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Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
A Bagan masterclass for DHFC
1 2 Kolkata: At the Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday, Jamie Maclaren and Jason Cummings returned to do what they have been doing for long — scoring goals. Mohun Bagan SG returned to their happy hunting ground to do what they have been doing for long — producing the right performance for the right game. And the result? Jose Molina's ISL champions stormed into the knockout stage of Durand Cup with an all-win streak, demolishing a 10-man Diamond Harbour FC (DHFC) 5-1 and bringing Kibu Vicuna's high-flying team down to earth. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Anirudh Thapa started the rout with an early goal in the 19th minute. Debutants DHFC equalized within five minutes, Luka Majcen beating an offside trap to latch on to Jobby Justin's pass and finding the target for the third match running. But Maclaren established Bagan's lead in the 35th minute, providing an easy finish to Sahal Abdul Samad's deft assist. DHFC came into the game as an in-form team and Group B leaders by dint of a better goal difference. Despite trailing at halftime, they appeared to look the fancied rivals in the eye until then. However, the contour and complexion of the game changed completely in the 51st minute when Liston earned and converted a penalty for his fifth goal of the tournament and DHFC were reduced to 10 men a tad controversially with the expulsion of their defender Naresh Singh Yendrembam. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like A 10-Minute Habit That Keeps Your Mind Sharp Sudoku Kingdom Learn More Undo As Liston began his trademark run towards the box, Naresh was left with the only option of stopping Bagan's No. 7 in his tracks by pulling him from behind. Although TV replays suggested the foul might have taken place just outside the box, but Colaco fell in the challenge inside the box, forcing referee Ashwin to point to the spot. As Naresh and his teammates remonstrated with Ashwin for his decision, the referee flashed a straight red card to the DHFC defender. DHFC goalkeeper Susnata rightly guessed Colaco's shot from the spot but it was not enough to prevent Bagan from going 3-1 up. DHFC stuttered and stumbled and then, lost the plot completely thereafter. Bagan, on the other hand, went for the jugular. The next two goals were devoid of any controversy though and represented the depth of Bagan's attacking might. Sahal made it 4-1 in the 64th minute, pouncing on the opportunity when DHFC substitute Robilal Mandi failed to deal with a layoff from Jason Cummins who replaced Maclaren in the second half. Cummings completed the rout, receiving a ball from Asish Rai near the D and beat the rival goalkeeper with a left-footed striker. As Bagan — who lost last year's final to NorthEast United FC — progressed to the quarterfinals with three wins in a row, I-League 2 champions DHFC — who finished their group campaign with six points — would now have their fate determined by results in other groups. Six group champions and two second-best teams would advance to the quarterfinals. SATURDAY'S RESULTS Group B: Diamond Harbour FC 1 (Majcen 24) Mohun Bagan SG 5 (Thapa 19, Maclaren 35, Liston 51 pen, Sahal 64, Cummings 80). Group D: Bodoland FC 1 (Robinson 69) Punjab FC 0. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
The Irish Sun
01-08-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Mike Tyson didn't hesitate when naming ‘monster' scariest fighter ever who ‘knocked out four cops'
MIKE TYSON revealed the "scariest fighter that ever lived" - who would even knock out police officers. Tyson still stands as the youngest heavyweight world champion of all time - aged just 20 when he beat Trevor Berbick for the title in 1986. 3 Mike Tyson revealed the 'scariest fighter that ever lived' Credit: YouTube And during his frightening prime, Iron Mike lived up to his moniker of Baddest Man on The Planet. But the reformed 59-year-old admits even he was not as intimidating as boxing great Sonny Liston. Tyson said on "Sonny Liston would come to a town, say he's in St. Louis and he comes to Chicago, the cops would be [like] 'Listen, you can't come'. READ MORE IN boxing "He knocked out around four cops, broke their jaw, took their gun, they were beating him with the night stick over his head. "There's no fighter like Sonny Liston, Sonny Liston's a monster.' Liston was once a gang member committing muggings and armed robberies - landing him a five-year prison sentence in 1950 during his early 20s. And after being released in 1952, Liston began his amateur boxing career and he turned pro only a year later. Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Liston first reigned as heavyweight champion after beating Floyd Paterson in 1962 - winning the rematch a year later. He then faced Muhammad Ali - Cassius Clay at the time - in 1964 - losing twice to The Greatest. Pariah - The Lives and Deaths of Sonny Liston Liston's last fight was in 1970 against Chuck Wepner - the American heavyweight Just seven months later, the boxing legend was found dead by his wife Geraldine in their Las Vegas home. Needle marks found in his arm suggested he may have died of a heroin overdose while other theories claim he was murdered by the mob. Liston's career was allegedly controlled by mafiosos - and a row over a cut in a loan-sharking operation was a popular theory for his sudden death. A former fight fixer also claimed Liston - an associate of England's notorious Kray twins - was supposed to take a dive in his last fight. But when he didn't, he is said to have lost the Mafia a lot of money. A coroner also suggested that the amount of heroin in his system would not have caused an overdose. It led to conspiracies that his death was staged to look like a drug overdose - despite Liston's known fear of needles. Author Shaun Assael said: "I am willing to entertain the idea that it was an overdose, but not an accidental one. "The preponderance of evidence I found suggests that it is more than likely he was killed than not." 3 Sonny Liston pictured with England's notorious Kray twins Credit: Getty Images 3 Muhammad Ali twice beat Liston Credit: Bettmann
NZ Herald
30-06-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
First XV rugby: Liston College stun King's in dramatic Auckland 1A upset
On a day when St Kentigern College became the new leaders with a fierce 48-26 win over St Peter's College and Sacred Heart College edged Kelston Boys' High School to maintain third place, Liston produced their best Cinderella moment yet (indeed, they often got to the ball first) in what is steadily unfolding as a fairy-tale season. Liston sub Josiah Fuaaletoelau scores his last-minute winning try against King's College. Photo / Bruce Holloway With six wins to date, Liston have morphed from previously unfancied also-rans into giant-killers – and their latest effort against King's reeked of character, determination and belief, even if victory was only snatched with the final play of the game. While St Kentigern now sit three points clear at the top and are perhaps overall title favourites, Liston, coached by a highly respected figure in former Waitematā club captain Rory Lord, have in one sense eclipsed everybody else by becoming the wider human-interest story of the 1A season. King's and Liston have quite diverse college characteristics, but share a common pursuit of enterprising rugby. King's, a highly resourced and pre-eminent Auckland institution, are historically familiar with success and chasing their 17th 1A title this year. But Liston – a smaller, 78-year-younger Catholic boy's school situated so deep in the boondocks of Henderson that many King's alumni might struggle to locate it, even with a GPS in the Range Rover – have never so much as made the semifinals. However, that could finally be changing this year, given they now sit four points clear of fifth-placed Kelston High School with three rounds to play. Compare that with their modest history of finishing 10th in 2022, eighth in 2023, and seventh in 2024. With time up on Saturday and Liston trailing by four points, but optimistically camped in King's territory, it was time for The Late, Late Show at Rathgar Rd. King's carelessly knocked the ball on near their own 22. There was nothing subtle nor complicated about Liston's response, as from the scrum, they duly worked their way forward, one muscular phase after another. Finally, replacement loosie Josiah Fuaaletoelau, bearing the facial grimace of someone auditioning to be a Braveheart extra, left tacklers sprawling in his wake as he made a gladiatorial charge over the final 10m to inspire an explosion of sideline joy. For good measure, Conrad Chaston converted, the whistle went and the crowd invaded. Liston sub Josiah Fuaaletoelau is congratulated by teammates after scoring the winning try against King's College. Photo / Bruce Holloway 'We gave you what you wanted – and what we wanted as well,' said Liston skipper Mitchell Veatupu in thanking exuberant home fans at fulltime, as players and families took selfies. King's had trailed 13-7 at halftime, but then looked to have weathered the storm midway through the second spell, when they carved out an 11-point lead. Earlier, King's made a bright start when athletic flanker Johan Schaumkell charged down a clearing kick and won the chase to the line. King's flanker Johan Schaumkell's charge-down a kick from Liston's Max Stocker led to the match's opening try. Photo / Bruce Holloway But Liston responded through a Veatupu try in the tight and eked out a handy lead through two Max Stocker penalties, the second from near halfway. Six minutes into the second spell, King's seized the lead back with a try to prop Keneti Fanuatanu. King's then further showed their class when they took a quick-tap free kick from well within their 22, spun the ball wide and surged 85m for skipper Marco Miln to score under the posts and convert for a 21-13 lead. With 15 minutes remaining, Miln kicked a further penalty, taking his personal tally for the day to 14 points – and his team to a 24-13 lead. At this point, King's looked set to wind the clock down and kill the game off, like all good table-topping teams do. But Liston had different ideas and hard-working lock Micah Fuimaono forced his way over with a bruising try to reduce the deficit to four. That in turn fuelled Liston's belief for the final assault. Liston First XV skipper Mitchell Veatupu speaks to his school's supporters after their victory over King's. Photo / Bruce Holloway For Liston, centre Jonathan Simote was a major first-half influence with his bustling runs while flanker Daniel Lawrence's commitment was almost dangerously unwavering and blindside Sione Katoa was also a major influence in the final result. Fullback Chaston played his part with two conversions. It was Liston's second victory over their more illustrious rivals, but their first over any team at the top of the table. Media bans would have you believe reporting on such deeds is dangerous, unhealthy hype. But underdogs overachieving are part of the essence of sport and usually a journey rugby followers enjoy reflecting upon. It's likely there will be Liston team reunions over this in years to come. Meanwhile, Sacred Heart were relieved to beat defending champions Kelston 25-21 in an entertaining contest out west, given a serious goalkicking mismatch between the teams. While Kelston first five-eighths and rising star Max Talbot kicked two 50m-plus penalties among his 11-point haul, Sacred will reflect on a tally of three missed conversions and two not-difficult missed penalties. But Sacred nevertheless came from 14-8 down at the break and a 21-15 deficit midway through the second half to bank their seventh win of the campaign – and almost certainly a top-four berth. Kelston scored the first try of the match by spinning the ball wide from a lineout. Fullback Kiaan Hakaraia entered the backline, Sacred missed a tackle and he put left winger Tariec Mulitalo away in the corner. Kelston No 8 Satali Asolelei Fretton added a second-half try while Sacred prop Ravai Faktaufon continued his fine season with a first-half try. Supporters run on to the field after Liston beat King's College. Photo / Bruce Holloway Leaders St Kentigern have now amassed a points differential of 304 in their eight wins, averaging a winning margin of 38 points every Saturday. While their victory over St Peter's at The Cage was by a smaller margin than usual (22 points), they can be more than happy to have come out of a bruising affair relatively comfortably. A St Peter's Facebook post described the contest as 'absolute warfare'. St Kentigern prop Riley Grant-faiva, almost a cult figure at the college, was credited with four of St Kentigern's seven tries while first five-eighths Jaydon Randall added 13 points. For St Peter's, Malakai Hafoka was accurate in making two conversions and four penalties, while there were tries to centre Tua Tapua'i-Soti and sub Shannon Pai. Auckland Grammar School secured a 27-12 away win over Mt Albert Grammar to retain the Jubilee Cup for another year. There were tries to midfielder Nico Stanley, first five-eighths Rokko Walker, halfback Bobby Neels and fullback Luke Thomson, while Walker kicked seven points. After seven losses on the trot, you might say it was a blessing for De La Salle College to finally register their first win of the season, 11-10 at home to Botany Downs Secondary College. And victory was also partially due to a Blessing – left wing Blessing Toa-Elisala to be exact, after he dotted down in the 15th minute with his team's only try in a very tight contest. De La Salle's other points came from the boot of fullback Kohen Masoe with two first-half penalties. De La Salle have now risen off the bottom of the table to be replaced by Botany Downs, for whom centre Connor Bowden scored a first-half try. It was also a good week for St Paul's College, who won the Auckland premier schools rugby league final 24-0 midweek, then beat Dilworth School 33-17 on Saturday. The remarkable thing is not just that Ponsonby-based St Paul's are prepared to have a decent crack at both codes when so few of the bigger schools can be bothered, but that they do so from a total school roll of just 425. Try scorers against Dilworth included fullback Siokatame Kali, winger Sebastian Smith, prop Jones Cocker and halfback Drew Scott. The next round of matches is on July 19. Auckland 1A Points: St Kentigern 38, King's College 35, Sacred Heart 33, Liston 30, Kelston 26, Auckland Grammar 24, St Peter's 21, St Paul's 15, Mt Albert Grammar 10, Dilworth 7, De La Salle 5, Botany Downs 3. Hamilton Boys' find winning form Hamilton Boys' High School look a different team when they have skipper Alex Arnold on the pitch. That was one conclusion to be drawn from Hamilton ending an uncharacteristic three-game losing trot with a much-needed and tightly contested 15-7 away win over defending Super 8 champions Tauranga Boys' College. Arnold is the heart and soul of the defending national champions and certainly made his presence felt after having been out with injury in Hamilton's previous three losses. The blindside flanker was huge on defence and disrupted the opposition's lineout. He carried strongly all day as his team controlled the tempo slightly more. In the only scoring play of the first half, it was his good work, along with prop Deon Fifita, that engineered an opening for No 8 Corban Dunlop in the 24th minute. Dunlop crashed forward, and after he wasn't held, found further traction to burst over the line, with Jackson Botherway converting. The game was back in the balance when fleet-footed Tauranga fullback Tommy 'Ethereal' McQuoid intercepted a Hamilton backline move and – with the college's big band setting down a rhythm accompaniment – spectacularly sprinted 60m to score under the posts in the 54th minute. But in the final five minutes, Hamilton conjured up two tries. In the 65th minute second five-eighths Max Kara – who had also been terrific on defence – surged down the left wing, sold the dummy and scored in the corner. And while Botherway couldn't convert, the icing for Hamilton came just minutes later when sub Caleb Grice spotted a hole in the defence and four phases later Dunlop made the game safe with his second try. For Hamilton there was another huge game from prop Liam Der Heyden, while for Tauranga halfback Will Baker was lively. Even with the win, Hamilton are languishing in fifth place on the table, with their final two matches away to Gisborne on July 19 and then at home to Hastings a week later. So it is a tough proposition for them to make the Super 8 final, which means their win over Tauranga was probably cheered more loudly in Rotorua and Hastings than anywhere else. Hamilton and Tauranga contest the Don Clarke Boot. Before Super 8, the schools shared 18 wins apiece. In the first six years of Super 8, the ledger stood even at 3-3. Since 2004, Tauranga's only Super 8 victories over Hamilton have been in 2009, 2021 and 2024. Rotorua retain the Moascar Cup Rotorua Boys' High School have retained the Moascar Cup after an exemplary first-half display of wet-weather rugby, trouncing Napier Boys' High School 29-7 after trailing 22-0 at halftime. Rotorua scored four tries in the opening stanza, kicking supremely and mauling like a rapid submarine on a slushy field. Hooker Bronson Van der Heyden, lock Hunter Weaver, and loose forwards Jake Hutchings and Te Ariki Rogers were the headline writers in an imperious forward effort. Rotorua's five try scorers were winger Luke Rakuraku, sulphur-skipping fullback Tokoaitua Owen, blindside flanker Solomone Mailulu, lock Luke Worsp and Van der Heyden. Industrious hooker Riley Mullany scored Napier's solitary try. No 8 Carter Pirie was determined throughout. Rotorua hadn't beaten Napier since 2021, while the 22-point margin of victory is their largest since a 47-7 thrashing in 2019. Super 8 points: Palmerston North 24, Rotorua 20, Tauranga 17, Hastings 16, Hamilton 13, Napier 7, New Plymouth 5, Gisborne 4. Rosmini still leading in North Harbour The top four teams in Kyocera-sponsored North Harbour competition all had comfortable wins ahead of the holiday break and nobody else looks capable of forcing a semifinal berth. Leaders Rosmini College beat Massey High School 40-7, though the biggest excitement there as of Monday morning was the fact the North Harbour Rugby website was still incorrectly suggesting that Massey had won 7-0. Westlake Boys High School had a seven-try, 45-0 away win over bottom-placed Orewā College, while Whangārei Boys' High won 50-15 at home to Mahurangi College. The biggest contributor to victory was centre Kawana Te Iringa with a hat-trick of first-half tries, while first-five Loky Chapman scored two for Mahurangi. Elsewhere, Rangitoto College resoundingly beat Takapuna Grammar 31-7. Points: Rosmini 44, Westlake 43, Whangarei 38, Rangitoto 33, Massey 20, Mahurangi 16, Takapuna Grammar 6, Ōrewa 1. St Peter's Cambridge on target to finish top in Central North Island Life is good at St Peter's School in Cambridge. So much so that First XV coach Carl Perry was able to head off for a holiday break in Fiji this week, warmed by the knowledge that his well-rounded team are all but certain to finish top in the Central North Island championship and earn a home semifinal, following their eye-catching 47-38 away win over second-placed Lindisfarne College. St Peter's are three points clear with just a home game against pointless St John's Hastings to play and signs that they still have plenty of attacking ammo left for the playoffs. 'I'm more than happy with how we have tracked,' Perry said from a deck chair outside his Fiji resort bure, as turquoise waters gently stroked the white sand along an idyllic stretch of pristine beach. 'We've had a one-week focus, with a plan for every opponent, but against Lindisfarne it was just a ding-dong battle.' Perry was non-committal on whether he would be buying any duty-free cigars upon his return to New Zealand, but his team certainly impressed in kicking on from a 26-28 halftime deficit with a strong second half. It helped that St Peter's had skipper Izzy Kamana back in the fold at second five-eighths and he chipped in with three tries, while immediately outside him Flynn Morey picked up two and halfback Luca Morrison one. Year 11 hooker James Powell also got on the scoresheet. First five-eighths Alapati Tusa Soagia (who has featured in a Warriors development team) put St Peter's into the right areas while up front prop Jackson Edwards and blindside Ollie Barnes had strong games. Alapati Tusa Soagia in action with the Warriors development side. Photo / Photosport Meanwhile Feilding High School, with a couple of games in hand, now look a good bet for a home semifinal against Lindisfarne in weeks to come. Central North Island points: St Peter's 34 (7 matches), Lindisfarne 31 (8 matches), Feilding (6 matches) 27, Wesley 18 (6 matches), St Paul's 15 (6 matches), Whanganui 12 (6 matches), St John's Hamilton 11 (7 matches), Francis Douglas 6, St John's Hastings 0. Quadrangular Tournament standouts The convivial atmosphere of the Quad always fosters enthusiastic discussions about emerging talent. Proud parents, curious alumni, representative selectors, and professional agents closely observe four schools that have collectively produced 97 All Blacks (which accounts for 8% of the 1223 ever selected) engaging in healthy speculation about who might be the next star. If there were a player of the tournament this year, it would be difficult to overlook Tom Perkins, the Nelson College captain (see golden cap comments below). However, his similarly striking colleague, Will Horncastle, also made a sizeable impact at a lock. Hooker Jack Potter is known for his straightforward approach, as is loosehead prop Tawhiao Te Kotua. Centre Flynn Simkin was efficient in a workmanlike backline. The Wellington College scrum was immovable, anchored by Julius Toimata and Hyrum Betham. However, the real power came from the back row, featuring Z'Kdeus Schwalger and Dru Faletolu. Faletolu is a massive improver in recent showings, colliding into opponents with the force of a missile. Swathed in bandages, captain and centre Carisma Faitala was both inspirational and elusive. Christ's College looked to comparatively undersized Alf Markham for leadership. The technically proficient and tireless blindside was a Crusaders U18 representative in 2024 and could be joined by industrious prop Tom Hazeldine and hard-edged South African hooker Jan-Adriaan Van Wyk. Christ's midfield lacked punch, so Gavin Holder enthralled the first-day crowd with his best impersonation of Damian McKenzie. Whanganui Collegiate conceded 84 points in two matches, but their effort couldn't be faulted. James Olds alternated seamlessly between lock and No 8, while second five-eighths Jonathan Solomona exhibited silky skills. Block prop Rory Nugent-O'Leary lost his shorts early in the second half against Christ's, and with no replacement available, sniggering echoed from the surrounding embankment. But Nugent-O'Leary didn't complain. He continued making tackles, carried the ball with gusto, and even threw in a couple of lineouts. New Zealand Schools coach Paul Tito noticed his perseverance, but it's unlikely such slapstick would be seen at a higher level. Perhaps All Blacks coach Scott Robertson, who also attended part of the tournament, could at least arrange a pair of complementary Jockeys for the lad. What an effort. A golden cap for Tom Perkins The closing afternoon tea of the 99th annual quadrangular tournament at Christ's College featured a glossy video produced by the Whanganui Collegiate marketing department (schools have those, these days), inviting guests to centenary celebrations in 2026 while trumpeting the legacy of the longstanding tourney. And Tom Perkins has left his indelible mark on that legacy by winning the tournament twice and captaining Nelson to glory in 2025. Tom Perkins, the Nelson College First XV captain. Photo / Supplied Nelson topped Whanganui Collegiate 43-17 and Wellington College 31-24 to triumph for the 26th time last week. Furthermore, the strapping lock or loose forward boats a gold cap with his school uniform. He has played 38 games for the First XV – quadruple the number of games required to earn a standard cap, which is nine. 'To get a gold cap, you have to play every game for three seasons, essentially, and even some playoffs,' Perkins explained. 'I was lucky to debut in Year 11 and played all the games last year when we won the Quad in Nelson and got second in New Zealand. 'When I got my gold cap, there was a video from those who also got it. Harry Inch, Ollie Gibbons, Ollie Inch, Samaki Samaki, Teina Thompson, Zyon Ford, William Havilii and Jack McDonald-Hill, our current physio, congratulated me. That was so special, massive actually. They're amazing players.' Perkins is one of just five returnees from Nelson's generational 2024 team that stampeded their way to the South Island title and made their first National Top Four final. The 2024 Nelson College First XV with their spoils, South Island champions and Moascar Cup holders. Photo / Tasman Rugby Union Such an exodus of talent necessitated a positional switch for Perkins alongside greater influence in an inexperienced team that is growing. 'I was a lock last year, where my primary role was to secure lineouts, kickoffs and hit rucks. 'This season I've got more of a license to roam wider and carry while being the best leader I can be.' In the Quad final win over Wellington College, Perkins scored a try and secured the last turnover, which extinguished Wellington's bold comeback from 24-7 down. 'I saw the ball pop out and thought I've got to go for it. When the whistle blew, I wasn't sure if the call was for me or against me. My eyes were shut, and my heart was racing. It was such a relief to get the rub of the green. 'Their backline was always a threat, especially their centre, who kept carving us up. They were a lot more physical than South Island teams, who typically play faster and use the ball more to avoid contact. 'It was a turning point when they scored first after half time. They got momentum and showed we were too relaxed. I had to get the boys together and remind them to stay focused.' Perkins said this was where the leadership group helped, breaking the game down into manageable parts, collaborating and building trust. 'We've lost a few games this year, but our defence at the end shows we're headed in the right direction. 'It was awesome to get a try in the final. Basically, the boys did the mahi up the middle, and I found myself on the edge unmarked.' Perkins, who enjoys English, business, and health science, rated All Blacks Rugby World Cup-winning captain Richie McCaw as his rugby role model. 'Richie trained with us earlier in the year and it was surreal. He said, 'Do the things you don't like more, all the little extras like running when you can't be bothered or training small faults in your game that don't seem like a big deal'.' An older brother, Charlie, captained Nelson to Quad success in 2020. One-sided contests in Wellington Half of the 30 matches in the Wellington Premiership have been decided by 20 points or more, and this trend of one-sided matches continued in round six. On Wednesday, unblemished leaders St Patrick's College, Silverstream, crushed Hutt International Boys' School 78-12. Hibs were competitive for half an hour, holding the Catholics to 17-12 before the floodgates opened. Tries for Silverstream were scored by Ashton Steere, Abraham Smith, William Davis, Riley Browne, Jahvan Hunt, Axel Daken, Taylor Moananu, Ryder Thompson, Elijah Solomona, Kingston Hill and Corus Taylor Lefao (2). Fletcher Cooper converted nine times. St Patrick's College, Wellington, remained in second place, overpowering St Bernard's College 43-15 on a muddy pitch. First-five Gia Johnston continued his impressive form. Captain and openside Ethan Lepou was influential, as were front-rowers Anesi Taliau and Herman Tuia-Va'aua, who repeatedly made powerful runs. Speedsters Zack Kimmins and Ashton Hamer were active and each scored tries. For St Bernard's, Captain TJ Fonoti led by example, and Arlo Cross provided spark at first-five eighths. An injury-hit Wellington College narrowly beat Wairarapa College 29-14 in a potentially fraught fixture in Masterton. Despite numerous changes to their starting XV from Thursday's Quad final, Wellington prevailed with two tries from hooker Noah Aliva. Rathkeale College defeated Tawa College 75-12 after leading 46-0 at halftime. In their first Wellington season, Rathkeale have won four of six matches and, with fixtures against lower-ranked Scots College and St Bernard's College, they have a strong chance of reaching the semifinals. Scots College retained the John Fiso-Dave Meaclem for the 11th year running, narrowly beating winless Rongotai College 13-11. Wellington Tranzit Coachlines Cup points: Silverstream 29, St Pat's Town 26, Wellington 25, Hibs 21, Rathkeale 18, Scots 11, Wairarapa 10, Tawa 7, St Bernards 5, Rongotai 4. Big wins for Christchurch Boys' High Flanker Jonty Leary led the way with three tries as Miles Toyota Premiership leaders Christchurch Boys' High School continued their perfect season with a 87-3 demolition of Rangiora High School. Lock Dylan Giles and second five-eighths Nikao Panapa grabbed a brace in the 13-try extravaganza, while winger Hanroux Wessels accounted for 15 points and sub Cam Jones12 points. That win came after an equally convincing 45-14 victory midweek over Otago Boys' High at Littlebourne, in which winger Jones scored two tries and kicked three conversions. The turning point in the contest came after 10 minutes with a 70m try from centre Will Brown after an encouraging start from the hosts. Leary and prop Sam Hewitt delivered dynamic performances. The traditional rivalry, which dates back to 1894, now sees Christchurch holding a 58-48 overall advantage, having won the last four encounters. This current winning streak is their best since achieving six consecutive victories between 2003 and 2008, which included a record win of 44-0 in 2006. Second-placed Marlborough Boys' College also made it eight from eight by beating Selwyn Combined 38-17 while Shirley Boys' High School moved up a spot with a 36-22 win over St Bede's College. Third-placed St Thomas of Canterbury enjoyed their biggest winning margin of the season in beating St Andrew's College 51-5, and scoring eight tries Miles Toyota Premiership points: Christchurch 40, Marlborough 39, St Thomas 28, Nelson 24 (7 matches), St Andrew's 20, Shirley 18, Christ's 15, St Bede's 13, Selwyn 13, Rangiora 2. Southland Boys' still unbeaten - but only just Southland Boys' High School remain unbeaten in the Freeman Roofing Southern Schools Rugby Championship after overcoming King's High School 15-12 in a mammoth tussle for the Mitch Pereira Memorial Trophy in Dunedin. Pereira was a promising rugby player from Invercargill who attended King's and tragically passed away from bowel cancer in 2019. King's injury-depleted squad is now largely healed, but was left to lament a sluggish start and a wobbly lineout in yet another slender setback against the 2023 national champions. In 86 inter-school matches, Southland have won 54 times compared to King's 22 victories. The last of their nine draws occurred in 2022. Southland started assertively casting an anchor inside King's half, maintaining a polished preservation of possession. King's resistance was stubborn until lock Jack McKeay powered over after ample phases. Clean breaks from Zeke Siolo, Charlie Byrne, and Luka Salesa went unrewarded as the visitors turned with a 7-0 advantage at the break. A Jimmy Taylor kick was regathered skilfully by Siolo, who dotted down in the corner to make it 12-0 with 25 minutes remaining. Following the subsequent restart, Southland pressed hard again, but impatience led to a turnover and a lapse in discipline. A raft of penalties awarded to King's from scrums allowed imperious tighthead Henry Hunter to score a try from a quick tap, with Lafa Tofiga adding the conversion, bringing the score to 12-7. Southland wrestled back the initiative when openside Josh Cairns was held up over the line. But after the dropout was fumbled, King's rallied, and halfback Jaxon Moeahu slithered over for a try. Deadlocked at 12-12, Southland forced a penalty and Taylor calmly slotted the goal for a 15-12 advantage. McKeay burgled a plethora of lineouts and snaffled the last steal for Southland as King's, despite growing momentum, fell short. Montell Penese was the best on the ground. The King's openside had previously only played 10 minutes of rugby in 2025, yet he produced a hefty tackle count and won a ton of turnovers. Southland have stretched their competition-winning streak to 18 successive games. In other Division one matches, John McGlashan College edged past Southland Second XV 18-15, with captain Oscar Crowe scoring 13 points. Otago Boys' High School overpowered St Kevin's College 43-5. Freeman Roofing Southern Schools Championship points: Southland 9, Otago 9, King's 6, John McGlashan 5, Southland Second XV 1, St Kevin's 0. # Disagree with anything here? We welcome alternative viewpoints. Email us at nzschoolboyrugby@
9 News
18-06-2025
- Health
- 9 News
Steve donated his kidney to a stranger and set an Australian record
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Decades ago, Melbourne man Steve Liston heard a story on the radio about the need for kidney donors. He never forgot it. The idea of making such a difference to a sick person's life became a tantalising thought he came back to again and again. "It hit a nerve with me on so many levels, and it actually baffles me about why it doesn't strike a nerve with more people," Liston, 57, said. Steve Liston donated one of his kidneys to a stranger. (Supplied) It took a few years before he first broached the idea of donating one of his kidneys to a stranger with his family. However, back then, the timing wasn't right, with his children still in school. Once his children became adults, he visited his GP to kick off the process of donating a kidney. Liston was told by doctors he would need to lose 13 kilograms in order to become a suitable donor. He put in the work and lost the weight. Liston then underwent a series of medical and psychological tests before he was given the tick of approval. His kidney donation went ahead a few years ago. Liston said his recovery from the operation was straightforward. "It's not as big as people make it out to be," he said. "If you're an office worker, you can actually be back to work in about two weeks. "I had to be off for six weeks because lifting is involved in the work that I do, and there's a risk of a hernia." Under the federal government's Supporting Living Organ Donors program, donors can claim up to 342 hours of leave from work, paid at minimum wage, and $1000 in out-of-pocket medical costs. Liston said the knowledge of what he had done would stay with him for life. "Some people will achieve an Olympic gold, which is something they've worked very hard for and will have forever. "Other people can do a doctorate and discover something new. But, for the average person who is never going to break a world record, or is not a genius, this is something almost anyone can do. "I don't get a buzz out of driving a nice car, or drinking fine wine. The biggest buzz I get is out of helping people." Unless someone is donating their kidney to someone they know, the process is strictly anonymous. Liston will probably never know where his kidney went, and he likes it that way. "I actually love the idea that it could be in anyone," he said. People who give up a kidney to a stranger are called altruistic donors, and they often set off a chain of matches because they are not already paired with a recipient. Liston said his donated kidney started a chain of more than 10 people. "I was told at the time it was an Australian record, which I hope gets broken, if it hasn't already," he said. In Australia, there are around 1400 people in need of a kidney transplant, with the waitlist time averaging about 2.2 years, according to Kidney Health Australia. About two-thirds of kidney transplants come from deceased donors, and the rest are from living donations. Dr Stella McGinn is the deputy director of the Australian and New Zealand Paired Kidney Exchange, which is run by the Royal Melbourne Hospital. The program accounts for about a third of all live kidney donations in Australia. It allows friends and family who want to donate a kidney to a loved one but aren't a good medical match, to be paired with others in the same situation. The exchange also accepts donations from altruistic donors, however, it was still relatively rare to see people giving one of their kidneys to a stranger in Australia, McGinn said. In 2019, the Australian program joined forces with New Zealand, where altruistic donations are slightly more common. The partnership saw the number of altruistic donors immediately shoot up, from a couple a year, to around 10 in both 2022 and 2023. Last year, there were six altruistic donors in the program, and so far this year, three. In Australia, kidney transplants have a high success rate - over 94 per cent of transplants are working one year later, according to Kidney Health Australia. Live kidney transplants tend to fare slightly better than those from deceased donors, because of the planned nature of the operation and the high level of screening for donors. McGinn said it was now common for kidney transplants from live donors to last around 20 years. "If you get a good kidney, and you look after it, it can see you for a very long time. A man in our hospital has got a deceased donor kidney, and he's had it for 53 years," she said. Around 15,500 people in Australia are being treated with dialysis for kidney failure - at an annual cost of around $1.9 billion, a research article published this week in the Medical Journal of Australia noted. The article found hospitals are struggling to meet the growing demand for dialysis services, with people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds most affected by the growing crisis. The strain on these centres has led to compromised dialysis care, with some patients, even those with minimal residual kidney function, receiving dialysis twice a week instead of three. Seth Holm knows what it is like to spend years on dialysis. The 24-year-old, from Perth, was born with his bladder outside of his body. After multiple surgeries and a lot of setbacks, his kidneys failed when he was 14 years old. Holm's mum, Michelle Radis, was able to donate one of her kidneys to him after he had been on dialysis for two years. Although the pair was not an ideal match, the transplant lasted almost seven years. Seth Holm, pictured with his mother Michelle Radis. Holm is back on dialysis after a kidney donated by his mum failed. (Supplied) The kidney has since failed and Holm has been back on dialysis for the past 18 months. Radis said the difference the transplant made to her son's life was incredible, especially in the first few years after the operation. "He was actually able to get a job for a short time - he did bricklaying for a bit and he loved it," she said. These days, her son was rarely well enough to leave the house, she said. "Over the last two years, he's had quite a lot of things go wrong, and he's ended up in a coma twice, once from fluid overload and another time from COVID," she said. Holm has dialysis treatment every second day at home, with each session lasting 4-6 hours. "He gets really tired from dialysis," she said. "All he wants to do is get his life back … he said to me the other day he would do anything to be able to go out and work." Holm was recently cleared to go back on the transplant list, but, having had one transplant already, he has antibodies that will make it harder to find a match. With no other living relatives able to donate, Radis said she was holding out hope they could find someone willing to give up a kidney for her son. "Waiting on the deceased donor list is something I hope Seth doesn't have to go through." "I would give him my other kidney if I could." health Health Services national Melbourne Perth CONTACT US
Sunday World
15-06-2025
- Sunday World
Man who was banned from road after fatal crash jailed for driving while disqualified
Francis Carey will serve a year and five months in prison after he failed to overturn convictions for driving without a licence and insurance A man who was caught driving while serving a three-year disqualification for dangerous driving causing death has been sent to prison for a year and five months after losing a recent appeal at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court. Francis Carey, of 18 William O'Brien Street in Mallow, failed to overturn District Court convictions for driving without a licence and driving without insurance at Ballymacthomas, Tralee on October 9, 2024. Mr Carey was sentenced at the District Court on October 24 last year to five months in prison and put off the road for four years for driving without a licence. He was ordered to pay a fine of €350 and received a two-year disqualification for driving without insurance. The District Court ruling triggered a suspended sentence of one year in prison which Mr Carey had received on July 29, 2023 after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Patrick Martin in Kilmorna in North Kerry in 2017. Defence barrister Richard Liston said Mr Carey's appeal was a plea to not activate the suspended sentence. Mr Liston said the dangerous driving incident in Kilmorna had taken place as Mr Carey drove on a wet and dark night. He had edged his vehicle onto a junction as the victim Mr Martin approached on a motorbike with deficiencies. The victim had attempted to stop and slid into the side of Mr Carey's vehicle. Tralee Circuit Criminal Court. File photo News in 90 Seconds - 15th June 2025 Mr Liston said Mr Carey was found to have driven carelessly because he had inched onto the road even though Gardaí admit inching is necessary at the Kilmorna junction. Mr Carey was convicted of driving dangerously causing death. He was disqualified from driving for three years and received a one year prison sentence suspended for two years. Tralee Circuit Criminal Court last week heard that Gardaí found Mr Carey driving while he was serving his disqualification on October 9 last year. Mr Liston said his client had received a call on that day which indicated that a daughter of his, who has been diagnosed with autism and ADHD, was in distress and had been brought to A&E. The barrister said his client had altered his life completely to stay off the road and sometimes walked 11km to work. He said Mr Carey made a 'drastic, terribly stupid decision' to get into a vehicle he owned after receiving this call. While driving this vehicle in Tralee, Mr Carey was stopped by Gardaí. Mr Liston said his client never got to see his daughter because of this. Judge Sinead Behan questioned why the defendant had a vehicle in his possession while serving a disqualification from driving. Mr Liston replied that his client would have been entitled to apply for a driving licence after serving a period of his three-year disqualification. Judge Behan said she understood Mr Carey's reason for driving was to go to his daughter in A&E. She asked if there was documentary evidence to prove this. The Judge said the incident was 'really serious' given that Mr Carey had previously pled guilty to dangerous driving causing death. In response, Mr Carey spoke up and said that he was told his daughter was in A&E in the phone call he received. Mr Liston said his client was 'informed of where she was brought'. Judge Behan said that was a 'different thing' to what he had argued earlier. 'He is now indicating that he was told that,' she said. 'A medical emergency is one thing. 'Other than that he is in some difficulty.' The Judge remanded Mr Carey in custody until the following day, and instructed the defence to produce evidence that his daughter had visited A&E. On Friday morning, Mr Liston told Judge Behan that he did not have documentary proof that his client's daughter had been in A&E. 'It was his understanding that the child had been taken to A&E,' Mr Liston said. 'That is his firm belief.' Judge Behan was not convinced. She said a five month sentence had been imposed by the District Court for driving without a licence and she was not going to set this aside. The Judge said she appreciated that the defendant's life is not straightforward but said he had committed a 'serious offence' after previously pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. She imposed the five month sentence Mr Carey received at the District Court and refused to vary the one-year suspended sentence that had been activated. Mr Carey's prison sentence was backdated to the day previous.
