This weekend saw some fantastic action right across the grades, with some very good performances and some close battles. It was the second weekend of the JAB and teenage rugby and there was some awesome rugby being played by our younger generation of players. The Luisetti Seeds Combined competition rolls on in to it's fifth week of action with the Mid Canterbury sides getting positive results. It was also the fifth week of the Michael Duff Memorial trophy, with some close encounters and some very dominant displays. The Celtic women were also in action over the weekend, playing away againt the Kaiapoi women's team.

In the Luisetti Seeds Combined competition all the Mid Canterbury teams were in action over the weekend. In the first game Methven played against Oxford at Methven. The game was never in doubt for the Methven side coming away with a comfortable 38-10 win.It was a total team effort from Methven, with six players crossing the try line. 

In the next game, Celtic were at home to Prebbleton. This game was a tough encounter as Celtic snuck away 23-21 victors. Celtic's outside backs were again in good form as Centre, Raitube Vasurakuta and winger, Elyh McKibbin, scored three of Celtic's four tries. 

In the last Luisetti Seeds Combined game, it was a local derby as Southern and Rakaia faced off in a tough game. In the end Southern ran away 56-15 winners in a tough day at the office for the Rakaia team. Southern's Centre, Thomas Middleton had a very impressive day at the office picking up 26 of Southern's 56 points. Middleton kicked 21 points off the boot and scored a try as well. 

In the Michael Duff Memorial trophy, there was a wide range of close games and games where one team proved to be too good. 

In the opening game of the weekend Celtic played against Collegiate at Celtic. Celtic proved to be too good running away with a 42-5 victory. Celtic's First Five, Jayden Faunge, was the star of the show for Celtic, scoring 17 points, with 12 off the boot and also dotting down for a try. The next game of the weekend was Methven vs Hampstead. Methven were too strong in this match running in six tries to Hampstead's two. Methven's winger, Ryan Ashworth, was in try scoring form picking up two tries. Rakaia played against Southern in the next game of the weekend. This game was close for most of the game with Rakaia taking it in the end 38-29. Rakaia scored a  try late in the game to seal the victory. In the last game of the weekend, It was a Bruce Beckley Shield game as Mt Somers hosted Allenton at Mt Somers. The game was a back and forward battle as the two sides could not be separated in a 16-16 draw. Both teams scored two tries and kicked two penalties. Mt Somers retains the Bruce Beckley Shield with the draw. 

The Celtic's women side were in action in the weekend against Kaiapoi women at Kaiapoi Oval. The game was a tough one for the celtic women as they went down 79-5. Celtic's Fullback Anna Peters was the lone try scorer for the side. Celtic women play against Lincoln this weekend. 

In teenage rugby it was a near perfect weekend for the Mid Canterbury sides with nearly all the teams picking up wins. In the Colts grade, the Combined side played against the Springston side at the Springston Domain. It was a tough day at the office for the Combined Colts as they lost  46-14. The Celtic Colts played against the Lincoln Bales at the Lincoln Domain. Another tough battle, with the Celtic boys going down 47-17. It was more positive for the Under 18 Boys as they played Hornby at Hornby picking up an 86-0 victory. The Under 18 boys were on fire right from the opening whistle scoring tries from all over the field. The Under 16 Plains side played against Kaiapoi High School, the game was a blowout victory for the Plains side as they won 46-7 win. The Under 16 Celtic side played against Lincoln, it was a tough battle, but the Celtic boys came out on the right side as they won 24-10. In the last Under 16 game of the weekend, Methven played against West Melton. This was the closest Under 16 game of the weekend with Methven winning 22-17. Only one  of out Under 14 sides played this weekend as the Under 14 Alps played against Springston/Waihora combined Under 14's. The Alps side came out on top, in a back and forward game which finished up 34-33
Article added: Monday 16 May 2022