Shand scores double as Momona hold on to shield
With the shield on the line, the Taieri women were motivated to end their season on a high and gave the third-placed side an almighty scare.
Momona were dominant from the start with Abby Reid proving a brick wall at the back.
The young defender made it look easy early on, allowing her side to control the contest, though they were unable to put enough pressure on the goal.
Alisha Horne was forced into a few saves for the Tigers, but it was largely smooth sailing.
It was clear Taieri were the more motivated, but try as they might, they could not get the ball into the circle.
In a funny sort of game, Momona continued to control things, but the clash really just drifted along, remaining scoreless through to three-quarter time.
Finally, Momona kicked into gear in the final quarter, getting more shots off, and eventually that resulted in Sorrell Shand smashing home the opener inside eight minutes.
It set up a crazy end to the contest.
Taieri pulled their keeper and threw the kitchen sink at it, and they were rewarded when Chilean midfielder Sofia Tubio Gramajo dribbled past three players, before smashing it off into the bottom left corner.
The Tigers continued to push with 11 in-field players, and there were a couple of half-chances, but ultimately it was not to be.
Momona forced another penalty corner, and Shand duly dispatched it to seal the deal.
The result means Momona will keep hold of the shield for the summer and should give them some momentum ahead of next week's do-or-die semifinal with the University Huskies.
Elsewhere in the premier women's competition, the Kings United Royals destroyed the Huskies 13-1.
It was a scarcely believable result for a game involving a side in the top four, but it was a true demolition.
Nina Murphy led the way with five goals as Kings just peppered the Uni goal. With the win, Kings secured the points trophy.
In the day's other game, the City Highlanders beat the University Stingrays 10-0.
The premier men's competition was largely a non-event.
With the final standings already decided, it was very much a low-key round.
The Kings United Cobras eased to a 12-0 victory over the University Panthers, while the University Whales were 6-1 winners over the Southland Barbarians.
The big result was the Taieri Tuataras taking down the Albany Alligators 2-1.
Down on numbers, the Gators put in a super effort, but Oliver Battrick was able to sink them in the final minute, locking up the points trophy for his side.
— Nicholas Friedlander
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Otago Daily Times
03-08-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Shand scores double as Momona hold on to shield
A brave Taieri Tigers team put up a solid fight before slipping to a 2-1 loss to Momona in the latest round of the premier women's club competition on Saturday. With the shield on the line, the Taieri women were motivated to end their season on a high and gave the third-placed side an almighty scare. Momona were dominant from the start with Abby Reid proving a brick wall at the back. The young defender made it look easy early on, allowing her side to control the contest, though they were unable to put enough pressure on the goal. Alisha Horne was forced into a few saves for the Tigers, but it was largely smooth sailing. It was clear Taieri were the more motivated, but try as they might, they could not get the ball into the circle. In a funny sort of game, Momona continued to control things, but the clash really just drifted along, remaining scoreless through to three-quarter time. Finally, Momona kicked into gear in the final quarter, getting more shots off, and eventually that resulted in Sorrell Shand smashing home the opener inside eight minutes. It set up a crazy end to the contest. Taieri pulled their keeper and threw the kitchen sink at it, and they were rewarded when Chilean midfielder Sofia Tubio Gramajo dribbled past three players, before smashing it off into the bottom left corner. The Tigers continued to push with 11 in-field players, and there were a couple of half-chances, but ultimately it was not to be. Momona forced another penalty corner, and Shand duly dispatched it to seal the deal. The result means Momona will keep hold of the shield for the summer and should give them some momentum ahead of next week's do-or-die semifinal with the University Huskies. Elsewhere in the premier women's competition, the Kings United Royals destroyed the Huskies 13-1. It was a scarcely believable result for a game involving a side in the top four, but it was a true demolition. Nina Murphy led the way with five goals as Kings just peppered the Uni goal. With the win, Kings secured the points trophy. In the day's other game, the City Highlanders beat the University Stingrays 10-0. The premier men's competition was largely a non-event. With the final standings already decided, it was very much a low-key round. The Kings United Cobras eased to a 12-0 victory over the University Panthers, while the University Whales were 6-1 winners over the Southland Barbarians. The big result was the Taieri Tuataras taking down the Albany Alligators 2-1. Down on numbers, the Gators put in a super effort, but Oliver Battrick was able to sink them in the final minute, locking up the points trophy for his side. — Nicholas Friedlander
Otago Daily Times
29-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Father-son duo part of champion Taieri side
Family matters at the Taieri Bowling Club. The club had a father-son duo in their team that won the New Zealand champion of champions men's fours title in Dunedin at the weekend. Andy McLean and father Grant were joined by Otago bowls great and national coach Mike Kernaghan and Geoff Griffiths. The Taieri four swept through unbeaten at the tournament, which attracted the champion club fours teams from all the Bowls New Zealand districts. They faced a significant challenge in the final from the Elmwood Park club four of Gary Lawson, Nathan Glasson, Liam Eathorne and Ricky Cook. After Elmwood grabbed a shot on the first end, Taieri won three on the second and two on the third to leap to a 5-1 advantage. Taieri banked four shots on the eighth end to take a commanding 12-4 lead, but Elmwood chipped away, and when the Christchurch bowlers claimed four shots on the 13th end, Taieri's lead was slashed to 13-12. The Taieri quartet held their nerve to claim three shots on the 14th end and held on to win 16-13. Taieri had smashed the Martinborough team 19-4 in the semifinals, and thumped Fitzroy 16-3 in the quarterfinals. They had wins in the early rounds by scores of 18-11, 18-8, 21-11 and 17-4. The Dunedin Bowls Stadium will now host the New Zealand champion of champions women's fours this weekend. • Dunedin bowler Keanu Darby has been named in the Blackjacks squad for the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in November. Darby, who made his New Zealand debut in the transtasman series in February and played at the world indoor championships, will compete in both the singles and the pairs. The Forbury Park bowler is joined by fellow youngster Finbar McGuigan at the new event, which will be played on portable indoor rinks and uses the sets-play format, and is seen as a prelude for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Seasoned Blackjacks Shannon McIlroy and Ali Forsyth will be strong contenders for Glasgow but the selectors have decided to give the younger brigade a chance. "We know what Shannon and Ali are capable of — they're world-class," New Zealand coach Mike Kernaghan said. "But we agreed that it was time to be brave and give newer Blackjacks the opportunity to gain experience at this level." Similarly, selectors faced a tough decision in selecting the women's squad for a world cup that has only singles and pairs competition. They went for the established pairing of Katelyn Inch and Selina Goddard, meaning world singles champion Tayla Bruce misses out. "This was a really tough decision," Kernaghan said. "How often do you leave the world singles champion out of your team? "Ideally, we would have preferred the team composition to mirror what we expect for Glasgow — three men, three women, two para men, two para women, and a vision-impaired mixed pair — but World Bowls has determined the format, and we have to select accordingly. "With Glasgow in mind, we needed to take a close look at our pairs combinations, and this selection reflects that priority." World champion para women's player Teri Blackbourn will skip transtasman partner Kurt Smith in the para mixed pairs.
Otago Daily Times
27-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Tuataras dominate depleted Kings Utd
Decked out in kit that would have been more fashionable in the 1990s, the Taieri Tuataras smoked the Kings United Cobras 6-0, locking up the Challenge Shield for the summer, as well as all but securing the points trophy. It was an aerial assault early from the Tuataras, and that was ultimately an avenue they would catch Kings napping in on more than one occasion. A big ball into the circle was taken down by Oliver Battrick, who knocked it past Lachlan Colquhoun. James Nicolson nearly scored with a one-time deflection from another aerial minutes later, but steered it just wide of the post. Colquhoun kept Kings in it through the rest of the first half, making several big saves to keep it at 1-0 in the face of plenty of Taieri pressure. Missing Daniel Torr and James Nation, Kings really struggled to get out of their own end. There was a few penalty corners in succession to end the quarter for Kings, but Issac Hallam this time stood up for the Tuataras. After regrouping at the break, Kings came out with renewed energy, and continued to test Hallam, but they could not get it past him, and were ultimately made to pay for it. Jarrod Casey slotted a flick, before another overhead came looping over the Kings defence, with Battrick knocking it past Colquhoun for Ryan Smith to then poach it as it was heading over the line. Down 3-0 at three-quarter time, Kings threw the kitchen sink at it, but that only resulted in the score blowing out. They tried with 11 field players, but two more to Battrick, and another to Smith sealed the deal for the Tuas. Out at King's, Albany sewed up a top two spot by taking down the University Whales 3-0. It was yet another limp performance from the students, who will be heading into the finals with only wins against the Barbarians and Panthers to their name. In the Premier Women's competition, two fourth-quarter goals took the City Highlanders to a crucial 2-1 win against Momona. An injury-stricken Momona side were coming in off a 5-1 defeat the night prior against the same opposition. But they started the fastest of the two sides, as Millie White was able to convert at penalty corner time inside the first 10 minutes. The women in red hung on bravely, but it was not to be. Chloe Donaldson equalised with 10 to play, before Tessa Jopp launched a huge nail into the Momona coffin with a winner inside the final five minutes. The result puts City into pole position, though the Kings United Royals do have a game in hand. The Royals game in hand is against the Taieri Tigers, who they snuck past 2-1. Taieri were extraordinarily gritty, but a late goal from Madi Lobb swung it in Kings favour. Elsewhere the University Huskies took down the University Stingrays 7-1. — Nicholas Friedlander
