Sport

PHOTO: Anna Meares Members of the New Zealand cycling sprint squad, from left, Ellesse Andrews, Olivia King, Rebecca Petch, Nick Flyger (sprint coach), Sam Webster, Sam Daikin and Bradley Knipe, holding Fionn Cullinane (assistant sprint coach) were pictured this week. It was on August 12 last year the Wānaka Sun celebrated her on our front page as a “silver rider”.

Now it’s all gold for Ellesse Andrews, who has continued the extraordinary run of successes for athletes with Wānaka links.

Andrews, a former MAC student who continued her education at St Peters, Cambridge, has collected three gold medals at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

She and fellow track cyclist Aaron Gate became the fourth and fifth New Zealanders to win three gold medals at one Commonwealth Games this week.

Andrews is part of a hugely successful New Zealand games cycling team which has been the best at the Games.

Cycling New Zealand’s interim chief executive Monica Robbers, who also lives in Cambridge, said the atmosphere at the velodrome, nicknamed Pringle because of its shape, was electric.

“Cycling New Zealand has done itself proud,” she said.

Ellesse was nine when she moved to Luggate with her parents Jon and Angela after her mother was appointed Head of Music at Mount Aspiring College.

Jon Andrews competed in track cycling at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and won bronze at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

The family moved to Cambridge when he secured a coaching job for the New Zealand cycling team in 2015.

Students hold on for play-off

Host South Otago gave Mount Aspiring College a big scare after looking dead and buried at half time in their first XV college rugby clash last weekend.

MAC romped in the mud to a 22-nil half time lead – but when the final whistle went the home side was banging on the door, looking for a victory from the jaws of defeat winning try.

It ended up 27-21 – and was tagged a good win on the road in the mud for MAC.

It proved to be an important victory as it has secured MAC a place in the middle four play offs. They cannot be caught for second place in the division regardless of what happens in the last round next week but will have to win and hope Wakatipu lose to claim the top spot.

They next play Otago Boys 2nds at what may be the last home game of the season.

“It was one of the better starts we have had,” coach Craig Read said. “The team played with good structure and width in the mud at Toko. I’m glad we got the points early as the boys tired in the second half and gave the opposition too much room to run.”

MAC made a solid start and soon had the home side defending their line. Hooker Dane

Jacob Field gets the ball away during MAC’s win over South Otago. Morisawa found a way through to score and give MAC an early 5-0 lead =. The hosts were denied the chance to get into the game and in contrast to the previous week MAC was able to convert opportunities into tries.

Half back Jacob Field burrowed his way over the line for the next try and then fullback Ben Simmers finished off some good play by the MAC back line to score again and put MAC out to a 15-0 lead. South Otago continued to struggle in defence and MAC were in again just before half time with a try to Lock Eligh Hollegien, securing the bonus flag point. The conversion was successful, and MAC went into the break with a very comfortable 22- 0 lead.

Whatever was said to South Otago at half time it seemed to work as they came out a different team. They used their big forwards well and immediately started to trouble the MAC defensive line. Some good strategic kicking had MAC on the back foot and South Otago were soon over the try line to make it 22-7. Once back with secure possession MAC were able to regain ascendancy and found space in the corner once more for Ben Simmers to score and take the lead out to 27-7. South Otago could have thrown in the towel at this point but to their credit opted to play some high-risk expansive rugby. They were rewarded with a fortunate bounce of the ball from a kick and were able to score again to make it 27 -14. With a bit more confidence they continued to play the expansive game when MAC may have been guilty or thinking the game was already won.

With about five minutes to go South Otago scored again to bring themselves back into to contention for what had seemed an unlikely victory. With only a minute left on the clock South Otago made a clean break to be just metrres out from the MAC line. It was a nervous watch for the MAC coaching team and supporters as the MAC defenders put everything into holding the line.

The hard work was rewarded with a crucial knock on by South Otago bringing the game to an end and MAC the win.

Scorers, Ben Simmers 2, Dane Morisawa, Jacob Field, Eligh Hollegien tries, Cullen Meyer a conversion.

Squash success

Pictured from left, Wānaka squash players Ethan Prince, Oisin Corbett, Rui Fakaya and Kyan Prince at the fifth Head junior tournament in Cromwell last weekend. All four juniors competed in the top division, and they exceeded their pre-tournament rankings. Oisin Corbett reached the final and was beaten by the top ranked player, Rui Fakaya and Kyan Prince met in the play off for third, which Rui won, and Ethan Prince finished seventh. The sixth and final event, which doubles as the Otago junior championship, will be held in Dunedin in August.