Old Boys arrived at Valley headquarters without their playing uniforms and the kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes.
In other games Maheno beat Athletic Marist, 46-43, and at Kurow bottom team Excelsior pushed the home side before Kurow got home 33-31.
Maheno and Athletic Marist produced a high-scoring exhibition, scoring 15 tries. Athletic led 31-22 at the break with an early try to Taina Tamou before Maheno through tries to Robbie Smith and halfback Jordan Oatley took the lead.
Athletic came back to take a 24-22 lead before going to the break 31-22 in front.
Tries to winger Jacob Day and midfielder Sam Tatupu put Maheno in front 36-31 and a Llew Johnson try and a Tatupu conversion took Maheno out to a 43-31 lead.
Going into the last 10 minutes Athletic finished strongly with tries to fullback Ross Lewis, loose forward Junior Fakatoufifita and No 8 Kafa Katoa but it came up short.A much-improved performance by Excelsior gave it a bonus point.
Kurow raced out to a 25-12 halftime lead with Ben Nowell, Jason Angland and loose forward Harvard Fale scoring tries and first five-eighth Donald McDonald adding 10 points with his boot.
Prop Thomas Shields and No 8 Mika Mafi touched down for Excelsior.
Excelsior had the better of the second spell but it just fell short of the deserved draw by just two points. Mafi, Zac Young and Matt Duff scored Excelsior’s second half tries.
At Weston a Sam Sturgess try opened the scoring for Valley before Sale Pi’i scored Old Boys’ first try. A second Sturgess try was matched by Old Boys’ Paea Ala before Valley centre Matt Vocea touched down. Old Boys took the lead with a try to centre Taani Vaitohi and an Inoke Naufahu conversion and a Bulitavu try saw Old Boys go to halftime up 22-20.
Flanker Anthony Amato extended Old Boys lead with Naufahu’s conversion taking his side to a 29-20 lead. Valley charged back with tries to Jake Greenslade, a penalty try and a try to prop Logan Dunlop to take Valley out to a 39-29 lead. A second Bulitavu try closed the gap to three points before Valley prop Meli Kolinisau scored for Glen Sturgess to convert for its 46-36 win.
Netball
The two unbeaten teams in premier netball met in the key game on Saturday. Last year’s champion Valley Gold, unbeaten with five from five, lined up against St Kevin’s College A which had four wins and a draw.
The College side triumphed, defeating Valley Gold 40-34. The win puts St Kevin’s at the top of the table after the first round. St Kevin’s started well with Molly Kay and Jamiee Trainor dominating the shooting circle and Georgia Oakes creating lots of turnovers at wing defence. Leanne Mavor led from the front for Valley Gold at both goal attack and centre.
Sarah Newlands played well, coming on at goal keep but it was too little too late, as the school girls held the lead for the rest of the game. St Kevin’s led at the end of each quarter and gradually extended the margin.
Maheno continued its late first round form beating Athletic Maroon 33-15. Both teams took time to settle into the game.
Shannon Vince created more options for the Maheno feeders when she came on at goal shoot. Sonya McDonald moved into goal defence for Maheno, where she restricted passing opportunities for Athletic Maroon. Waitaki Girls Wildfire made it three wins from six games when it defeated Valley Silver 35-15.
Football
It was not a successful round for local clubs in the South Canterbury League on Saturday. Competition leader West End handed Meadowbank First XI a 7-0 defeat in Timaru and in the second division, West End-Mountainview defeated the Meadowbank second XI 4-0 after leading 3-0 at halftime.
Indoor bowls
In the pairs tournament on Friday night, the St Pat’s team of Colin Tipper (s) and Mary Watson beat the Meadowbank team of Gordon Robb (s) and Diana McGregor 7-3 in the final. Bede Mallon and Joy Gibson took the Yankee bowls from Wally Strachan and Rosalie Newlands.
- Terry O'Neill
