Hockey high performance network coach Aaron Ford (left) with Black Sticks goalkeeper George Enersen at the NBS Ashburton Hockey Turf. Photo supplied.Hockey NZ high performance network coach Aaron Ford was back on home turf this week taking premier grade’s best players through their paces at a training session.

The former Ashburton College alumni took up his new role in February, a role designed to be a connector between the community and high performance for players, coaches and umpires. His patch covers the South Island.

Ford brought talented players down to NBS Ashburton Hockey Turf Monday from their usual training base in Christchurch to showcase and share the work done in training.

Coaches and officials from the Mid Canterbury Hockey fraternity were invited to get up close and to watch and learn.

Men trained for an hour and were followed on the turf by elite female players.

Among those at the training were Black Sticks goalkeeper George Enersen, striker Jessie Anderson and a number of NZ development squad players.

Ford grew up in a hockey playing family in Ashburton.

His family was associated with the Collegians Hockey Club, with dad Ross a local player and older brother Mark also a Canterbury rep player.

Ford himself played for Canterbury Under 18 and Under 21 teams, and in his last year at college started playing club hockey for Harewood.

Three ACL ruptures cut short his playing career at the age of 29 and he made the move into coaching.

His first coaching job was at Christchurch Girls’ and he has since progressed to men’s, women’s and age group teams at both regional and national level.

The 39-year-old, a father of two, said he was full time with hockey these days and enjoying the opportunities that came with it.

“I love working with the players and preparing and playing in tournaments.”

Ford said he had been back to the Ashburton turf a number of times since his early playing days.

“I only actually played on the turf for the first six months after it was built.

“It’s a nice turf, a great facility for Ashburton, and a lot more sheltered than the new turf at Nga Puna Wai in Christchurch.”

By Mick Jensen © The Ashburton Courier - 18 July 2020

Mid Canterbury Combined’s Liam Sullivan offloads in the tackle during the weekend’s game. Photo Doug Bovett.Mid Canterbury Combined fell to a narrow 15-8 defeat to Lincoln Combined on Saturday.

After struggling against powerhouse UC Championship schools throughout their campaign, the young Mid Canterbury outfit were competitive at Lincoln.

The home team held a 7-3 lead at halftime before Mid Canterbury dotted down in the second half courtesy of Fonoga Lisala.

Lincoln also crossed the chalk in the second half to seal their first win of the championship.

The visitors did however gain their first point of the competition for remaining within seven points.

The team travel south this weekend where they face Roncalli Aoraki Combined.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 July 2020

Mid Canterbury Combined lock Alex Barnaby makes a run during the side’s UC Championship clash with Rangiora High School in Ashburton at the weekend. Photo Robyn HoodToo big, too fast.

It was a simple numbers game at Ashburton College as Rangiora High School’s 1st XV romped home with 12 tries against Mid Canterbury Combined on Saturday.

A year is a long time in schoolboy rugby and Rangiora certainly had the bulk advantage in its 70-0 demolition over Combined who are predominantly made up of Year 11 and 12 pupils.

As a result, the side were overpowered up front and forced to defend for much of the game against Rangiora’s size and speed.

It allowed Rangiora’s back three to run riot as they recorded seven tries between them with imposing centre Elone Fungavaka adding a brace.

Even Combined’s set piece was rendered powerless as the side struggled to retain its own ball at scrum time.

The effort cannot be faulted for Combined with the side willing to roll its sleeves up against older and bigger teams and will be all the better for this season heading into 2021.

However, it’s the period after halftime where the heads dropped and the floodgates opened.

Rangiora were kept to 26-0 at halftime, courtesy of four first half tries from the visitors.

No. 8 Will Riley scored after six minutes after Combined’s feed was overpowered.

Combined curiously opted to go for touch from about 25 metres out, however Rangiora were equal to Combined’s drive after a throw to the front,

Another opportunity for points from close range was overlooked a few minutes later with Combined preferring to keep ball in hand, ending in a turnover.

Combined continued to scramble well on defence as Rangiora ate up the metres in contact.

Wing Oscar Burnley scored the first of his three tries after 17 minutes – a simple draw and pass after another incisive run from Fungavaka.

Fellow flyer Taylor Ellis added to the tally several minutes later to cap a high octane end-to-end sequence of play where Combined were also in contention for a try of its own.

Rangiora were eager on defence, pressing the offside line hard on occasion, resulting in a handful of penalties to Combined which kept them in the hunt.

Ellis added a second on the stroke of halftime, on the end of superior numbers after further front-foot ball.

The period after the interval saw Rangiora go up a gear as the possession and territory equation began to take its toll.

Burnley scored his second after another one against the feed in centre field before he set up Fungavaka for a try which knocked the stuffing out of Combined.

Fullback Tama Nicholas, who had been threatening all game when introduced into the line, added two tries before Burnley completed his hat-trick. Tries also went to Andrew Prain, Jayden Simmons and a second for Fungavaka completed the affair.

The 70 point win puts Rangiora fifth on the UC Championship standings, with Combined and this weekend’s opponents, Lincoln, making up the bottom two.

Although they had little ball, Combined were typically spirited when they did have chances.

Charlie Brown continues to impress at the back despite limited opportunities and fearless first five Thomas Patterson is a composed head running the cutter.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 14 July 2020