Seven days is a long time in rugby, and this week the Mid Canterbury Combined XV know it better than most.

A week after getting their first win for the season, courtesy of a last-minute penalty, the side took on the might of St Thomas’ on Saturday and they came off second best.

But while they will reflect on a 3-70 scoreline and ponder where it might have all gone wrong, they’ll also take solace in the fact that many aspects of their game were as good as they have been all season.

In fact, the first 17 minutes of the match saw some of the best defensive work the side has produced.

Despite STAC throwing everything at them, the side stood tall and handled the one-off runners well, and even sent some shivers down the spines of the collective STAC crowd when Charlie Brown’s boot put the visitors in front with a penalty.

That was to be it though, as STAC warmed into their work.

Combined put the pressure on too though.

And on a couple of occasions, went close.

At half-time, the hosts were in control of the match at 20-3, but the young Combined side weren’t without their chance if they could produce a solid second 40 minutes.

Instead, it was unfortunately the opposite.

After defending strongly in the opening half, Combined began to miss tackles and were all of a sudden outflanked as STAC scored 50 unanswered points to win the match easily.

The side also lost Christian Thompson for the remainder of the season through a head knock, but plans are already in place for the talented young player to join the management part of the team.

Ghost Touli was named player of the match for his outstanding work on defence throughout the game, while George Penjueli, who made his run-on debut, was impressive, and is in the right space to end the 2020 season on a high note.

This weekend the side heads down the road to Timaru to take on Timaru Boys High School, where the focus is very much on putting a big performance together on the paddock.

Exemption was sought to have the game shifted away from the day after the Ashburton College School Ball which will be held on Friday night, but there was no willingness to do so from the opposition unfortunately.

By Matt Markham © The Ashburton Guardian -  5 August 2020

Riley Sa had another big match for College on Tuesday night. Photo supplied.Oh so close, but not quite.

That was the almost deafening message coming out of the Ashburton College boys’ basketball team following their agonising 92-91 defeat at the hands of St Andrew’s College this week in Thomson Trophy action.

Heading to the match in Christchurch, College knew they were in for a tough battle with STAC, having won their last three games and looking strong.

But it was the visitors who made all the early play, jumping out to an 8-0 lead before their hosts even had a chance to get warm.

A reset through a time-out changed things up and STAC found their feet, and managed to walk into the end of the first quarter with a 31-18 lead.

The second quarter was just as tight, with College providing some really good ball to keep in touch, and the Ashburton boys trailed 43-36 at halftime.

STAC took the game by the horns heading into the early stages of the third quarter, and were able to string together some really strong plays which pushed their lead out to 18 points.

But again, College fought back, tightening up their defensive end while scoring some valuable baskets to claw the margin back to 13 at the end of the third.

Heading into the final quarter, College were still very much in the match, but the first stages of the quarter left College with no answers as STAC held strong.

A time-out which saw College shift to a full court press with the emphasis on stopping the ball from moving forward changed the course of the game.

STAC began to panic, and plenty of turnovers started to flow towards College and they worked back into the match, and they hit the lead 91-89 with a minute left to play.

Shortly after, STAC broke through the press and drove to the basket to score and bring the scores back to level, and suddenly the match became about who could hold their nerve best.

A Riley Sa three-point effort went close but missed, and STAC marched up the court, earning a foul and a trip to the free-throw line.

The first one dropped, but the second missed and the ball bounced out but wasn’t claimed.

A STAC player managed to get a hand on it and it bounced off a College player to go out of court, and hand vital possession back to the hosts.

Kambell Still managed to turn the ball over however, and College were in with a sniff.

Charging up the court they piled on the pressure, only for STAC to hold steady.

Another shot went up but missed, and with a split second left a lunge to the ball again and an attempt to tip the ball in on the rebound just missed, with the buzzer sounding and STAC claiming the match by a one-point margin.

Sa put in a massive performance again at both ends of the court, picking up a huge 42 points, including a 13-point effort in the fourth quarter.

Still chipped in with a solid 15 points, while James Reid had a strong game with 11 points.

Brian Kerr said the whole team impressed.

“All of the guys that got time on the court well and truly put their hands up, whether it was defensively or dropping the odd basket or both.

“It was a wonderful team effort,” he said.

“The fourth quarter fightback was indicative of the defensive intensity applied throughout the game.

“There were times it looked like a blowout was on the cards, but they showed enormous fight and should walk away with heads held high.”

Despite the loss, Kerr described their performance as the best of the season.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 1 August 2020

John Morrison - Photo supplied.He had a challenge in front of him, but Johnny Morrison was up to the task.

Heading down to Invercargill yesterday morning, Morrison knew his job, the hard part was always going to be achieving it.

He’d watched Dylan Ferguson drive a winner on Wednesday night at Alexandra Park to draw level with him on the New Zealand Junior Drivers’ premiership.

It meant, drive a winner yesterday, or face heading to Addington tonight, needing a win with two rough chances.

The day didn’t start too well.

Two unplaced runs in the first two races, before he looked home on Rydgemont Milly only for the horse on the inside to boot back up and beat him.

Then he gave Racing Minister every possible opportunity, only for it to find nothing in the straight.

At that point that task looked tough, but a peach of a steer on Miss Impression late in the day saw Morrison salute and move one clear of Ferguson with 34 wins for the season.

There’s still racing at Addington tonight to come, but Ferguson is done for the season, and Ben Hope, who is on 30 winners for the term, would need to drive four winners tonight just to draw level, while Sheree Tomlinson would need to pick up an unlikely five wins.

So, Morrison – barring a miracle is home, and can reasonably safely lay claim to his second New Zealand title.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 30 July 2020