Sports in Brief
The victorious team at the inaugral NBS Dancing for a Cause football fundraising tournament. Back from left: Rebecca Beer, Pedro Ivo, Sobi Akhavan, Ralph Murin Augusto, Diego Cattin, Justin Smith, and Caroline Bridi. Front from left: Zachary Wistrand, Sophie Mathews, and Colin Chapman. <em>Photo: Supplied. </em>
Football Fundy
Tahuna FC won the inaugural NBS Dancing for a Cause football fundraising tournament at Saxton Field at the weekend. The club entered four of the 12 teams in United for Hospice and one of them, “The Real Blacks” beat the Richmond Masters 1-0 in the final. Each team paid a $300 entry fee with the proceeds going to Nelson Tasman Hospice. Pictured above are the victorious Tahuna FC team.
Training camp turns road trip
Keen to gain some pre-season football competition, Nelson Suburbs hit the road on Thursday. The club’s coaching director, “Skippy” Stewart, had arranged to take his southern league squad to Hanmer Springs for a five-day training camp, with the highlight being a match against Waimakariri United. But when that side pulled out, another southern league team stepped up – Universities of Canterbury Association Football Club.
“University has come to the party quite late but that now means we’re going on to Christchurch on Saturday. The match is at English Park and we are looking forward to the run,” says Skippy.
What he would give to have a university in Nelson and the young footballers it could probably attract. At least Suburbs has its two leading goal scorers from last season returning, Englishman Lennon Whewell and American Trevin Myers.
While in Hanmer, the Nelson visitors will put on a fun day for the local kids and provide training sessions as well. And what better place for the post-match recovery on Sunday before heading home.
Sevens
Risealeaana Pouri-Lane got the ball rolling as the Black Ferns won the latest leg on the World Rugby Series circuit.
Risi scored a try in the opening minute of the final against Fiji in Vancouver and six of her teammates also touched down as they cruised home 41-7 to maintain their unbeaten record in Canada.
The Ferns had earlier outclassed arch-rivals Australia 29-10 in the semi-finals.
The results increased their lead in the standings to six points.
Mako on the move
It has been a nomadic existence for Tasman Mako winger Jack Gray since last year’s breakout NPC season.
The Kahurangi star was brought in to the All Black Sevens squad for the first two rounds of the world series and saw limited action off the bench across eight games.
The 24-year-old wasn’t required for the next two rounds, most recently Vancouver at the weekend where the team was beaten in the quarter-finals.
Jack has now been signed by the Hurricanes for four weeks.
He’s gone full circle, having been born in Porirua.