Encouraging young people to express themselves shone through as one of the key messages at this year’s Manawatū Horowhenua manu kōrero speech competition.
On Saturday, Massey are at home to Whanganui Athletic, who the students haven’t beaten for the past couple of seasons, coach Donald Piper said. “So they’ll be very tough opponents and we’ll have to be far better than we were against Havelock North (when Massey conceded six goals).” Fifth-placed Athletic would also be desperate for maximum points to keep in touch with the leading quartet in the league, he added. Piper said he would have to fill some gaps in Saturday’s lineup due to a combination of injuries and exams forcing some regulars out, such as Dom Rankin, Jackson Bron and Lachie Preston.
It was, opined North End co-coach Michael Sheridan, a game of opportunities not taken. It was exciting to watch though, if dispiriting for those on the field, particularly after the one-on-ones with the opposition goalie that North End forced, then missed. They had two clear ones during the game, but at the end of the day only a Lucian Armstrong penalty to show for their toil. Armstrong’s second-half success levelled the score at 1-1 and proceedings were evenly poised after Thistle had earlier taken the lead with a long-range shot over the goalie’s clutching hands. Even when disaster looked to have struck for the locals through a penalty converted by Thistle to make the score 2-1, there was still surely hope of salvaging at least a draw from the dismal day.