Dream run in sevens earns Barrett contract

What a weekend it was for Beauden Barrett.

Few people outside of Taranaki would have known Barrett before the national sevens tournament in Queenstown.

But after five games, the 18-year-old had turned plenty of heads and caught the eye of national sevens coach Gordon Tietjens.

A contract and the chance to play in the Wellington sevens is there for the talented youngster who impressed not only with his defence, but also with his eye for the gap.

The way Barrett found space reminded me of Jayden Hayward in his first year for Taranaki in the 15s game.

WHAT a fantastic week of Twenty20 cricket in New Plymouth last week.

Three games at Pukekura Park, three bumper crowds and three wins for the Central Stags. And the reward, a home final on January 31 if the Stags can do the business in the other round-robin games and finish top of the rankings.

Trouble is, the Stags tripped over at Auckland on Sunday and the next couple of games will be vital. They next play Canterbury in Timaru tomorrow.

It's just a pity the side can't play all its home matches here. Twenty20 is cricket's entertainment package. It's fast and it's all over in three hours, with fans enjoying a feast of runs and wickets. There's no time for batsmen to settle in, they have to start swinging from the start and the crowds love it. Let's just hope the Stags can rediscover winning form and finish top.

GALE FACHE and her composite Taranaki team whipped up a bit of a storm in Wellington last week.

The team headed south to the bowls nationals "to have a bit of fun" and did far more than that. The four went desperately close to claiming the main prize, only to lose in the final to a Nelson four.

It was a super effort.

TARANAKI Dynamos basketball coach Angelo Hill is doing his best to string together a competitive side for this year's National Basketball League.

But, reading between the lines, he's hamstrung by finance, or lack of it.

With limited money, Hill can't offer contracts and that's going to hurt the side come game time.

While some players may be over-pricing themselves, you can't expect them to sacrifice their time and play for nothing.

What's needed is another sponsor or two if Taranaki is to have a team that will win some games and bring back the fans.

- © Fairfax NZ News