Unable to train or travel north before Saturday’s scheduled noon kick-off, Christ’s College’s master in charge of rugby Steven Dods was philosophical.
“The good thing is the New Zealand schools Top 4 (competition), which sort of governs when these games are played goes until mid-September, which means there’s no rush to get all these competitions finished,” he said
“Hopefully lockdown will be lifted (on Friday) and they’ll just put everything back a week.”
Since the Crusaders region first XV championship started in 2001, Christ’s College have made the final twice - the inaugural edition and 2018 where the trophy was awarded to Christchurch Boys’ High School because they scored more tries in an 18-all stalemate.
"That was tough, we had a dropped goal to win it at the end and it fell short," said Dods.
That setback can be consigned to history if Christ’s College, who needed a final round victory over St Andrew's College - including a bonus point - to sneak into the semi-finals ahead of St Thomas of Canterbury College, can produce another upset.
They beat top qualifier St Bede's College 26-23 last Saturday to set up a final with perennial challenger Nelson College. The two-time champions and seven-time runner-up were too strong for Timaru Boys’ High School, triumphing 22-10.
Christ’s College lost 27-25 to Nelson College last month, one of three games they lost in the dying stages before a late season resurgence.
"We had a kick to beat St Thomas in injury time and lost that, we were close to Timaru and lost that," Dods said.
However, they reversed that trend at the perfect time, clinching tight contests with CBHS, St Andrew’s and St Bede’s to please a coaching staff. comprising former All Black Sam Broomhall, Wellington representative Ross Kennedy and old boy Sam Chamberlain.
“There were a few injury time losses but the confidence is up now,” said Dods, who joined the school in 2016, the season after the first XV was humbled 80-0 by CBHS.
While the backline has been instrumental in producing a positive points differential of 372 from a 9-win 4-loss record, the ball carrying of hooker/blindside flanker Hendrix Taylor and leadership of captain and No 8 Johnny Lee has been crucial.
Marlborough Boys' College and CBHS will eventually contest the second-tier plate final after beating St Thomas' 22-10 and St Andrew's 29-21 respectively.
Shirley Boys’ High School will host Rangiora High School in the bowl final.
The women’s 1st XV final between overwhelming favourites and defending champions Christchurch Girls’ High School and Villa Maria College, who are also unbeaten this campaign, will also be rescheduled after it was set down for Rugby Park today.
Football
National League qualification through football's inaugural Southern League could go down to the wire with Cashmere Technical currently occupying pole position with only two of the eight clubs able to advance.
The Mainland Football premiership champions beat Selwyn United 2-1 in a rescheduled fixture last Wednesday before backing up on Saturday to pip Christchurch United 3-2 thanks to a 90th minute winner by Jacob Richards.
Cashmere Technical had trailed 2-0 before Garbhan Coughlan sparked the resurgence from the penalty spot in the 70th minute. Yuya Taguchi then equalised before Richards struck late.
Cashmere Technical, who are scheduled to host Wellington's Western Suburbs in a Chatham Cup semi-final on Sunday, lead the eight-team round robin competition on 12 points.
They have two matches remaining while local rivals Coastal Spirit are three points adrift but with a game in hand.
Coastal Spirit had been expected to bridge that gap by travelling to winless Green Island on Saturday, while Selwyn United were set for a trip to Nelson Suburbs where a win would have kept them in contention.
Cashmere Technical are closing in on more silverware with a 5-0 win over Universities AFC in last night’s English Cup semi-final setting up a clash with either Christchurch United or Selwyn United, who are scheduled to play at English Park next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the all-conquering Coastal Spirit St Albans Shirley women's squad completed their double, beating Cashmere Technical 2-0 in the final of the Reta Fitzpatrick Cup following an unbeaten premiership campaign featuring 15 wins.
Harewood's hopes of claiming Canterbury Hockey's men's premier league were dashed at the semi-final stage when the top qualifiers were beaten 4-3 by fourth-ranked HSOB/Burnside in a cliffhanger at Nga Puna Wai.
Jack Gilbert slotted a penalty corner - his second of the contest - in the 68th minute to complete HSOB/Burnside's recovery from a 3-2 deficit.
They now face Carlton Redcliffs, who beat defending champions Marist 2-0, in the as yet to be confirmed decider.
In the women's premier league, top qualifiers and reigning champions Harewood beat Avon 1-0 to book a final with Marist, who beat Carlton Redcliffs 2-0.
Netball
Saints advanced to the Christchurch netball premier final after beating University of Canterbury 56-49 in one of the last sporting encounters held in the city prior to lockdown.
Champions Lincoln University had already qualified for the decider by finishing on top of the table.
The championship match is scheduled for Tuesday night at Pioneer Stadium, pending the Covid-19 situation.
Automatic qualifier St Nicholas and Kereru B, who edged St Margaret’s College 45-42 last night will meet in the second-tier final and curtain raiser.
