General: A wrap up of the weekend’s sport

Photo: Moturoa's women's team played Wellington United in the Central League on Saturday. Photo by John Velvin. 

With many of Taranaki’s winter sports underway, with some having reached the halfway point, here’s a wrap up of the action so far.

Football:

There had been a shake up in the local football competitions with the introduction of the Central League 2 competition to provide a better pathway for aspiring players and teams from the central North Island.

FC Western features in the new competition, while the other top Taranaki premier teams are included in a new western premiership league.

After eight rounds in the Central League 2 competition, FC Western sits in fourth-equal place on 12 points with Stop Out from Wellington.

FC Western has won four and lost three matches, including a 2-0 loss to Palmerston North United on Saturday away at Memorial Park.

The match featured two yellow cards against FC Western’s Jack Flood and Ben Hutchings in the first half.

United’s goals came in the 23^rd and 80^th minute.

FC Western’s next match is against Tawa away at Redwood Park on Saturday, May 7.

In the western premiership, which features teams from Manawatu, Whanagnaui, Horowhenua and Taranaki, FC Western’s reserve side is the strongest local team and sit in fifth place on 10 points after seven rounds.

They are followed by Moturoa (9 points), before New Plymouth Boys’ High School (5) and NP Rangers (0).

The next round of the men’s Federation Cup knock out competition will be played on June 2.

After a successful past two seasons in the Federation League, Moturoa’s women’s team is last place on the Central League table.

The side has only picked up one win from seven matches, with a 7-0 drubbing on Saturday against table toppers Wellington United.

Their next match is against the Wellington Phoenix Academy next weekend at Fraser Park in Lower Hutt.

Netball:

New Plymouth Old Boys leads defending champions Tysons Manu Toa in the Versatile-sponsored premier one netball league.

Old Boys have the edge in the competition with a two-point lead after four weeks.  

The two teams will square off on Thursday this week, which will give the competition an indication where the teams are at.

The highlight of the recent round played on Thursday was Tysons’ 112-20 win against the club’s development team.

Tysons Manu Toa’s Amber Ormond told The Most FM Sports Show the win was down to experience in her side. 

“It was unfortunate, but it was character building for them [Tysons' B team], hopefully it will make them stronger,” she said.

In other premier one results, Stratford-Eltham beat The Locals 61-31 and Old Boys had a 52-37 win against Inglewood.

Naumai leads the premier two competition, while Bell Block has a one point lead in premier three ahead of Raukura.

Hockey:

New Plymouth Boys’ High School is undefeated in Taranaki premier hockey after eight weeks.

The team, which has picked up two draws, claimed a 15-0 win against Stratford Broadway in the opening round of the competition at the end of March. The draws were against Te Kiri Rangers and Old Boys.

Boys High’s Max Vickers is the leading goal scorer with 10 goals from seven appearances.

On Wednesday night, Hawera plays Boys High at the New Plymouth turf from 8pm. In Stratford on Friday night, Stratford A plays Old Boys, followed by Broadway playing Te Kiri.

In the women’s competition, Old Boys White leads Old Boys Black by three points. The White team has won seven matches with one draw, while Old Boys Black has six wins, a loss and a draw.

Black’s Charlize Duncan has slotted 13 goals from eight matches.

Stratford A plays Taranaki Masters on Wednesday night followed by the two Old Boys teams. On Friday, the Wildcats play Hawera at New Plymouth.

Basketball:

In New Plymouth premier basketball, the Mambas and Old Boys lead the competition after three weeks with six points each.

The seven-team competition is played on Wednesday night and finals are scheduled for Saturday, September 20.

99ers Black has a one-point lead over the 99ers The Glassman team in the four-team women’s competition, matches are also played on Wednesday evenings.  

Horse Racing: 

Local horse Summer Breeze won race three at the New Plymouth races on Saturday afternoon.

Owned by Darren Goodin, a well-known and successful lawn bowler from the Paritutu club, the horse is trained by Tawhiti Hina.

The four-year-old mare beat Jamaica Farewell by 0.9L in the eight-race event.