IN-LINE SKATING - Stingrays soar to a win

Northland Stingrays defied the odds to upset the previously unbeatable Rimutaka Renegades 5-4 and win the club's first-ever title at the national in-line skating championships in Tauranga.
The Stingrays were given little chance against the Renegades, who had won their previous 30 games during the season in the build-up to nationals - and the final was a thriller from start to finish - with the Kerikeri-based team showing plenty of resilience to stay in the match.
The Renegades took to the rink and immediately controlled the play, scoring a goal in less than two minutes when a defensive error left Grace Niblock as the only defender facing three charging Renegades. The Renegades dominated the first quarter with 12 shots on the Stingrays goal - against the Stingrays three against the Renegades.
The second quarter started much as the first, with the Renegades scoring their second goal in the first minute. The Stingrays dug deep and were rewarded with their first goal when Levi Munro broke from half way, out-skated two defenders and scored a fabulous top-corner goal. The team were visibly lifted and soon clicked into top-gear.
The Stingrays' fitness and speed served them well in the third quarter with Jaime Meeuws scoring half way through the period off a pass from Stuart Graham. Meeuws set Ashley Peters up for a goal three minutes later and the Stingrays took the lead. A solo effort by one of the Renegades' play-makers secured a goal in the last minute and a three-goal tie going into the last 10 minutes.
A quick goal put the Renegades back into the lead but the Stingrays equalised a minute later and the game was all on. Both teams battled hard to gain any advantage and the Stingrays defended magnificently against a concerted Renegades' attack. But with a little over a minute to go, a brilliant team effort saw Meeuws score his third goal from a Graham pass that was set up by Peters.
Full-on defence for the last minute held up against the Renegades final assault and goalkeeper Ben Scott maintained his 85 percent save rate for the tournament. The final whistle found the Stingrays delirious as the national under-16 Champions, with a 5-4 victory.
Earlier at the championships, the team had won through to the semifinals with a scrappy win against the Manawatu Dragons 5-3, before defeating the Tauranga Ducks 6-1. The Hamilton Devils were touted to be one of the strongest teams at nationals this year but although the match was scoreless after 40 minutes, the Stingrays broke the deadlock with two late goals to win 2-0. All games were extremely exciting but the team played consistently and believed in their ability to win and came through the close matches.
The semifinal against New Plymouth Ravens was a good example with the Stingrays holding their nerve in the last quarter of the nail biting match to win 3-2.
The under-16s' future is looking good for next year because half of this year's team are still eligible to play in the under-14 grade and will therefore make up the core of next year's team, with some new players within the club moving up a grade.
Caption: The jubilant Stingrays celebrate their national under-16 title in Tauranga last week. The team are: Back row; Shaun Young (Coach), Brendon Johnston, Luke Bowring, Levi Munro, Grace Niblock. Middle row; Josh Pillidge, Stuart Graham, Jaime Meeuws, Ashley Peters. Front row; Ben Scott.