Spotlight on Southland Sport: Friday Edition
Plenty of sport to delve into in this week's Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition. Enjoy the read.
Welcome to The Southland Tribune’s Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition offering. We’ll be back again on Sunday with our “Sunday Special”.
20 seasons covering club rugby… Where did that time go?
It started with a couple of hundred-word game wrap of the Hawks-Star game in April 2004, the beginning of a journey covering Southland club rugby that’s now reached the 20-season mark. He reflects on his 20 seasons covering grassroots rugby. [READ MORE HERE].
The remarkable rise of Southland shooter Charliese Erskine
It’s been a remarkable rise for SBS Bank Academy Southland foundation year athlete Charliese Erskine, punctuated by an outstanding performance at the recent Australian national championships in Wagga Wagga where she picked up 12 medals across the junior, ladies and graded competitions. Nathan Burdon reports. (READ MORE HERE).
Round 8: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
Overall standings: Scott Eade (183 points), Jason Rutledge (169), Matt Saunders (156).
Five points are allocated for each winner picked, and a bonus point if the margin is also correct.
Southland bowlers World Championships-bound
Southland’s Sheldon Bagrie-Howley has been included in the New Zealand Blackjacks team for the World Bowls Championships in August.
A fresh international chapter awaits the New Zealand Blackjacks, as selectors Peter Belliss and Sharon Sims opt for a changing of the guard.
Following a largely successful Multi-Nations campaign on the Gold Coast, Belliss and Sims have rewarded good performances and made some tough decisions in arriving at their five men and five women to contest the sports’ pinnacle.
Notable omissions in the men’s line-up include reigning world singles champion Shannon McIlroy and 2016 World Fours Champion skip Ali Forsyth -both narrowly missing the cut in favour of two standout performers from recent seasons, Andrew Kelly and Bagrie-Howley.
As expected, Southland’s Julie O’Connell has also been named in the women’s para pairing with Teri Blackbourn and Julie O’Connell.
Southland premier club football season kicks-off
A revamped Southland premier men’s and reserve grade club football format will get underway on Saturday.
Twelve teams will make up a new Southland Express Premier competition. They are: Two Old Boys teams, two Gore teams, and two from Thistle, as well as Southend United, Te Anau, Queens Park, Waihopai, Winton, and Balcutha,
All 12 teams have been put into the same grade and will play each team once – 11 games in total.
From there, the results of the first round will split into two leagues of six. The premier grade (Donald Gray Cup) will consist of the top six “eligible teams” (There cannot be two teams from the same club in the top grade).
Points will carry on from the initial twelve-team competition, into the Donald Gray Cup and reserve grades. Goals for and against will be removed.
Donald Gray teams will play one complete round of five games to decide the winner.
Reserve teams will play one complete round of five games to decide the winner.
Hope that makes sense. And all the best to all players for the 2023 season.
Nominations now open for 2023 ILT Southland Sports Awards
Nominations are now open for the 2022/2023 ILT Southland Sports Awards. The nomination period runs through until April 26. New Zealand’s longest-running regional sports awards will be celebrated on June 9. (READ MORE HERE).
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(Out & About)
Woodlands v Pirates-Old Boys - premier club rugby - at Woodlands, 3pm kick-off
Woodlands have wiped everything in front of them through the first four rounds of the competition but don’t expect a one-sided affair come Saturday. They take on fellow unbeaten team Pirates-Old Boys which is also stacked with plenty of firepower. The Viliame Fine-Isaac Te Tamaki clash at centre is intriguing on its own.
(On The Couch)
Southland Sharks v Otago Nuggets - Sunday, 6pm - Sky Sport
How about eating your Sunday roast from the couch this Sunday? The Southland Sharks are making the trip to take on defending NBL champions the Otago Nuggets in Dunedin on Sunday. Tip-off is 6pm and it’ll be live on Sky Sport.
Any game against the old foe is a good one. Up the Sharks!
Get in touch….
If you have something you think is worth featuring in either our Friday or Sunday Spotlight on Sport editions, please get in touch. NOTE: Please provide as much detail as possible to help us collate everything at this end. Email logan@southlandtribune.com