Netball action. Photo supplied.A last-gasp penalty shot ensured College walked away from its premier netball clash against United with competition points on Thursday.

Down by one with time effectively up on the clock, College goal attack Hayley Tallentire settled the ledger at 26-all with a second penalty shot, after fellow shooter Sophie Adams hit the ring on first attempt.

College had claimed a narrow lead by the midway point of a frenetic, highly physical battle.

However United fought their way back in the final two periods of the game and eventually took the lead in a see-sawing final spell.

Hampstead later firmed its position as ACL contenders with a classy 41-24 win over Methven.

Earlier, Mt Somers defaulted to Celtic to put their season on the back foot.

Both coming off opening week defeats, the desperation was evident from the outset between United and College.

The two sides pressed hard on defence during the opening stages, with goals hard to come by in the first period.

A hefty collision in mid-court between Milli Sullivan and Charlotte Samson indicated players were putting their bodies on the line.

All square at 5-5 at the first break, both sides began shouldering long overheaded balls into the attacking areas in the hope of catching defensive markers off guard, which garnered mixed results.

Several turnovers were effected with College skipper Poppy Kilworth in particular proving to be a nuisance at the back for United.

College in the end dominated the second period, claiming a 15-8 advantage at halftime.

United turned the tables in the third quarter, defending stoutly and executing more often than not inside the circle, with Stacey Smith Grant sinking some long range goals after moving from wing attack to goal attack.

Now with all the momentum, United got it back to within one goal in the third spell, as Adams hauled herself about in the circle to wrangle back the ascendancy.

All set up for a nail-biting climax, United nudged ahead courtesy of some pivotal points from super-sub shooter Brans Surridge, who went toe-to-toe with Kilworth in the circle.

College kept their composure to remain in striking distance during the final stages with one of their key players pulling off the clutch play in the dying seconds.

After sharing the points, both teams now sit fourth and fifth on the ACL standings with College holding a slightly better points differential.

It was a closely fought beginning between Hampstead and Methven as both sides looked to utilise their height in the shooting circle via Hampstead’s Alice Eddington and Methven’s Kelera Nawai.

After holding a slender two-goal advantage at the first break, Hampstead powered ahead as their mid-court began to dominate matters with Eddington and Nicole Hands turning a modest advantage into a healthy one.

Down 26-15 at halftime, Nawai was sent to goal keep, possibly to counter the flow of scoring.

However Hampstead went up a notch as their dynamic mid-court combinations fed on any loose ball. Methven competed strongly during the third spell, with Leanne Clemens enjoying further opportunities to land points for her side.

However Hampstead stormed home as goal keep Hannah Spence smothered her opposite in goal as the blue and golds in return were able to move the ball into the attacking third cleanly to finish the game off.

In premier 2, Celtic B dispatched Hampstead B 44-21 earlier in the night.

Competition favourites Southern A hammered AshColl’s senior B side 46-9 before Methven B prevailed over Celtic C 34-26.

There were also wins for United B and Hampstead under-18A, with College’s 10A side having the bye.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 10 July 2020

Mid Canterbury Combined 1st XV captain Isi Ula worms his way through a gap during Saturday’s UC Championship encounter with Christ’s College. Photo Heather MackenzieA late burst by Christ’s College put to bed Mid Canterbury Combined’s resistance in the UC Championship at the weekend.

Christ’s completed a resounding 54-5 win when their wing Sean Rutherford-Bradford snagged a second half hat-trick which inflated the scoreboard at Ashburton College.

Up until this point, the young Combined outfit, who are still without some key troops, competed hard and managed to rebuff the threats of the Reuben Thorne-coached Christ’s College side for significant periods.

However once Christ’s began emptying their bench in the second spell, Combined’s resolve eventually cracked with the Christchurch school running in eight tries in total.

The fixture was originally slated to have been played at Christ’s home ground, however it is understood it was moved to AshColl following heavy rain in Christchurch last week.

Combined enjoyed the better start as the home team utilised their big ball runners during the initial stages of the game.

There was early joy for the home team when star custodian Charlie Brown, lurking near the contact area, swindled a try following an attacking Mid Canterbury feed.

It would be the only cheer for Combined on the scoreboard as Christ’s proceeded to command possession courtesy of a clinical display from their pack.

Christ’s crossed the chalk in the 12th minute when play was sent down the blindside following a lineout drive with wing Matt Durant sailing to the corner untouched.

Christ’s extended their lead a few minutes later when captain Fletcher Anderson peeled away from a maul to run 20 metres to the line.

Lock Fiti Sa then finished off another raid deep in Combined territory, using his size to brush off would-be tacklers who had spent a large portion of the half defending, to charge to the line.

Although College had raced out to 21-5, they were guilty of trying to force the issue through handling errors and a lack of fluency.

When they did get their hands on the ball, Mid Canterbury made several spirited stabs into College territory, however a lack of support and ruck speed usually rubbed out these opportunities.

Probably the biggest delight for the AshColl faithful came via a crunching tackle in midfield by Otto Markeo on Christ’s fullback Sam Idiens which brought the house down.

The buzz would be short-lived though, as College landed another blow before halftime when loosehead Olly Ryan crashed over in the corner – the visitors again exploiting the five-metre channels.

A 28-5 lead at halftime stretched to 35-5 early in the second half when a relentless lineout drive marched Combined onto their line resulting in a try for hooker Jack Jones.

The encounter descended into a scrappy affair for most of the second half as Combined diffused several of Christ’s counters.

Combined also lost No. 8 Pasi Hala to injury midway through the second half.

However Christ’s finally clicked into gear thanks to their bench, with Rutherford-Bradford finishing off three chances late, one of them a superbly-taken kick and chase.

Christ’s 50-point haul included a deft goalkicking display by Nic Shearer, with the young first five boasting a success rate of more than 87 per cent in this year’s UC Championship.

The Mid Canterbury boys are back home again this weekend where they face Rangiora High School.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 6 July 2020

Having recently completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons) from Massey University, Wellington-based painter Ben Lysaght returns to his home town for his first solo exhibition at the Ashburton Art Gallery. Once a Wilderness brings together a series of paintings created over the past year exploring the dilution of wild areas such as greenhouses, winter gardens and pockets of bush. Lysaght states that, for the most part, ‘wilderness’ is dead. “We still love the idea of a wilderness, an untouched land to discover…but what we are left with is manufactured wild areas. These spaces exist in stark contrast with what wilderness is supposed to mean; untouched by humans.” Through his paintings Lysaght explores the many imitations of wilderness, with a focus on botanic gardens and greenhouses. Critiquing them as Eurocentric institutions, he examines their limitations and possibilities for the wider world. “Historically they were filled with plants taken from the colonies in a grand display of power and scientific wonder. When they were first conceived, botanical gardens existed as a way to organise the plant world into a western understanding, to construct The Truth, while still demonstrating the wealth and power of the elite. The greenhouses acted as the most surreal and spectacular facet of this demonstration, while creating the illusion of being elsewhere.”

Past pupil Ben Lysaght - Once a Wilderness
Ashburton Art Gallery until Friday 31st July 2020, Open daily 10am - 4pm.