Murray Clarkson (25min53s) comfortably won the masters men 65-69 6000m by over two minutes from Lake City's Ray Hewlett, while in the boys 12 2000m race Papamoa's Samuel Tanner held on to win in a close one over Hamilton's Isaiah Priddey, getting home in 6m55s, with Priddey two seconds behind.
Tauranga's Russell Lake (masters men 40-44), Johanna Ottosson (masters women 35-39) Judith May (masters women 40-44) and Arloah Tippens (girls 12) were second, with Gavin Smith Smith third in his masters 55-59 race.
Western Bay results, North Island crosscountry champs (Spa Park, Taupo):
Men:
Masters 6000m, 40-44: Kevin Pugh (Wgtn) 21m 33s 1, Russell Lake (Tauranga) 21m 39s 2, Michael Waterman (Wgtn) 21m 44s 3. 55-59: Colin Earwaker (Lake City) 21m 33s (record) 1, Tony Price (Masterton) 23m 27s 2, Gavin Smith (Tauranga) 24m 4s 3. 65-69: Murray Clarkson (Tauranga) 25m 53s 1, Ray Hewlett (Lake City) 27m 59s 2, Alan Jones (Taranaki) 29m 2s 3. M12 2000m: Samuel Tanner (Papamoa) 6m 55s 1, Isaiah Priddey (Ham) 6m 57s 2, Nicholas Burke (Pak) 7m 11s 3.
Women:
Masters 5000m, 35-39: Rachel Penney (Pak) 19m 1s 1, Johanna Ottosson (Tauranga) 19m 26s 2, Jackie Holley (Wgtn) 20m 47s 3. 40-44: Sue Crowley (Lake City) 20m 22s 1, Judith May (Tauranga) 20m 47s 2, Lisa Kuhnert (Feilding) 22m 2s 3. W12 2000m: Tessa Hunt (Wgtn) 7m 50s 1, Arloah Tippens (Tga) 7m 52s 2, Olivia Healey (Wgtn) 7m 55s 3.
Taekwondo: Impressive haul
Aotearoa Taekwondo Te Puke entered their development squad heading to the Australian open championships into the Taekwondo Union North Island tournament held at Tauranga Boys' College. They collected an impressive five gold, six silver and two bronze medals among their team of 12 fighters.
Once again discipline, endurance and hard training would prove to be the ultimate skill, especially for Te Puke's youngest competitor, 7-year-old Mahinarangi Wirihana, who won silver.
Christopher Vazey set the tone with an impressive win, although three Te Puke fighters fell into the same draw and had to battle each other for a podium spot.
Highlights of the tournament for Aotearoa Taekwondo were first-time fighters Leigh Stuart and Maanauri Wilson.
Against all odds Stuart won silver, with Wilson, grandson of Grandmaster Brown Wilson, competing in three different weight/age divisions. Wilson went out and stuck to the basics. As the only fighter to have six consecutive fights in the tournament, Wilson went on to win two golds and a bronze.
Aotearoa Taekwondo Te Puke medalists:
Gold: Moana Gauld, Christopher Vazey, Merrissa Shipton, Maanauri Wilson (2).
Silver: Michael Button, Blake Ward, Mahinarangi Wirihana, Leigh Stuart, Kayne Jackson-Gilmour, Emily Bristow.
Bronze: Maanauri Wilson, Seth Hudson, Orion Thomas (gifted).
Christian Lio-Willie has been called into the squad as cover.