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”.
Selby-Rickit's 200th: 'I just want it over and done with to be honest'
When it comes to celebrating netball achievements, Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit is as humble as you will find and her impending 200th elite netball game is no exception. (READ MORE HERE).
Southland stacked Bravehearts….
The Highlanders second tier team the Bravehearts will take on the Crusaders Development XV in South Canterbury on Saturday.
The Bravehearts will be captained by Stags captain Josh Bekhuis, with fellow Southlander Hayden Michaels starting on the openside.
It’s in the backline where Southland’s strongest presence is with Viliame Fine, Willie Tufui, Isaac Te Tamaki, Michael Manson, and Rory van Vugt all getting a start.
He might be aligned to Otago now, but we’ll also claim Gore lad, and Bravehearts first five-eighth, Cam Millar as our own.
2022 Stags recruit Blair Ryal and Southland halfback Jay Renton are also on the bench, as is Southland lad Harry Taylor who is now based in Dunedin.
This has to be the type of experience Matt Saunders and his crew at Rugby Southland are after for their players.
The game will kick-off at 1pm at Pleasant Point Rugby Club on Saturday.
Round 3: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
Jason Rutledge took out round two of our picks panel picking five of six winners with four of the margins correct.
Scott Eade also picked five of six winners with three correct margins.
Matt Saunders picked three of six correct winners, although let’s be honest, his blind loyalty to the Highlanders should be factored in.
Overall panel points: Eade (54), Rutledge (45), Saunders (33).
Super Rugby Aupiki with Mere Baker…
Former pro rugby player and coach turned commentator Mere Baker shares her take on round two of the Super Rugby Aupiki women’s competition, as well as her picks for round three. (READ MORE HERE)
Can the Riverton-owned horse make it three Wyndham Cup wins?
Kilowatt is one of seven horses to have won the Wyndham Cup twice in the 115-year history of the Wyndham Racing Club. Well-performed gallopers King D'Or (2002 and 2000), Star Rapier (1990-1988) and Court Belle (1968-67) are on the list and will be remembered by many race fans. (READ MORE HERE).
Northern Southland Trotting Club at Ascot Park….
The Northern Southland Trotting Club return to Ascot Park Raceway in Invercargill this Saturday (11 March) when the club comes to town with a day of top-quality harness racing.
Feature races include the Group 3 Caduceus Club Of Southland/Alabar NZ Fillies Classic for 2-year-olds over a distance of 2200m for a stake of $30,000. The Tip Top Southland/Night ‘n Day Autumn Cup raced over 2700m for a stake of $15,000. The Mark Jones Racing Stables/Gordon Sutherland Memorial Trot for a stake of $12,000 over 2700m plus the prestigious Stella Frost Stakes. Kidz Kartz racing is also scheduled on the programme.
The first race is timed to start at 11.55am.
Last week we highlighted a couple of the next-generation sporting names in Gregor Rutledge and Benson Boys who are impressing in their own fields. Well, here’s another one for you. Mika Muliaina.
Muliana is the son of former Stags midfielder Faolua Muliaina, and nephew of former All Black Mils Muliaina.
Mika follows the family tradition and is handy on the rugby field but this week it was with the Southland Boys’ High School first XI cricket team where he made his mark. He scored a century as SBHS crushed Kings from Dunedin in the traditional interschool fixture.
His impressive innings pushed Southland Boys’ through to a first innings total of 262 for six declared before Southland Boys’ bowled Kings out for 60 and 54 for a whopping innings and 149-run victory.
That followed its nine-wicket win over Christchurch school Shirley Boys’ the week before. Impressive.
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(Out & About)
Southland’s best young athletes will converge on Surrey Park in Invercargill on Saturday for the annual Southland Secondary School Athletics Championships.
It’s the place where we often discover the next emerging star, not just in athletics, but in other sports.
All the best to all that are taking part.
(On The Couch)
Southern Steel v Central Pulse - 7.15pm - Sky Sport 2
The Steel dished up a round one disaster when beaten 63-38 by the Northern Mystics in Auckland last Saturday night. It was a showing which did not impress disappointed coach Reinga Bloxham, as outlined in this Tribune article.
Seven days later, on Saturday night, the Steel will get its chance to respond to that first up showing when it takes on the Central Pulse in Wellington.
There’s also the small matter of captain Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit’s 200th milestone game to play for.
Get the chip & dip ready and tune in Steel fans.
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