D4 WEEKENDSPORT Saturday, October 26, 2013 THE PRESS, Christchurch BIRD IS THE WORD GOOD WEEK Forget about the dog, who ate the homework. NBA basketball gi- Rangiora’s Jake Lewis wins European Junior Cup motor- GAME ants, the San Antonio Spurs, ran into trouble after sending an intern to cycling. His fi nal race, a thriller, is on YouTube for any one Argentina to personally deliver a contract to their veteran guard Manu that wants to see it. * Young Canterbury hockey player Ginobili. All went as planned and armed with the freshly signed papers, Sophie Cocks gained inclusion in Black Sticks’ women’s DAY the club’s representative prepared for his long trip home. squad for fi rst time. * Lydia Ko will become a lot richer after announcing Here is your Disaster struck with a few hours to spare when the intern stopped she’s turning professional after three years as the top ranked amateur quintessential in the world. She has missed out on more than $NZ1.8m in earnings to kill time in a local park. As he paused by a fountain, his backpack sports guide containingg his ppassport,p mobile pphone, laptopp p and the all importantp because of her amateur status. * Canterbury rugby players Luke White- for this contract, were stolen by a swooping bird.bird. lock, Joe Moody and Dominic Bird are all set to debut for the All Blacks weekend. Enjoy. Former Tall Black Sean Marks, the SpSpurs’urs’ director after being named in Steve Hansen’s end of season tour squad. * Ma’a of basketball operations, saw the funny side. Nonu fi nally fi nds a Super Rugby home with Sir John Kirwan and the RUGBY “We were all waitiwaitingng fforor Manu’s Blues. Canterbury will be contract to show up on eBay. out to retain their monopoly on the It hasn’t yet.yet.”” BAD WEEK men’s NPC rugby The New Zealand Breakers dropped both of their games title tonight. The red- on the Sunshine Swing doubleheader. Odds on a fourth and-blacks are aim- consecutive championship? * Manchester United’s woeful ing for their sixth title start to the English Premier League continues with a 1-1 in a row when they stalemate with Southampton at home. They sit eighth on the table after take on Wellington in eight games. Maybe this should be in good week for all those Man U the NPC men’s rugby haters. * England’s Gareth Hock is given the boot from his side for the fi nal at the Cake Tin. Rugby League World Cup for “serious breaches” of team discipline. We SS1 7.35pm. can’t wait to fi nd out more on this one. * Brad Shields. The Wellington loose forward was unlucky to miss out on a spot in the All Blacks’ end The Canterbury women’s NPC side of season tour squad after a standout NPC campaign. play in the curtain raiser to the men’s fi nal, also in Wel- lington tonight. Top CENSORED Birdie, Eagle, Roo?: Caddy John ’Ronnie’ Roberts is treated to a surprise as he strolls across the sixth fairway at the Perth International last weekend. qualifi ers Canterbury Photo: GETTY IMAGES will be hoping to end Auckland’s strangle- hold on the trophy; they’ve won 12 of 13 championships. SS1 4.35pm. CRICKET Burnside West- University take on Lancaster Park- Woolston in the premier men’s one day competition. It New bum: You need a new should be a closely one mate, yours has got a fought contest crack in it. The Nude Blacks between two of the took on the Australian invita- better performed tional in their annual game in teams in the open- Dunedin last Saturday. Press ing rounds of the photographer Iain McGregor season. Head down snapped this cracking photo. to Garrick Park from 10.30am SOFTBALL UNWANTED IT’S JUST NOT CRICKETCRICKEKET THAT’S GOTTA HURT Sydenham Kereru A Christchurch sports fan was turned away from seeing the latter InI Beijing, B iji autumn t marks k cricket i k t fi ghting hti season, a traditional t diti l Chinese Chi Michel Jansen, manager of Dutch football side FC Twente, needed an unex- fresh from two wins stages of the NPC rugby semifi nal between Canterbury and Auckland sport with more than 1000 years of history. Similar to cockfi ghting, but pected trip to the dentist after one of his assistants knocked his tooth out in a last weeekend take at Addington last weekend. He arrived early in the second spell happy without the blood, the contests put two crickets into a ring the size of game. The pair were both on the bench for Twente’s encounter with champions on the Halswell to buy a ticket, but was told the ticket booth was closed and was re- a shoebox to determine which is the more aggressive. This year, more Ajax at the weekend when the incident happened. Excited to see his team Hornets in what will fused entry. Seems a little odd to us as thousands of empty seats went than 20 teams from across China competed in the two-day national take a 1-0 lead, Jensen’s assistant, Youri Mulder, jumped from his seat while be an entertaining begging. In the old days at cricket grounds the gates were opened after cricket fi ghting championships, putting forth their most prized contend- performing a manic fi st pump and duly landed a stinging uppercut right in the premier women’s clash at Mainland tea for anyone to come in. ers. All at some bloke’s house. Odd. chops of his boss. Ballpark 2 at 3pm. RUGBY FOOTBALL End to drought planned Ferns face formidable foe in Brendon Egan ‘‘I’m hugely desperate. It’s my Finals rugby is all about the clash with unbeaten USA [email protected] AT A GLANCE ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● 15th year and it will be my last,’’ team who maintain their com- she said. posure and make the most of their Tony Smith He will know the Football Ferns Valais Cup in Switzerland last ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● Veteran Canterbury No 8 Casey Robertson has been a vital fig- ❯❯❯❯ Canterbury: Amiria Rule, Olivia opportunities. Sherratt said his players and their style from his month after beating Brazil – who Robertson is sick and tired of being ure for New Zealand since Bird, Corrina Whiley, Tara Horsnell, side needed to hold their nerve in The Football Ferns should be pick- time across the Tasman, but a for- play the US next month – and the bridesmaid. debuting in 2002, and said it was Dani Gaze, Chartnay Poko, Kendra the opening quarter. Canterbury ing an ex-All White’s brain as they mer All White could also provide China. After 15 years with the team annoying the women’s NPC trophy Cocksedge, Casey Robertson, Vicky have the bulk of the side who con- prepare to play the most successful Ferns coach Tony Readings with ‘‘USA have strength in depth in and five runners-up medals, the had always eluded her. Campbell, Valerie Davis, Leysa tested last year’s final, and women’s side in world football. an invaluable insight into the US every position and some of the best 32-year-old would love nothing bet- On several occasions Canter- Matity, Kim Smith, Stephanie Te Sherratt said they had enough The United States, who meet the team. players in the world,’’ Readings ter than to beat Auckland in bury had come close to upsetting Ohaere-Fox (c), Kristina Illston, experience and firepower to win Ferns in San Francisco on Monday Aaran Lines, a Cantabrian who said. ‘‘They are very hard to break today’s women’s NPC rugby final Auckland – who have won 12 of the Abby Ley. Reserves: Amelia Deans, this time. (NZT), are on a 36-game unbeaten played for New Zealand at 1999 and down and have numerous quality Jess Fibbes, Stacey Anderson, and get her hands on the silver- past 13 titles – but had fallen short. ‘‘We’ve just got to see out the streak and haven’t lost at home in 2003 Confederations Cup finals, attacking weapons at their dis- Whitney Hansen, Dianne Hiini, ware at last. Robertson commutes from her Jerusha Whiley, Erica Prescott. first 20 minutes of the game and let 74 matches. coaches US Women’s Pro League posal. Robertson’s team-mates will be Wyndham farm in Southland for ❯❯❯❯ Auckland: Marina Apfel, Mele all the emotion get out of it. We They beat Australia – tradition- club, Western New York Flash. ‘‘Theyhavealotofpace eager to send the most-capped games and said there was no worse Hufanga, Claire Richardson, know skill-wise and tactically-wise ally a tough nut for the Ferns to His charges include legendary throughout the team and are player in the history of Canterbury feeling than losing a final after all Onjeurlina Leiataua, Chanelle we’re a better team. We’ve got to crack – 4-0 in Texas last weekend US striker Abby Wambach, who physically imposing. They are women’s rugby out on a high. the dedication and sacrifice during Wright, Bella Milo, Emma Jensen make sure we do the simple things and have drawn just nine of those has scored 162 goals in 209 inter- strong in all moments of the game She is keen for one final season, the season. (c), Lydia Crossman, Leanne really well. That first game really last 74 games on home soil. nationals since 2003, and and do not allow opposition to eas- but is unlikely to be available for ‘‘You work all year for them.