Central Otago
By RHYS CHAMBERLAIN
It was finals time in the Central Otago hockey competition and in the senior women's match the Alexandra Waratahs beat Cromwell in an unexpectedly one-sided game.
The Waratahs put on a show, winning 5-0.
T. J. Lunn, playing at left half for Alexandra, was in dynamic form, being involved in most of the goals.
Cromwell goalkeeper Sarah Cook was its best performer.
In the men's final, Upper Clutha dealt to Queenstown 4-1 in an intense match.
That intensity resulted in some scrappy play from both sides but regardless of the loss Queenstown's Ewan Maxwell was named the player of the match.
Netball
With the Central Otago netball competition fast approaching its climax, the penultimate round saw all matches being hard fought with all teams anxious for a spot in the final.
Top-ranked Molyneux A was far too good for Roxburgh Kilties when it handed the Roxburgh side a 12-goal thumping, 38-26.
The defensive pairing of Tania Gillaly and Hannah Richardson for Molyneux caused the Roxburgh side all sorts of problems, Gillaly's multiple interceptions a highlight.
For Roxburgh, centre Trudie Marsh worked hard only to see a lot of her hard work wasted when the ball failed to go through the net.
Cromwell College A was too strong for bottom-of-the-table Hillview Black, winning by 46-18.
Star centre Vanessa Noble was again in outstanding form, forcing Hillview into all sorts of mistakes.
Cromwell College showed a growing maturity, as it has all season, playing a calm and controlled match.
The closest game of the weekend came when Ex Girls overpowered Dunstan High School A by just two goals, winning in the dying minutes 35-33.
Throughout, the match was hotly contested, the pupils with the edge, leading for the first three-quarters.
It was only in the final period that Ex Girls showed its experience to claw back and go on and win.
The finals will be held on Saturday afternoon in Alexandra, concluding with the premier 1 final between Molyneux A and Roxburgh Kilties.
North Otago
By TERRY O'NEILL
Kurow will meet Rovers in the premier grade netball final at the Hine Marae courts next Saturday after the semifinals last Saturday.
Kurow will start as a warm favourite as it maintained its unbeaten record with a 57-27 win over Waitaki Girls Red, while Rovers destroyed Athletic Maroon 44-21 in the other top four semifinal.
Kurow dominated the first half against Waitaki, establishing a 27-13 half-time lead.
Waitaki fought back to trail narrowly at three-quarter time before Kurow pulled away.
Chantelle Watson (GD) and Tiffany Banks (C) stood out for Waitaki while Kurow GK Lizzie McGregor inspired her defence.
Rovers started strongly against Athletic Maroon, leading 12-3 at the end of the first quarter.
Rovers extended this to 20-10 at half-time then pulled away in the second half, outscoring Athletic Maroon 24-11.
Paul Symes and Casey Stringer had sound games for Rovers while Sonya McDonald was solid on defence for Athletic.
Janelle Casey and Shaz Smedley shot well.
St Kevins A will play Valley Blue in the bottom four final after St Kevins beat East Otago 26-21 and Valley Blue held on to beat Athletic Gold 30-29.
After an even first half which saw the score tied at 13-13, Theresa Lamont (GS) and Hannah Matahaere (GA) gave St Kevins the edge.
The difference between the two teams was in the shooting circle where St Kevins missed only three shots and East Otago 15.
In the closest of semifinals, Valley Blue led Athletic Gold 16-14 at half-time.
Athletic came back to tie it up at 21-21 at three-quarter time before Valley grabbed the vital goal late in the game.
Amanda Notman (GK) led the Valley defence and was well supported by Brittany Moore (GD).
Kara McCone (GS) was outstanding and Louise Lane (WA) made some excellent tips and intercepts.
Kerry Robson (GD) was the pick of the Athletic side.
Football
Awamoa United could not finish with a flourish, going down to Pleasant Point 1-2 on Saturday in division one of the South Canterbury league.
Pleasant Point led 1-0 at half-time before Tony Moore got one back for Awamoa.
Meadowbank United finished undefeated with a 2-1 win over Hearts in Timaru in division two.
A Carl Burke goal gave Meadowbank a 1-0 half-time lead.
Hearts scored its goal in the second half with Andy Lane getting Meadowbank's second.
In secondary school football, the Waitaki Boys First XI beat Northern 6-0, with Heath Friedlander and Jackson Crane getting two goals each.
The Waitaki Boys Second XI was beaten 8-3 by Green Island Blue.
Callum Scott, Beniah Ferguson and Daniel Judd scored Waitaki's goals.
The Waitaki Boys Youth XI beat Mosgiel 4-0, with goals to Stephen Butler, Edward Hunt, Ryan Pullar and Edan Sutanapiler.
Hockey
Danny Simpson scored four goals as the St Kevins First XI beat Shamrocks 8-1 on Saturday.
Pirata Black accounted for St Kevins Red 7-1 with Ryan Craig scoring a hat trick.
In senior men's hockey, Temuka beat Tainui 4-1, Richard Knight scoring for Tainui.
The Hatch Boys beat Waitaki Girls Black 10-0, with Thomas Walters scoring three goals, while Primary Boys drew with Primary Girls 1-1.
South Otago
By NORMAN WOODS
Lawrence first five-eighth Sam Young was named the Southern Region player of the year at a function at the Toko club on Friday night.
Guest speakers for the evening were Otago loose forward and South Otago High School old boy Paul Grant, who spoke about his experiences with the New Zealand Sevens team, and former All Black prop Kees Meeuws, who spoke about rugby in France.
Young was instrumental in leading Lawrence to 14 wins from 14 club games.
Lawrence was runner-up in the Town-Country competition, before thumping Arrowtown 41-6 in the Otago Country final.
Young scored 188 points for the season, made up of nine tries, 15 penalties and 49 conversions.
He also made the Otago pre-season squad.
He was named premier club player of the year while the senior award went to Ben Kyle, from the Crescent club.
Lee Allan, of the South Otago High School First XV, was named most promising junior player.
Allan led the school team superbly and made the New Zealand Schools squad.
Robyn and Roger Calder (Toko) were named administrators of the year, with Marty Hurring (Clutha) junior administrator of the year.
Other awards went to: Robbie Van Ught (junior referee), Marius Hendricks (most improved referee), Lehana Van Ught (South Otago High School, best women's player), Clutha Valley (senior conduct) and the South Otago First XV (junior conduct).
