The cast of Ashburton College’s production of High School Musical are set and ready to go for the school’s first musical since 2015. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayFor the first time since 2015 students at Ashburton College will get to wow audiences for three nights with a musical.

Students will perform High School Musical at the start of next month, an exciting prospect said teacher Claire Bubb.

“It is light, bright, and it is going to be the maximum number of performers on stage at once,” she said.

“We are trying to get maximum participation and the maximum amount of students on stage.”

Bubb said a total of 50 students will be taking part on and off stage, and for around a quarter of the students it would be their first production, which fits in well with the themes of the musical.

“It hits home the messages of the musical, it is all about using your talents and skills and it is for everyone,” she said.

Calais Hill and Savannah Martin will be filling the main roles of Troy Bolton and Gabriella, while Ocean Waitokia will play Sharpay, Joseph Collins will play Ryan and Georgia Muir will play Ms Darbus.

A number of teachers will play cameo roles, including former Ashburton College student Jack Hanrahan, who will play the role of coach Bolton.

There will be three performances of the musical in the Ashburton College Auditorium on the 4th, 5th and 6th of July, with tickets available for purchase from the Ashburton College office.

By Jaime Pitt-MacKay © The Ashburton Guardian - 21 June 2019

The AshHutt girls took on Roncalli College in their brand new playing strip at Celtic on Wednesday night. Photo Jaime Pitt-MacKayAfter weeks on the road, the AshHutt girls’ rugby first XV finally got to play their first home game of the season on Wednesday night, and they made the most of the opportunity.

They gave their brand new playing strip the perfect debut, coming away with a 20-10 win over Timaru’s Roncalli College, although the Ashburton College and Mount Hutt College combined side didn’t have it all their own way at Celtic.

Roncalli always brought a rough and ready game to the table, and Wednesday was no exception, with the AshHutt girls put off their stride and going down a try early on.

They finally wore the opposition down though, gaining a bit of ascendancy and the tight forwards – particularly the front row of Sophie Adkins, Emma Rollinson and Jess Smith – dominating at set pieces and especially at scrum time, coach Grant Elvines said.

When a sustained period of attack resulted in a penalty five metres out from the Roncalli line, quick thinking by number eight Aidan Elvines saw her crash over from the quick tap for AshHutt’s first try.

From that point on AshHutt had the bulk of territory and possession and Madison Trusler-Clark scored out wide late in the half to send her side to the break 10-5 up.

The second half continued to be a torrid and at times bad tempered affair, but the AshHutt girls kept their composure and could have been well ahead, if it hadn’t been for some poor option taking and good Roncalli goal-line defence which kept the score in check.

Eventually the pressure did tell though, with tries to Megan Hurley and Manee Mannex-Peter extending their side’s lead, and a late Roncalli consolation try making for a final score of 20-10, which probably was a bit flattering to Roncalli, coach Elvines said.

He said forwards Grace Bleach, Megan Hurley and Tyla Harraway were into everything boots and all, while wing Tara Mellish was getting better with every game, and Olivia Bishop – who filled in at centre – was the female equivalent of Conrad Smith.

However, fullback Naumai Terekia showed she was more like Buck Shelford, playing the last 10 minutes with a bent and broken finger.

The win was AshHutt’s third of the season and this week they are set to head to Methven to play Craighead at 5pm on Wednes-day.

Meanwhile, the Mid Canterbury Combined boys’ team in the Crusaders region secondary schools’ rugby competition will be up against it today.

They’re yet to win a game in the UC Championship this season and today they’re in Christchurch to play the team that’s top-of-the-table, St Andrews.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 June 2019

Ashburton College sides came away with mixed results after taking on two of Christchurch’s top teams in Canterbury secondary schools’ basketball competitions this week.In the Whelan Trophy division one competition for girls, the Ashburton College girls faced top-of-the-table Christchurch Girls’ High School with a full squad of 12 players to play with.

It was a tough night at the office, with the Christchurch side running away with it 73-45, but there were plenty of positives to come out of it for the Ashburton girls.

Scoring was balanced across the team, but the title of the night’s top scorer went to Sophie Adams with 15, while Eilish Pierce added seven and Alena Patterson also in the mix and showing off her sweet outside touch.

Further down the court, excellent mid-court defence from Sam Tuck, Mae Patterson and Phinenah Teves led to some great turnover scoring opportunities.

They will now look to take the lessons learnt from that game into their next game, on Tuesday at the Oxford Street stadium against Middleton Grange, which will tip off at 5.15pm.

Meanwhile, Ashburton College’s boys in the Thomson Trophy division one competition took on Christchurch Boys’ High School and came away with a much better result on Tuesday night, winning 87-50.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 21 June 2019