Millar Newlands makes a desperate dive whilst poaching a quick run against Canterbury Country. Photo Doug BovettMid Canterbury’s two age-grade rep sides fell to narrow defeats in their weekend hit-outs.

The under-17 boys’ outfit were edged by 2 wickets by Canterbury Country at the Lincoln Domain on Sunday.

Meanwhile it was a low scoring affair at Ashburton College as the under-15 side came up short against a Canterbury Country Development team.

It was the second match of the summer for the under-15s, after a 64 run loss to Canterbury Country seven days earlier.

However like the seniors who were in Invercargill for their first Hawke Cup challenge, it was their first fix of rep action for the under-17s.

The Mid Cantabrians won the toss and opted to bat, and they posted 189/7 from their allotted 50 overs.

A superlative 84-run third wicket partnership between Patrick Currie and Lachie Jemmett helped guide the visitors to a tricky total.

Jemmett top-scored with 54, while an unbeaten 43 from Gus Casey-Solly steered Mid Canterbury’s late innings charge.

Canterbury Country’s William Bretherton was the pick of the home team bowlers with 3-21 from his six overs.

Set 190 to win, Mid Canterbury had the inside running in the field as Canterbury Country lost wickets at regular intervals.

It looked a mountain too high for Canterbury Country once they slumped to 125/7 in the 25th over, still 65 runs required.

They sank deeper a few overs later when Archie Prain was run out for 28 to slide to 144/8.

However a heroic stand from their respective nine and ten batsmen, Rory Sloan and George Gunn, shepherded the Canterbury Country boys home in the 34th over to deny Mid Canterbury.

The pair put on 47 for the ninth wicket, with Sloan especially valuable with a quick-fire 39 from 30 balls to wrestle the game away from the visitors.

In the lower grade game, Mid Canterbury validated their decision to bowl first by skittling Canterbury Country for 52 inside 20 overs.

Emyln Rees, Hamish O’Reilly and Jack Keane all chipped in with two wickets apiece.

It would not be enough though, as Canterbury Country were even more devastating in the park, running through Mid Canterbury’s batting to be all out for 41.

Thomas Gunn was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors, taking 3-5 from 2.4 overs.

Both Mid Canterbury teams are back in action on Sunday against rep teams from South Canterbury.

The Mid Canterbury Primary Boys’ reps also face a Canterbury Country Development team in Darfield on the same day.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 December 2020

Georgina Kelly. Photo supplied.A couple of Ashburton netballers have received callups into the Tactix for off-season training.

Georgina Kelly and Kate Lloyd have been named as part of a 34-player summer training squad for the National Netball League (NNL).

The squad was revealed on Tuesday by the Christchurch-based franchise.

The two ex-Ashburton College pupils were part of the Lincoln University team which clinched Christchurch’s premier netball competition earlier this year.

Lloyd is no stranger to the Tactix after the 24-year-old was first called into the squad as injury cover back in 2017.

It has previously been a luckless period for the 1.92m defender after she missed out on a Mainland contract for the 2020 ANZ Premiership.

A move to the UK to play for the London Pulse in this year’s Netball Superleague was also halted by Covid.

By Adam Burns © The Ashburton Guardian - 3 December 2020

Tinwald Cycling 60km Handicap. Photo supplied.Mark Smitheram was the big winner on Sunday, as the Tinwald Cycling Club completed one last dress rehearsal before its blue ribbon events.

Riders contested the McIntosh Group, 60km handicap event around the Blackbridge block, seven days out from the club championships.

Smitheram was rewarded for some good recent form, taking victory in a hard-fought three-up sprint to the line to lift the Eddie Ward Shield.

Co-marker Marcel Smithers also continued her stellar season, securing second place spoils and receiving the Chris Ward Cup for the first woman home.

Paul Williams produced his best hit out of the season thus far to claim the final podium spot, and Wayne Whiting led the chasing bunch to claim fourth place.

John Uden and Nick Grijns were in the thick of the finish to round out the top six positions.

Scratch marker Steve Hands laid down another strong display to claim fastest time honours, riding the course in 84 minutes 43 seconds.

Co-markers Tony Ward and Kyle Gray secured second and third times respectively.

A good field of juniors and division 2 riders contested a 20km handicap event, with Mitch Brookland enjoying an immense outing.

He rode through from the back mark to take the win and record the fastest time, completing the circuit in 34 minutes 8 seconds.

Zoe Spillane also produced a top drawer performance, catching all bar the victorious Brookland en route to second place.

Tegan Marriott had a stand out ride to hold on bravely to clinch third place.

Hot on her heels was the ever consistent Ryan Gallagher, with Honor Bradford and Penny Marriott next home.

Kyla Smith had her first showing of the season take the win in division 2 and fastest time honours in a tight finish from Janette Hooper and Debbie Skinner.

Next week the club will race for club championship titles around the Wakanui Beach block.

© The Ashburton Guardian - 8 December 2020