Spotlight on Southland Sport: Friday Edition

Plenty of sport to delve into in this week's Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition. Enjoy the read.

Jun 08, 2023

Welcome to The Southland Tribune’s Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition offering. We’ll be back again on Sunday with our “Sunday Special”.

Let's celebrate, Rugby Park is getting some use

There have been years when Rugby Park has basically been used for five Southland Stags games and a kids’ triathlon. Bugger all else. That’s why this week has been refreshing. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).

Scott Gregory signs with Italian club….

Before you start panicking Stags fans he isn’t leaving just yet. Highlanders utility back Scott Gregory has signed for Italian club Zebre and will depart in October following the National Provincial Championship campaign with the Southland Stags.

While playing for Northland at provincial level in 2020 Gregory was signed by the Highlanders at Super Rugby level where he has remained.

Rather than returning to the far north for the provincial rugby in 2022 Gregory decided to link with the Stags where he was used as a second five-eighth.

It was announced this week the former New Zealand U20s player will join Zebre at the end of the year instead of returning for another season with the Highlanders.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity that awaits me and my family. I look forward to growing and further developing my game with Zebre, giving my best for the club and its supporters,” Gregory said.

Quarter-finals: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….

Overall standings: Scott Eade (369 points), Jason Rutledge (339), Matt Saunders (324).

Five points are allocated for each winner picked, and a bonus point if the margin is also correct.

Leitch excited heading to Le Mans Cup round

Southland’s Brendon Leitch is back in action this weekend as the 2023 Michelin Le Mans Cup hosts two 55-minute races on the full 13.6km La Sarthe Circuit, France, as part of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Along with teammate Gerhard Watzinger, the pair will drive the #70 Crowdstrike Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 competing in the GT3 class.

“I’m absolutely looking forward to it,” commented Leitch. “We’ve put in a heap of preparation for the two races with a lot of simulator work.

“We were unlucky in the opening race after being punted off the track by another competitor so keen to get a result from this round.”

The opening round at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in April was punctuated with safety-car periods. In the last third of the race, Leitch was clipped by a LMP3 (Le Mans Prototype) competitor sending his Lamborghini Huracán GT3 into a spin, ending up in the gravel and out of the race. The second round at Imola, Italy was postponed and now competitors face the highlight of the season, competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans event.

“The car is really good, it’s fast and the handling was great at Barcelona. I’m sure that the car will be more competitive at Le Mans which I am really looking forward to.”

2023 sees the largest entry for the event with a grid of 58 cars (20 GT3 and 38 LMP2). Two qualifying sessions take place from 12.55pm on Thursday 8 June with the first race underway later in the day at 6.30pm (local time) with the second 55-minute race on Friday at 11.30am (local time).

Silver Ferns selection for Southern Steel midcourter

As expected, Southern Steel midfielder Kate Heffernan is World Cup bound. Heffernan was this week named in the Silver Ferns squad of 12 players for the World Cup starting in South Africa on July 28.

Heffernan first played for the Silver Ferns last year and has previously represented New Zealand at cricket.

Southern Steel coach Reinga Bloxham is also heading to the World Cup as an assistant coach with Wales.

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(Out & About)

Southland Sharks v Taranaki Airs - Saturday, 5pm - ILT Stadium Southland

The Southland Sharks lit up its home court at ILT Stadium Southland on Monday with a stunning 116-79 victory over the Otago Nuggets.

The beauty is the Sharks faithful haven’t had to wait long to get to see the boys in orange go at again in Invercargill.

Southland and Taranaki will square-off at Stadium Southland at 5pm on Saturday.

See you there!

(Out & About II)

Pirates-Old Boys v Woodlands club rugby - 3pm, Saturday - Surrey Park

If you like a bit of club footy action how about visiting Surrey Park at 3pm before then heading next door to ILT Stadium Southland for the Southland Sharks game starting at 5pm.

Pirates-Old Boys will take on Woodlands at Surrey Park in what should be an intriguing outing, with plenty of interest in what sort of impact Pirates-Old Boys’ four Japanese players can have on the competition.

In case you missed it…

A couple of SBS Southland Stags tight-head props have been struck down by injury. Although both are still expected to be ready to go for the start of the National Provincial Championship. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).