Summer tournament week - daily wrap

Check in for details of Southland seecondary schools teams as they take on summer tournament week around the country.

Amongst the local events is the Southland Bowls at the Waihopai Bowls Club on Monday, the Southland Golf Champs at the Winton course on Tuesday and the Otago/Southland road champs, being staged at Myross Bush on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, James Hargest College will be competing at the Maadi Cup rowing in Cambridge from March 25 to 30. Southland Boys’ and Southland Girl's’ have sent teams to a South Island softball tournament in Christchurch and both schools will also have representatives at the New Zealand triathlon champs in New Plymouth.

Boys’ High will be represented at the New Zealand secondary schools bowls in Auckland from March 26 to 28, while Hargest, Boys’ High and Girls’ High will have athletes at the South Island athletics champs in Nelson from March 29 to 31.

MONDAY

James Hargest College have gotten off to a good start at the Maadi Cup rowing in Cambridge with all crews advancing to the next round in perfect conditions at Lake Karapiro.

The highlight of the day was the two Hargest under 16 girls crews that both produced personal best times.

TUESDAY

Southland Girls’ High School have made a strong start to their South Island softball tournament in Christchurch.

Girls’ High had a convincing 33-6 win over Nelson College in their opening game, with some strong batting and pitching on display.

Their second game provided a tougher challenge, but still ended in a 15-1 win over Avonside Girls’ High School. Again, Girls’ High’s batting was a feature, along with strong outfielding and teamwork on the diamond.

Not to be outdone, Southland Boys’ High School has also started their South Island tournament with two wins.

Boys’ High beat Burnside High 12-nil and Riccarton High 12-1 on the opening day in Christchurch.

it was another good day on the water for James Hargest College crews at the Maadi Cup rowing tournament on Lake Karapiro.

While some crews enjoyed a day off, the under 16 number one crew is through to the semi-finals and the boys crew has also progressed to the next stage.

The Maadi Cup continues through until March 30.

WEDNESDAY:

At the South Island softball tournament in Christchurch, Southland Girls’ High School bounced back well after a slow start against Ashburton.

It took some time to adjust to a slightly faster pitcher and Girls’ High had to settle for a 6-4 loss, but still claimed a bonus point.

Girls’ High has two more games tomorrow to complete the round-robin.

Southland Boys’ had a day of mixed results, losing to Dunstan 5-4, beating Shirley Boys’ 7-nil, before losing to Ashburton 7-6. Despite that, they remain in the hunt for the finals.

THURSDAY:

Southland Boys’ High School will play off for fourth place at the South Island secondary schools softball tournament in Christchurch on Friday morning.

Boys’ High beat Ellesmere 11-nil, and lost to Papanui 5-1 to set up a play-off for fourth place against Ashburton.

Southland Girl’s High School finished the round robin section of the South Island softball tournament in second place with two wins on Thursday.

Girls’ High beat Rolleston 20-4, a strong start allowing the team to rotate the entire squad.

The second game against Dunstan, last year’s defending champions, was a tougher challenge.

Girls’ High kept their composure throughout to win 6-3.

FRIDAY:

Great news from New Plymouth where Jaxon Taylor has taken out the under 19 title at the New Zealand secondary schools triathlon champs.

Fellow Southlander Lachie Baird finished sixth in the same event, while Kennedy Taylor has finished fourth in the under 14 event.

Photo: Kennedy Taylor. Pic: Stacy Taylor

Meanwhile, Southland has earned another national title at the Maadi Cup on Lake Karapiro, with Shakira Mirfin taking out the under 17 single.

Southland Boys’ High School has beaten Ashburton 8-3 to finish in fourth place at the South Island secondary schools softball tournament.

Southland Girls’ High School took out their tournament in Christchurch, beating Ashburton in a nail-biting finale.

Earlier, Girls’ High had beaten Dunstan 12-3 in their semi-final, clearing out after a tight opening three innings.

The final was a game to remember, both teams sharing the lead until the bottom of the fifth innings when Girls’ High ran in five runners and then held on for a 14-12 win.

SATURDAY:
James Hargest College’s Emily Hay has won the open girls’ 2000m steeplechase at the South Island secondary schools athletics championships in Nelson.

Hay also finished fourth in the senior girls 3000m.