Marc Juntilla produced a 23-point effort for Newlands. Photo supplied.Brian Kerr gives his report on semi-final action in Men’s A Grade basketball at the Oxford Street stadium on Wednesday night.

So, the first of the two semi-finals were between College and Newlands.

It had only been three weeks since College had toppled Newlands, so the confidence was there to repeat the dose.

The first quarter was scrappy as neither team were able to dominate, with College’s man-to-man defence generally doing a good job. However Newlands started finding their mark and went into the second quarter leading 23-15.

The second quarter found Newlands able to work their offence better as they pushed out the lead. College were getting the looks but the ball was not dropping. College trailing 48-33 at the halftime break.

Newlands came out fast and quickly pushed the lead out to 20 points, until College increased their defensive intensity. They went to a full court man-to-man and they were able to create turnovers drawing the score back to 63-53 by the end of the third quarter.

College continued pressing the Newlands team and worked hard on defence, however they could not get a break on the scoreboard. With three minutes gone in the quarter, Newlands hit a switch and everything changed.

They increased the tempo of the game and within a minute or so had pushed the score out past 20 points.

Even a time-out during that time did not stop the bleeding, as Newlands took charge of the game, eventually taking out the match 90-66.

For Newlands, Marc Juntilla top-scored with 23 points. He was always dangerous and made the College defenders work hard.

Randy Buenafe continued his good form as he accumulated 22 points, with Nick Fechney strong on the inside with 14 points.

College was led by Riley Sa with 24 points who was tireless at both ends of the court.

Kambell Stills finished with 16 points, even though being well managed by the Newlands defence.

Thomas Patterson finished with 11 points, however his defence was excellent. He had the unenviable task of matching up with Juntilla in what was a terrific battle.

The second semi-final was between defending champs MSA Team Donkey and Wildlife. The last time these two played, Wildlife had taken the honours.

Team Donkey came out meaning business as they found the net early to open up a lead. It took Wildlife time to settle, but things were already looking ominous as Team Donkey led 33-19 going into the second quarter.

Team Donkey started off the quarter as they’d finished the last one pushing the lead out further.

They then followed that up with a series of missed shots and turnovers as Wildlife found some life.

Back to 10 points and a real battle beginning to brew, Team Donkey flicked a switch and tidied things up at both ends of the court to restore the lead out to 56-40.

Team Donkey then took charge in the third quarter as things got a bit heated on court. Wildlife did not have any answers as Team Donkey went into the final quarter leading 81-55.

The pain did not ease for Wildlife as Team Donkey pushed the difference out to past 30 points.

It was here that Team Donkey sat on 99 for about four minutes until they finally managed to post three figures.

Wildlife weren’t able to take any real advantage of this scoring lull as Team Donkey took out the game 101-75.

For Team Donkey it was Cam Butler doing the job with 31 points. He was always a constant threat on offence and Wildlife just couldn’t shut him down.

Fotu Hala found a return to shooting form as he finished with 26 points including a 14-point run in the fourth quarter. Pip Johnston was again in the action, ending up with 24 points.

For Wildlife, Sean Hunter led the way with 21 points with Emiliano Guerra finishing with 18 points, Xavier Bartlett 13 points.

So, we have the two best teams to battle it out for the title next Wednesday at 7pm.

The only thing separating these two teams was a points differential and they both have a win each from the round robin.

This should be a good tussle.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 18 September 2020

Ashburton College students Riley Molloy, Todd White, Sophie McMahon-Woods and Blake Farr, members of the school’s ground breaking automotive training course. Photo supplied.For a group of Ashburton College students, school is as much about getting your hands dirty as it is sitting behind a desk.

Those Year 12 students are part of the college’s ground-breaking automotive course that sees them stripping down motors, panel beating bodies and coming up with ways to fix broken and worn out engines.

The course is the brainchild of technology teachers Mike Pearce and Karl Backhouse-Smith.

They wanted to build on the success of the college’s trades academy by creating opportunities for students with a strong automotive interest.

And with the third school term running down, Pearce said the course is being voted a success on every level.

Online resources from the Motor Industry Training Organisation are used, but the programme itself has been designed by the school.

At its heart is the focus on practical, hands-on work and that’s been a winner with students, Pearce said.

“They’re incredibly keen and they’re now doing all sorts of things.

“We’re doing this in a way that hasn’t been done before and they’re absolutely blooming in there.”

The automotive workshop comes complete with a hoist, a new spray booth and a range of tools.

And on the floor at any given time are a number of vehicles in various stages of being stripped down, rebuilt or repaired.

The school funded the initial set-up and the students have raised additional funds by buying vehicles, doing them up and on-selling them.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity, they’ve learned so much in a very short space of time.

“The students are so enthusiastic about this and so are the staff,” Pearce said.

While students spend just four hours each week in the automotive workshop, it has provided an incentive for them to achieve in core subject areas as they’re well aware that for life in the workforce will require more than just practical skills, he said.

Next year Pearce hopes to run the course over Years 12 and 13, but numbers will be limited by the number of teachers and tutors available.

He also hopes to start involving industry to make employers aware of the skills students will be able to take into the workplace.

College principal Ross Preece is hailing the course as one of the school’s big success stories and he’s counting the school as fortunate to have three very large workshop spaces on campus.

While the college course does not follow the MITO model, it has received high praise from the industry organisation.

After a site visit the school received an email from MITO praising it for the diverse range of skills and excellent life skills that every student was learning.

The calibre of training and expertise the tutors were providing was outstanding, MITO said.

The report said the college was to be congratulated on its “innovative, forward-thinking, supportive and trend setting programme that had excellent outcomes”.

By Sue Newman © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 September 2020

Mid Canterbury Combined went down 60-7 in their final UC Championship game against Marlborough Boys’. Photo supplied.A tough road trip to Marlborough Boys’ College ended in another heavy defeat, however Mid Canterbury Combined’s coach believes there are plenty of positives heading into next year.

The Spartans were eventually overwhelmed 60-7 in Blenheim with the majority of the points coming in the second half of their final UC Championship encounter.

It was the 12th defeat from 13 starts, however the young side avoided the wooden spoon after Lincoln Combined were thumped by Rangiora High School.

“Compared to last season, we made some goals to stick to, which included to have a full squad for selection in the final game,” head coach Shane Enright said in his match wrap.

Winning their first game in three years was a high point of the season, and the culture was starting to build within the programme, Enright said.

“If we add those together we are on the right track to start 2021 in the right frame of mind.”

There was never going to be a shortage of intent from Marlborough Boys’ College.

Their captain, Monu Moli, who is the younger brother of injured All Blacks and Makos frontrower Atu Moli, was playing his 50th 1st XV game.

“They were always going to be up for this game,” Enright said.

“We had all watched the previous week’s game when they had played Roncalli and we really believed we were in for a chance to come away with the W in this one.”

After some goosebump-inducing hakas were exchanged, the home team charged early to race out to a 12-0 lead.

However Combined responded when first five Thomas Patterson utilised some silky footwork to dive over after lock Pasi Hala’s surging run led the visitors deep into Marlborough territory.

The home team crossed the chalk again before Combined loose forward Millar Newlands was stopped half a metre short of the line, only for an ensuing turnover to result in a try up the other end, which knocked the stuffing out of MCC.

Enright said the moment was a real turning point in the game.

“They were a big strong team, and that cost us in the end.

“But we never gave up, with some huge hits and great runs in the second half.”

Marlborough proceeded to put the pedal to the floor in the second half, adding a further 34 unanswered points following the break.

“Back when Covid-19 hit we had no idea if we would even get a chance to be part of the UC Championship this year.

“But we did.”

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 16 September 2020