Sporting briefs

Mako match switch

There has been a change to the Tasman Mako men’s NPC rugby schedule for Lansdowne Park this season. The afternoon match against Southland on Saturday, 22 August, will now be played at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, after a scheduling clash. Replacing this fixture at the Blenheim venue will be the 7.10pm Friday, 18 September match against Auckland, which was originally set down for Nelson. The other NPC match scheduled for Lansdowne is against Wellington, at 5.05pm on Saturday, 5 September. This match will be a double-header with the Tasman FPC women, while Development and Under-20 games are also planned. In addition, an NPC pre-season game against Canterbury will be staged in Blenheim on Friday afternoon, 24 July.

Cross country kudos

Marlborough College students tested their skills against the nation’s best at the recent New Zealand Secondary Schools Cross Country Championships, staged at Trentham, near Wellington. Lena Bailey, Marlborough Girls’ College’s sole representative at the national championships, finished in an impressive 33rd place. Five MBC lads attended. Joe Gilhooly finished 40th in the junior boys’ grade, Ethan Spencer coming in 54th and Inigo Miles 100th. Finnbar Duncan was 103rd in the Year 9 section with Isaac Coleman 158th in the senior ranks and 59th in the under-17 division.

Kyla called in

Former MGC head girl Kyla Thorstensen had had a late call-up to the New Zealand White Sox development softball squad which will compete at the Canada Cup in Vancouver, 2026. An untimely injury to another player saw Kyla receive the opportunity to join the squad and to travel with the squad to Canada for the tournament which takes place from 5 July to 12 July.

Underwater excellence

The Marlborough Boys’ College Falcons underwater hockey team have secured a place at the NZSS UWH in Rotorua this September, facing off against the top 10 school teams in the country. The boys finished fourth at the Central Zones tournament in Wellington, surprising their rivals with their grit, determination, sportsmanship and skill. Management suggest their efforts have put Marlborough back on the map as a recognised UWH region. MBC players: Albie Edmonds, Ben Muir, Jack Powell, Maz Inwood, Andrew Hall, George Manson, Charlie Botham, Nico Bailey. Coach Bryan Bailey.

Men’s showpiece

There will be an additional attraction at the end-of-season senior netball finals day at Marlborough Lines Stadium 2000 on Saturday, 29 August. As well as the traditional series of women’s finals matches, this year an inaugural men’s invitation clash between Marlborough and Nelson men’s teams will take place, providing an opportunity to showcase and promote men’s netball, a growing sport in this country.

Netball honours

Three members of the Marlborough netball fraternity have attained higher honours. Bex Mark, who plays in the Pelorus premier team, has been selected for the Mainland Emerging Talent Squad. The speedy midcourter has enjoyed a superb season for the Dark Blues. Meanwhile the region’s leading umpires have also been shoulder-tapped. Michelle Stagg has been named as an umpire coach at the 2026 Netball NZ U18 Championships, while Mandy O’Malley has been chosen to officiate at the tournament, taking place from 13 to 16 July at Ngā Puna Wai in Christchurch.

Renwick rippers

Renwick School are the 2026 Tasman Primary Regional Rippa Rugby champions after prevailing 5-4 in a thrilling final against Marlborough rivals Springlands School in Nelson on 16 June.