THE PRESS, Christchurch Monday, February 6, 2012 SUPERSPORT B11 RUGBY FOOTBALL Big man burns Halai likened up Hawke’s Bay Tony Smith ‘‘George was on fire!’’ That was Canterbury United coach to big Jonah Keith Braithwaite’s succinct tribute to big George Slefen- Toby Robson THE RESULTS kato player profile listing his dorfas who struck five goals best effort at 10. as the Dragons hammered Frank Halai has become an New Zealand beat Fiji 24-7 in It may also be that the Hawke’s Bay United 7-0. overnight enigma to many the Wellington final on pressure of being ‘‘The next The Australian import after lighting up the Welling- Saturday night at Westpac Jonah’’ was an unhelpful tag. almost doubled his season’s ton sevens with a perform- Stadium. Tries to Frank Halai But Tietjens has a knack of goal tally to 11 to race to the ance spookily reminiscent of (2), Tomasi Cama and D J getting the best out of players top of the Golden Boot charts another famous Tongan-born Forbes led the Kiwis to a and seems to have taken Halai for the topscorer in the ASB New Zealand wing. comfortable win against Fiji to new heights this season. national premiership as Can- Not since the days of Jonah who managed one try He is the leading tryscorer terbury leapt to second place Lomu has a player run over, through Waisea Nayacalevu. on the current IRB World on the points table. George Slefendorfas round and through so many New Zealand leads the Series with 24 from just four Slefendorfas, 24, equalled players with such regularity international series with 73 tournaments and is now the the league record for most target again when Hawke’s as Halai did over the two days points, Fiji is second three strike weapon in the New goals in a game and scored Bay failed to clear an Andy of the Hertz Sevens. points back and England is Zealand side. four goals in the first half at Barton corner in the 28th It left everyone, including third with 64. It comes a year after Dec- English Park on Saturday. minute, and completed a first- his coach Gordon Tietjens lan O’Donnell lit up Westpac But the Cairns-raised for- half hat-trick six minutes and team-mate Hosea Gear, Stadium. He has graduated to ward, deflected the praise to later with a quick turn in the wondering why the 23-year- tremendous for a young the Chiefs Super Rugby squad his team-mates. ‘‘We are box to rifle home a shot. old wing has not advanced Tongan boy at 23 . It’s his this year. working on plenty of struc- Daniel Glozier delivered a further in the game than the ability to just beat players one Mark Jackman, who ture and the more I score, it good cross for White to make fringes of Waikato’s ITM Cup on one. He has a great fend played every minute of his seems to help the boys more,’’ it 4-0 and Slefendorfas added a squad. and he’s really quick.’’ first IRB tournament after Slefendorfas said. fifth on the stroke of halftime. ‘‘I’ve been watching At 1.95m and from the Toby Arnold’s serious knee Braithwaite was more Any hope Hawke’s Bay Franky for the last couple of same Wesley College back- injury just 15 seconds into effusive. ‘‘He led the line and had that Canterbury would years and I’m surprised he’s ground as Lomu, the inevi- New Zealand’s first match, is was brave and quick, and cruise in the second spell was not in that [Super Rugby] table comparisons are being also a promising prospect. showed some good touches. dashed when captain Aaron setup yet,’’ Gear said after made, but they are not new. Throw in young midfielder ‘‘It’s not that they [Hawke’s Clapham converted a penalty watching Halai storm over for Halai was the subject of a Charles Piutau and Tietjens’ Bay] were bad. Everything we just after the restart after two decisive tries in the final TVNZ Close Up report back in talent factory is ticking along did in the attacking third, our Barton was bundled over in against Fiji. ‘‘After tonight I 2007 when he was posting 11s as efficiently as ever. movement and our finishing the box. Barton turned pro- think he showed everyone 100m times and has been New Zealand’s win, their was just topnotch.’’ vider for the seventh and last how capable he is of stepping quietly achieving milestones sixth Wellington title, means Canterbury have now won goal, with Slefendorfas giving up and after training with ever since. they will head to Las Vegas three games on the bounce for keeper Shaun Peta no chance him I’m confident he will be He starred for the New today as the outright series the first time in the from 10 metres. there one day soon.’’ Zealand sevens team last leaders, three points clear of franchise’s history. Meanwhile, Waitakere lost Said Tietjens: ‘‘I’m really season, his first, with 35 tries Fiji. The Bay challenge was 3-1 at Auckland City to allow staggered I still have him. He on the run to the overall title. Gear will return to High- silenced as soon as Slefen- Canterbury to advance to did the same for me last year But Tietjens’ mention of a landers duties with his place dorfas opened his account in second place. to win a World Series, he’s a level 14 score in the beep test going to Taranaki’s Waisake the 17th minute, courtesy of a Scorers: Canterbury United 7 (George really good footballer. may explain why Halai has Naholo, while Arnold’s great ball by his unselfish Slefendorfas 5, Darren White, Aaron Giving thanks: New Zealand star Frank Halai celebrates a try in the Wellington sevens final at the Westpac Clapham pen) Hawke’s Bay United 0. ‘‘He’s about 110kg and ran suddenly jumped to even replacement is still to be ann- striking partner, Russell HT: 5-0. Referee: Jamie Cross (Welling- a 14 in a beep test, which is higher levels with his Wai- ounced. Fairfax NZ Stadium on Saturday. Photo: AFP Kamo. The big man was on ton). BOXING SPEEDWAY Morgan fights on for Olympic spot American drivers Richard Knowler and only lost by a few points dominate sprints so, hopefully, I can get to go to Bowyn Morgan’s hopes of Weave and reach: Australia and have a chance Gavin Searle boxing at the Olympics are Canterbury’s Todd of going to the Olympics,’’ still alive. Commons, right, Morgan said. American drivers dominated the New Zealand While Canterbury team- attacks under the For Commons, who flew sprintcar championship raced over two nights at mates Todd Commons’ and reach of Tameana back from Brisbane to Ruapuna Speedway. Nort Beachamp’s expecta- Puhi, of Auckland, on promote his Olympic hopes, Open wheel superstar Sammy Swindell lifted tions of going to London Saturday. the tournament proved a the title on Saturday night from defending title vanished when they failed to Photo: JOHN KIRK- disappointment. While he holder Jonathan Allard, with Austen Wheatley advance to the finals, Morgan ANDERSON/FAIRFAX NZ beat Auckland’s Tameana rounding out the podium to claim third place won the welterweight grade Puhi to qualify for the 64kg after passing Auckland’s Dean Brindle on the after stopping both opponents final, he suffered a mouth cut, final lap of the 25-lap final. before the final bell in the bout, Morgan, 23, had his counter-attacked, the bout which required six stitches, Both nights produced some of the best Oceania trials at the Lincoln opponent creaking at the was stopped by the referee and failed his medical yester- sprintcar racing seen in Christchurch, with the Events Centre at the weekend. knees with a left uppercut and after repeated eight-counts. day morning. 17 races producing 12 different winners. Morgan’s selection in the ensured the fight never went Now Morgan, who works Lightweight Beachamp In the final, Swindell opened up a lead which New Zealand team for next into the third after delivering as a slaughterman at the was beaten by Central Auck- he maintained to the finish after Allard’s car month’s Oceania champion- a dynamite left hook. Belfast freezing works, and land’s Chad Milnes in their tightened up. Brindle also suffered mechanical ships in Canberra, where he Wellington’s Leroy Hind- has impressed with his relent- 60kg bout and did not make problems. needs a gold medal to be ley was also given a liberal less attacking style, is waiting the final. Australian driver Allan Woods rolled his car considered for the Games, taste of Morgan’s gloves in the for the national selectors to Auckland heavyweight heavily in hot laps on Friday evening and rebuilt should be a formality. next fight. Although Hindley confirm his trip to Canberra. Joseph Parker beat Auck- his car overnight, but was ruled out of racing on Against Manawatu’s survived a flurry of blows in ‘‘I recently fought the land’s Patrick Mailata 13-8 Saturday, having swapped a chassis which is not Josiah Meehan in his first the second round, and Australian No 1 welterweight on points. permitted under Speedway New Zealand rules. COMMUNITY FUNDING SEMINARS 2012 Christchurch High STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES FUND - SMALL GRANTS FUND School Old Boys Rugby Football Club If you are a Community Organisation or a Sports Group considering applying to these (Inc.) funds, you may wish to attend one of the following information seminars or drop-in Est 1901 sessions to find out more about the funds.