MCN president Karla Newlands was acknowledged with a life membership.Two titans of netball in Mid Canterbury were honoured this week following years of longstanding service.

Mid Canterbury Netball (MCN) president Karla Newlands and veteran umpire Wendy Hopwood both received accolades at Monday’s MCN annual general meeting.

After a 25-year contribution to the local netball community, Newlands was presented with a MCN Life Membership Award.

It is the latest of numerous honours received during a decorated tenure within the organisation.

It is also a significant swansong for Newlands, with this week’s meeting her final act as MCN president.

She has been president of the organisation for the past six years and has been on the board for more than a decade.

It is understood that former Silver Fern Angela Mitchell will be stepping into the role of president accordingly.

Local netball insiders say that she has done an outstanding job as president, making tough decisions with the best interests of the Centre always at heart.

She was at the helm as the local game successfully transitioned from playing outdoors to a new look set of competitions at the EA Networks Centre.

Along with the life membership award, Newlands has been awarded the Mareen Cunneen Trophy twice, received a Fair Play Award at the Sports Awards, has been nominated for a Sport Canterbury Volunteer gong, the Old Collegians Cup, and has won awards through Netball New Zealand for Administrator of the Year, and a NNZ Service Award.

Wendy Hopwood received a MCN service award.Hopwood meanwhile received a MCN Service Award following a 22-year stint as an umpire.

In 2001, she passed her local level 3 practical exam and New Zealand theory parts A and B, the same year she became a local umpire examiner

Two years later she was invited to be a member of the Canterbury Umpire Development Squad.

Beyond her top billing as a local netball official, Hopwood has umpired at New Zealand Age Group Championships, umpired a Flames v Rebels National Bank Cup game along with competition curtain raisers and officiated at New Zealand Secondary School tournaments.

A member of the umpire committee since 1999, she has previously been awarded the Leech Cup for Senior Umpires and won a Sport Mid Canterbury Volunteer trophy.

By Adam  Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 December 2020

Tongan international Nasi Manu watches the Mid Canterbury Combined squad complete the bronco challenge. Photo supplied.Preparations for next season’s UC Championship began in earnest this week.

And the young group’s first hit-out at Ashburton College was bolstered by the presence of an inspirational international star.

Tongan and former Highlanders loose forward Nasi Manu lent a hand during the Mid Canterbury Combined’s 1st XV first pre-season training on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old took the players through some walking squats, before offering some words of encouragement to the group.

He then observed the squad as coach Shane Enright roped the youngsters into a bronco challenge.

Back in New Zealand after a five-year playing stint in Europe, Manu returned to Mitre 10 Cup action for Otago earlier this year before starring for Moana Pasifika in their inaugural showdown with the Maori All Blacks at the weekend.

It has been a remarkable return to the fold for Manu, after he was given the all-clear from a bout of testicular cancer between 2018 and 2019.

Manu was the co-captain of the Highlanders during their maiden Super Rugby triumph in 2015 and was set to lead Tonga during last year’s Pacific Nation’s Cup before injury struck.

He bounced back to make three appearances for the national team during last year’s Rugby World Cup campaign in Japan.

For the Spartans, many familiar faces are set to return for next year after a tough UC campaign earlier this year.

It was a challenging commencement to pre-season training as the squad were unleashed for a bronco challenge in 20 deg C heat.

Combined fullback Charlie Brown recorded the best time on Wednesday, completing the course in 4 minutes 39 seconds.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 December 2020

Allenton’s purple patch in cricket’s shorter format has continued.

The club’s Progressive Livestock side completed their fourth win in the local T20 competition on Wednesday, beating Lauriston by four wickets.

Angus Jemmett eyes up a delivery. Photo supplied.In the penultimate week before the Christmas break, the visitors nudged past Lauriston’s total with five balls to spare in the 18-over match-up.

The home team posted 112/8 from their allotted overs, centered around Alex Hooper’s ante-upping 31 from 15 balls.

Coming in at 51/3, Hooper cleared the rope four times before his 20 minute walk-on ended at the hands of Lachie Jemmett.

He may have got his side past the 100-run mark, however the hosts were unable to kick on over the final two overs with only a further eight runs added following Hooper’s late departure.

It was a steady start for Allenton in response, with Devon Flannery in good touch at the crease.

His fellow opener Jordan Bird vacated for 9 in the fifth over, before Liam O’Connor claimed the key wicket of Angus Jemmett moments later.

The Lauriston bowler kept his side in the hunt with key strikes at the top, adding the wickets of Flannery and Matt Tait during a productive four-over spell in the middle.

However the Meyrick brothers Tom and Jack – the latter coming off a mammoth 100 the previous week – consolidated the pursuit.

Tom was trapped in front for 13 with another 18 still required from 19 balls to give the hosts a glimmer.

However Jack and Sam Clarke guided the visitors home, reaching the target with the first ball of the final over to complete their fourth win of the competition.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 11 December 2020