There were mixed results for Mid Canterbury’s secondary school sports teams around the country yesterday as the national secondary schools’ tournament week kicked off.

Down in the deep south in Invercargill, a Nick Eden hat-trick helped the Ashburton College boys’ first XI football team get off to a perfect start at their Linwood Tournament.

They took on Verdon College and won 6-0, with Eden scoring three goals, Ben Holland scoring two, and Keegan Gentle adding the other.

But in their second game they took on Massey and things didn’t go so well.

They lost 4-0 and coach Mike Pearce said they were simply outplayed on the day by a stronger team.

In Timaru at the Johnson Cup hockey tournament, Ashburton College’s boys’ first XI took on Cashmere yesterday morning and went down 2-0.

But it was a close match, with Cashmere only scoring their second goal with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

Team manager Jason Vannini said Cashmere simply had more possession and his side’s goalie saved a number of shots.

“We had a few on target, but not enough territory in the game,” Vannini said.

In Invercargill at the Audrey Timlin Memorial Tournament, the Ashburton College girls’ hockey first XI were a bit slow to wake up in their first outing against Lincoln High School and were down two goals by half time.

They came out stronger in the second half though and Jenna Turnbull finished off a good team goal, but unfortunately the clock ran out before they could get any more, going down 2-1.

In Queenstown, at the Rural Livestock Junior Rugby Tournament, the Ashburton College Under-15 team suffered a narrow loss in their opening game, beaten by Gore High School 22-17, before taking on Wakatipu late yesterday afternoon.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 September 2018

The Ashburton College junior boys’ rugby side takes a break from their tournament in Queenstown to pose for a photograph in front of the snow-capped mountains.Ashburton College’s golf team’s shot at national glory has fallen short.

Playing in the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Golf Championships in Palmerston North the team of Brent Kirdy, Wilson Hii, Josh Ackerley and Brayden Wood had a tough day at the office on Monday, ending up 16th out of 16 teams.

The championships were a one-day, 36-hole event, with Ackerley producing the team’s best performances, shooting an 83 and an 86.

While the team was done, Ackerley was staying on to compete in the New Zealand Under-19 Championships.

Meanwhile, down in Dunedin it was better news for the Ashburton College A netball team, with two wins from two outings on day one ensuring they’d finish in the top 16.

They beat Mt Aspiring College 43-21 before taking out a nail-biter against Otago Girls’ High School 34-33, and a win over Nelson College yesterday morning would have seen them top their pool, but they went down 41-28.

They then took on Rangiora in their first cross-pool game yesterday afternoon and lost 40-25.

In the netball tournament’s C grade, Mt Hutt College picked up two wins on day one – beating Rolleston College 25-20 and East Otago 38-11.

Yesterday they beat Cheviot 30-29 and Aparima College 23-19.

In Blenheim at the Gary Snowden tournament, the Ashburton College football girls’ 1st XI played well in their first game, coming away with a 3-3 draw against Villa Maria, with Amy Pearson nabbing a hat-trick for the Ashburton side.

Their second game against Avonside Girls’ High School was neck and neck early on and Avonside led 2-1 at half-time.

Despite struggling with dismal weather and fatigue the Ashburton girls levelled it at 2-all, but Avonside ran away with it from there, winning 6-2.

Up the front for Ashburton Pearson once again shone scoring both goals, with fantastic linking and attacking from Maggie Tarry, while down the other end Gemma Taylor played well in the goal, saving many other shots.

In Invercargill, at the Audrey Timlin Memorial Tournament the Ashburton College girls’ hockey first XI had a second loss late on day one, going down 3-1 to Craighead, with Kate Donald scoring their sole goal off a penalty corner.

They played Cashmere yesterday afternoon and were unlucky not to score in what was an even game, going down 1-0, with two pool play games remaining today.

In Timaru at the Johnson Cup, the Ashburton College boys’ first XV hockey side went down 3-0 to Taradale High School on Monday night, spending a lot of time on defence and unable to convert the chances they did get in the second half.

Yesterday they took on Hutt Valley High School and the game ended in a 1-all draw, with both goals coming indirectly from first-half penalty corners and neither team able to break the deadlock in the second half.

In Queenstown at the Rural Livestock Junior Rugby tournament, Ashburton College followed up a loss in their first game with a win in their second, beating Wakatipu High School 33-14, but lost to Waimea 19-12 yesterday morning.

Meanwhile in Ashburton, in the Chris Arthur Cup hockey tournament for girls’ second XI sides, after two games each it was Christchurch Girls’ High School and St Cuthbert’s College on top of pool A, and St Margaret’s College and Westlake Girls’ High School on top of pool B.

Tomorrow, the Schick Southern Cup basketball tournament will get under way at the EA Networks Centre, with the Ashburton College senior boys’ first game set to be against Cashmere B at 8.30am.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 5 September 2018

Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito William Sio, addresses a crowd at Ashburton College on Friday. Photo Katie ToddWith more than 62 per cent of Pacific people now being born in New Zealand, it’s time to consider how to make the place home, an auditorium full of guests at Ashburton College was told on Friday.

Minister for Pacific Peoples, Hon Aupito William Sio, visited the college to hear how Ashburton’s Pacifica youth are faring.

“When parliament is not sitting I try to be out and about in the communities,” he said.

“I want to hear about the dreams and aspirations of younger people.”

He said he had a longstanding relationship with Ashburton College, who contribute annually to Polyfest and other initiatives.

It was not just students, but parents and teachers who gathered to hear him speak.

Before splitting up into groups to think and share their ideas, Sio gave them a number of points to consider.

“What does success look like or feel like?

“Do you think language, faith and culture are something you will want to pass on?” he said.

“Do you still feel the link back to the islands?

“Do you feel a sense of belonging?”

Guests were also challenged to think about any issues or concerns they may have for the future – be it the sale of alcohol or the safety of their families.

By Katie Todd © The Ashburton Guardian - 2 September 2018