Canterbury rugby coach Marty Bourke is taking it one game at a time as his team face Hawkes Bay in the second of the semi finals of the NPC in Christchurch on Saturday night.

Bourke who has announce this will be his last season in charge of the Red and Blacks spoke with Lesley about his teams recovery following an extra time win last weekend and the fact it has been a short turnaround and what to expect from Hawkes Bay as he looks to extend his time here by another week.

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Canterbury softball has been awarded a $400,000 grant to help build a new indoor training facility at Cuthberts Green in Christchurch.
 
Canterbury Softball Association general manager Anthea Stringer told Lesley Murdoch the New Zealand Community Trust grant will go towards the cost of building the centre, which will be designed to give softball players of all levels a dedicated space to train and play in.

The training centre will feature three dedicated hitting and pitching lanes, complete with mobile nets that can be transformed into a versatile 35m x 15m space.

State-of-the-art Trakman cameras will provide comprehensive analysis for both pitching and hitting, catering to those seeking a high-performance training experience.

Clubs, schools, and community groups will also be able to access the facility, "transforming it into a centre for engagement, activity, and connection", Stringer said.

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Russley Golf Club wins Pollock Cup

With thanks to the Elmwood trading Company, Lesley spoke with team manager Kara Campbell and young superstar Vanessa Lim about what many thought was a surprise win in the most prestigious women's tournament on the Canterbury Golf calendar.

With an average age of just 13 it is truly a remarkable achievement with Vaness being rewarded by being selected to represent Canterbury.

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The Pollock Cup is at the pointy end of the season with the semifinals being held out at the beautiful Hororata Golf Club just west of Christchurch. 

Waimairi are set to play Waitikiri while Russley, the defending champions, play Christchurch in the semifinals, before the winners face off for the title. 

The finishing order of the round robin saw Waimairi the top seed, but money is on Christchurch, even without Catherine Palmer who is out of the country this weekend. 

Robbie Gillespie from the Christchurch team spoke with Lesley Murdoch about her team's season to date, and how they may fare tomorrow, with thanks to the Elmwood Trading Company. 

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The White Ferns are taking confidence from a strong seam bowling performance, as they look to kick on from their first victory at the Cricket World Cup. 

New Zealand head to Colombo for a clash with Sri Lanka on Tuesday, fresh off a comprehensive 100-run win over Bangladesh. 

On a wicket more suited to slow bowling, the seam trio of Lea Tahuhu, Jess Kerr and Rosemary Mair combined for eight wickets. 

Lesley Murdoch caught up with Tahuhu soon after the match to unpack their victory. 

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Now an Olympic gold medal athlete, Finn Butcher has had quite the journey. 

He’s been performing strongly on the world stage since his triumph in the Paris Olympic Games, and joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his journey and how life has changed for the “butcher man” from Central Otago. 

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Peter Witton is a busy man, co-ordinating golf tournaments all across the country for our young, and not so young, professional and amateur golfers. 

He’s the Tournament Co-ordinator for PGA of NZ, and with thanks to the Elmwood Trading Company, he joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his role and the opportunity it provides to see the best golfers in the country as they try to break into the big leagues. 

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A young Cantabrian is going places on the league field. 

Currently contracted with the Warriors, Isaiah Savea has gained the interest of other clubs after his stunning performance leading the Canterbury U18 team to victory in the National Rugby League tournament.  

He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about his future in the game. 

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It’s time for a change for Canterbury’s head rugby coach. 

Marty Bourke announced this week that this season will be his last at the helm of the men’s rugby team. 

Bourke, who has also been heavily involved with the Chiefs, has taken Canterbury to the playoffs in each of his four years in charge, and is hoping for a fairytale finish. 

He joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about what’s next on the agenda. 

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In what’s becoming an increasingly competitive tournament, the final of the National U85kg Rugby Championship is previewing the All Blacks clash with the Wallabies today at Eden Park. 

The Light Bears, hailing from the HSOB Rugby Club in Christchurch, are in their third consecutibe final, are playing first time finalists Pokeno.  

Jared Percival, Captain of the Light Bears, joined Lesley Murdoch for a chat about their journey to the final.  

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