INSIDE: Boxing on Sport B15

Sports Editor: Greg Ford Contact: [email protected] 03 943 2752 THE PRESS, Thursday, September 29, 2011 B16

RUGBY LEAGUE NETBALL Canty on top Manly look as semifinals begin today to veterans THE NUMBERS Matt ■ Canterbury 48 Manly are convinced their Richens (14-13-10-11) Wellington wealth of grand final experi- Porirua 44 (12-9-13-10) ence will give them the upper hand in Sunday’s NRL clash NPC SHOOTING against the Warriors. ■ Canterbury: Sophia Fenwick The Sea Eagles will have a 23/27 85.2%, Ellen staggering 10 players with Teenage goal shoot Sophia Halpenny 25/36 69.4%. grand final experience run- Fenwick has slotted into the ■ Wellington: Jezrae Te Runa- ning onto the ANZ Stadium Canterbury provincial netball Morehu 29/36 80.6%, pitch – including eight from team like a seasoned cam- Jamilah Gupwell 15/20 the club’s 2008 premiership- paigner and last night helped 75%. winning side – ready to guide her side qualify top at the a host of young blood. national tournament. In contrast, the Warriors Fenwick’s Canterbury side have just three – Lance held off a determined Welling- I played OK I Hohaia, who was a utility for ton outfit 48-44 at Porirua’s Te the Warriors in the 2002 grand Rauparaha Arena to seal the think, but there’s final against the Roo- top seeding going into today’s ‘ still more to do. sters, and former Parramatta Unfinished business: Warriors wing farewells fans at semifinals. pair and Feleti Airport yesterday. Photo: PETER MEECHAM/FAIRFAX NZ Canterbury, the defending Sophia Fenwick Mateo, who played in a losing champions, finished the Canterbury goal shoot effort in 2009 alongside cur- young counterparts during these younger guys, is when I round robin unbeaten and rent Sea Eagle . the week and on the field to was a younger bloke, you play Bay of Plenty tonight in to talk a bit more. But it’s nice Manly’s first-time grand ensure they could capitalise don’t really appreciate it too the 1v4 semi while Wellington to get a win up here, the finalists are Will Hopoate, 19, on the energy that the new much that it’s hard to get to will play Otago in the other. intensity’s a bit different so , 21, Jamie breed would bring on grand here,’’ Rodney said. Fenwick, 18, was the best it’s good to win.’’ Buhrer, 21, Tony Williams, 22, final day. Meanwhile, shooter on court last night, Canterbury led early in the Daly Cherry-Evans, 22, Darcy ‘‘I think it’s good to have a has been offered a contract landing 23 of her 27 attempts clash, but took until the final Lussick, 22, and George Rose, mix of both,’’ Ballin said. extension by the Warriors. from goal shoot as her minutes to ensure the win. 28, who would have played in ‘‘There’s the experience of It’s understood the club, partnership with Ellen Hal- They pulled away numer- deciders in either 2007 or 2008 guys who have been there which earlier this year looked penny continues to develop. ous times, but the odd Can- if not for a broken leg that before, but the guys who set to cut him loose, has Halpenny, only 21 but with terbury mistake or a quick sidelined him for 18 months. haven’t just enjoy it and bring offered him an upgraded deal four years trans-Tasman three goal run from Welling- Veteran forward Shane that enthusiasm because they that could see him stay in experience, is easily the ton kept the home side in it. Rodney, who won a grand haven’t had it before.’’ Auckland for at least the next senior partner in the relation- Defensively Canterbury final with Galuvao at Penrith ‘‘They’re lapping it up and four years. ship. were far superior and in 2003, said the disparity in bringing the energy to the Taylor has not yet put pen Since Anna Thompson left although they attracted more experience was something side. I think to have that blend to paper. to join the Silver Ferns, of the umpires’ attention, they Manly should utilise. and mix of players is a really He has left contract talks Halpenny has moved to goal also got under the skin of the ‘‘A lot of guys [in the team] good thing.’’ on hold until he completes a attack and the youngsters’ Wellington attack. Bay of have been in grand finals Rodney was a bright-eyed more pressing assignment, After the ball: Canterbury goal shoot Sophia Fenwick tries to secure possession during the match against combination is continuing to Plenty should offer little before so they know what to 20-year-old when he picked up namely helping the Warriors Wellington at Te Rauparaha Arena in Wellington last night. Photos: CHRIS SKELTON/FAIRFAX NZ improve. resistance today on expect from the week,’’ his premiership ring with the win their first NRL title in Coach Tania Hoffman said yesterday’s showing. Rodney said. . Sydney this weekend. the pair last night played ‘‘not They were outgunned 58-45 Crafty hooker , He explained this week ‘‘I haven’t signed anything too bad’’ which is high praise by Otago, but played most of who scored the opening try in what advice he would give the yet,’’ he said. from the coach who is always the game without influential Manly’s 2008 win over Mel- likes of Cherry-Evans, Foran ‘‘Right now, nothing else wanting the best from her defender and former Silver bourne, said the senior Sea and Hopoate. matters aside from this side. Fern squad member Jodi Tod. Eagles would shield their ‘‘One thing I’ll be telling Sunday’s grand final.’’ AAP ‘‘There’s still things they Although they lost by 13, can need to work on, same as BOP conceded most of that the rest of the team,’’ she said. advantage in the final spell ‘‘But she [Fenwick] did when their playoff place was well against a franchise goal already confirmed. Cleary: ‘Just another game’ keep [Bessie Manu], maybe They also have enough I’m just hard to please.’’ experience to cause a hassle if Fenwick agreed with her Hoffman’s side don’t get on Ben Stanley Sydney his side takes on the Sea Ea- off, it’s just another game.’’ coach and was more con- top of them early. gles in Sunday’s Grand Final. Cleary, with his usual cerned with the team winning That said, Canterbury beat Past all the hype, glamour and He’s been feeling the steely poker face, even admit- than with her own showing. them by 19 when they met in flashing bulbs, Warriors excitement, this week, sure, ted to a touch of sentimen- ‘‘It’s good to get a win pool play and go into today’s coach firmly but insists that once referee tality this week as he bids the against them. They’re a tough game as the hottest of believes the NRL Grand Final Tony Archer blows his club farewell for a second side to play and that’s the favourites. is ‘‘just another game’’. whistle, it’s all down to 80 time, heading to the Panthers most physical game we’ve Auckland-Waitakere Cleary, famously, has been minutes of . to coach after season’s end. had.’’ ended Southland’s chance at there before, scoring half the ‘‘It’s all about focusing on The difference from 2002 is She said the side had been the title by upsetting them Warriors points in their 30-8 the game itself, even when he can’t just focus on doing told to expect the rough and 54-44 and bumping them down loss to the Roosters in the 2002 you get on the ground. The his job right on Sunday; he tumble and she was pleased to fifth place and into the Big Decider. arena, the atmosphere is just has to ensure all 17 players she didn’t let it affect her relegation battle. Nine years later, and the amazing.’’ are hitting their straps. shooting. In division two, Western man with arguably the most ‘‘There are the national ‘‘It’s been my last action ‘‘I played OK I think, but thumped Tasman 67-26, Coun- ice-cool temperament in New anthems, that sort of stuff for the club on both fronts, so there’s still more to do. The ties-Manukau were too good Zealand or Australian sports which you don’t usually do. there’s a little bit of nostalgia Ready to pounce: Canterbury defender Charlotte Kight tries to spot a path through the Wellington defence in combination [with Halpenny] for Eastern, winning 57-27 and will be in the coaches’ box as But once the ball gets kicked there,’’ he said. Fairfax NZ the capital last night. is getting there, we just need Waikato beat North 60-45.

FOOTBALL Imports boost Canty United’s premiership chances

Canterbury United are set to ex-All Whites Gareth Rowe the North league non-league newspaper. He Braithwaite said Canter- Dragons midfielder Paul mead Bays free kick specialist field imports from Australia Tony (family reasons) and Glen to Melbourne club Heidelberg was born in the UK but came bury were also currently Dirou was back from army Geoff MacIntyre and left-sided and England in this year’s Collins (police training before joining Sunshine to as an infant negotiating with another UK- duties and had resumed Western player Blair Duncan. national football premiership. Smith duties). George Cross. He also played and grew up in Auckland based player who had played training alongside most of last Braithwaite said the Coach Keith Braithwaite Braithwaite said Slefen- in the Swedish third division. until the family returned to more than 250 games in the season’s regulars. Dragons are training at confirmed yesterday that dorfas and White were both ‘‘He trained with us [on England in his mid-teens. northern premier league. Goalkeeper Adam High- Rugby Park until the new attacking player George National league ‘‘around 22 or 23’’ and would Tuesday night] and he looks The advertisement also He was ‘‘very disap- field and striker Chris Ander- artificial surface at English Slefendorfas had joined the bolster Canterbury’s attack like an athletic player with a flushed out a few potentially pointed’’ to lose Solomon son, who played for Otago Park is available. Dragons from Victorian state for the ASB premiership, very good first touch,’’ Braith- useful contacts for Canter- Islander Gagame Feni to United last year, were also in ‘‘All the council grounds league club Sunshine George southern league premier div- which kicks off in late waite said. bury, including a former Waitakere United after Can- the mix along with Coastal are closed [for football] at the Cross. ision club Frome Town. October. White was one of ‘‘30-plus’’ English non-league team-mate terbury gave the teenager his Spirit keeper Matt Thomas, moment, so we owe a big Darren White, a wide They will help fill the Slefendorfas was born in UK players who responded to of Braithwaite’s, who is now national league break last who is training as an out- thank you to the Canterbury midfielder or striker, arrives Dragons’ roster, which has Papua New Guinea but grew an advertisement Braithwaite the under-20 coach at English year. fielder, Nelson Suburbs skip- Rugby Union for letting us on Sunday from English been depleted by the loss of up in Cairns and moved from placed in a leading English premier league club Everton. Braithwaite said former per Mark Johnston, Ferry- use their facilities.’’

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