Ashburton College A’s fight to stay in the top flight of the Canterbury secondary schools’ SuperNet competition could not have got off to a better start.

They headed to Christchurch on Sunday and came home with a 29-20 win over Darfield High School and a 32-16 win over Cashmere High School under their belts, and this afternoon they’ll head to Christchurch to take on Rangi Ruru where they hope to make it three-from-three.

Finishing in the bottom three of the top section of SuperNet last year meant that before this season’s competition got under way, Ashburton College A were one of the sides that had to prove themselves if they wanted to stay up.

The bottom three teams from the top section and the top three from the B section were set to play each other in a qualifying round, with the top three at the end of that set to feature in the A section this year.

It’s ended up being five teams though, due to the withdrawal of Ellesmere College.

That left Ashburton College, Rangi Ruru and Kaiapoi High School as the bottom three from the top flight last season, and two of the top teams from the B section last year, Darfield and Cashmere, to fight it out.

College coach Kaye Kennedy said her team has been playing well, but Rangi Ruru won’t be easy.

“They will probably be our toughest competition in this qualifying round, so that could be a tough game for us and we would love to come away with a win,” Kennedy said.

She was happy with her side’s two wins on Sunday, particularly with how many goals they’d scored in shortened games of four eight minute quarters.

“To score 30 goals is pretty good,” Kennedy said.

The wins gave the Ashburton side a bit of breathing space and put them in a strong position to retain their spot in the top grade.

After Rangi Ruru today, they have just Kaiapoi High School left to play on Saturday.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 May 2019