Charlie Brown Mid Canterbury Combined Rugby 2020. Photo suppliedA 14-man Mid Canterbury Combined was outclassed 12-54 by Timaru Boys’ High School in the UC Championships on Saturday.

An early red card left the visitors a man down, but the day had already started badly, with two players pulling out of the match before the bus departed Ashburton bound for Timaru.

In similar circumstances to their last trip to Timaru – a 12-13 loss to Roncalli Combined last month – the Spartans received an early red card when midfielder Mark Gabriel was sent off for striking after about 10 minutes, forcing his side to play a man down for 60 minutes.

Coach Shane Enright said that despite the setbacks his side dug deep and “probably played some of our best rugby”.

“Our new game plan worked well and had them a little confused – but again we got flanked on the outside a couple of times which allowed them a couple of simple tries,” Enright said.

Right on halftime the Spartans were hot on attack, only for Timaru Boys’ to snatch an intercept and go the length of the field to make it 22-0 at the break.

The Spartans kept on battling, but missed tackles and playing a man down saw Timaru extend their lead, before the visitors were rewarded with two late tries to Michael Hennings and Sam Ree.

Enright heaped praise on David Satui for an outstanding 70-minute shift in the front row, producing solid work in the set pieces, some strong carries and a few big tackles, while there were debuts for U16 players Angus Stewart and Joseph Fakataha.

Enright said the saddest part of the game was the injury to flanker Benny Middleton.

He suffered a broken hand, and initially did not want to come off, attempting to play through the pain until he was no longer able to catch the ball, Enright said.

With more injury concerns in the squad, Enright also said they were waiting to review footage of the incident leading to Gabriel’s red card to make a decision on what action to take.

Things don’t get any easier with the unbeaten St Andrew’s College coming to Ashburton in round 9 this weekend – with an 11am kickoff.

St Andrew’s is coming off a 43-5 demolition of Lincoln Combined.

By Jonathan Leask © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 August 2020

Ben Wakelin is one of three recipients of a Mid Canterbury Rural Women NZ Scholarships. Photo supplied.Three students have benefited from the annual Mid Canterbury Rural Women NZ Scholarships.

Ben Wakelin, Kaleb Small and Kirsten Clarke have received the 2020 scholarships.

Scholarship committee co-ordinator Pauline Hewson said that they received a good number of high calibre applicants this year across a range of subjects, making it a difficult decision.

Hewson said that things were quite different in the process this year due to the impacts of Covid-19 but they were pleased to award the $2500 to the three worthy recipients.

Wakelin, a former Ashburton College student, is in his third year of studying performance at Auckland’s Unitec Institute of Technology and received a $1000 scholarship.

Small, former head boy at Mount Hutt College, also received $1000 to assist with his second year of studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Science at Canterbury University.

Clarke is in her third year at Canterbury University studying a Bachelor of Law and Commerce.

By Jonathan Leask © The Ashburton Guardian - 8 August 2020

Labour List MP based in Rangitata, Jo Luxton, organised a visit by Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor (right) to the New Zealand Sock Company on Friday, represented by managing director Euan Sparrow. Photo Susan SandysNew Zealand Sock Company managing director Euan Sparrow was preaching to the converted when he took the Minister of Agriculture on a tour yesterday.

Damien O’Connor viewed production under way at the busy 24/7 manufacturing plant, alongside Labour List MP based in Rangitata Jo Luxton and Ashburton District Council management, mayor and councillors.

O’Connor said he was wearing socks made by the business, something he had done every day since hearing the company’s international sales manager Gabrielle Simpson address a group of industry leaders about innovation in agriculture at Fielding two years ago.

“I was taken by the story and have been wearing New Zealand Sock Company socks ever since, I literally wear them every day,” O’Connor said.

He had been inspired by innovative uses of not just fine wool, but also coarse wool and crossbred wool.

The company proved success could come from manufacture in New Zealand using New Zealand materials, and that Kiwi entrepreneurs did not always need to rush offshore for core competency.

The minister’s visit coincided with the day Sparrow was advertising for 12 new casual staff, to add to his team of about 50 at the premises.

However, it was not all smiles and bouquets, and Sparrow took the opportunity to tell the minister about his ongoing battle to attract and retrain skilled staff.

Sparrow said two of his staff had recently had their visas extended, however, there was no guarantee they would be able to stay long-term.

Government needed to allow more highly skilled workers to get their visas extended and obtain New Zealand residency, he said.

“It’s just ongoing, a nightmare,” Sparrow told the Guardian.

O’Connor said loosening criteria around skilled migrant labour was a daily discussion for the Government, which was trying to work through all the challenges of inward and outward flow of labour through this period of uncertainty due to the pandemic.

Government was trying to work on polices fair to migrant workers wanting either to remain in the country or go home, but also make sure New Zealand had enough people here to fill jobs.

At this point the country was flooded with Kiwis wanting to come back home and the number of places in quarantine was limited.

And given the hard work Kiwis had done to keep the country Covid-free, the vast majority wanted the Government to retain the highest measure of border controls.

“We are looking to extend quarantine capacity, but there are requirements, around security, and access to healthcare, and oversight, which means you can’t just do it everywhere,” O’Connor said.

Prior to visiting the sock factory, the party toured another Ashburton success story, Luisetti Seeds.

Luxton organised the visit, inviting the minister to Ashburton to view the two primary industry-based companies.

By Susan Sandys © The Ashburton Guardian -  8 August 2020