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”.
Reflecting: Foundation Sharks NBL coach talks the early days
Richard Dickel prompted a chuckle in 2006 while being interviewed for a Development and Operations Manager job at the Southland Basketball Association. Dickel suggested the long-term goal should be to have a team playing in the New Zealand National Basketball League. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).
Stags midfielder to make Highlanders debut
Southland Stags midfielder Matt Whaanga is set to make his Highlanders debut against the Queensland Reds in Dunedin tonight [Friday]. Thomas Umaga-Jensen has been ruled out with a calf injury and replaced by Whaanga. (READ MORE HERE).
The time Aaron Smith, Jimmy Cowan 'butted heads'
After coming off the bench against the Bulls on March 5, 2011 Aaron Smith made the cheeky suggestion to Jimmy Cowan's face in Pretoria that he should be starting ahead of Cowan. The rest is history. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).
2023 Stags countdown: Assessing the propping options
We are just over a couple of months away from the start of the 2023 National Provincial Championship season. Over the coming weeks, Logan Savory is going to take another look at some of the Southland Stags’ playing prospects for the 2023 season. He starts today by assessing the propping stocks. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).
Round 14: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
Overall standings: Scott Eade (318 points), Jason Rutledge (289), Matt Saunders (268).
Five points are allocated for each winner picked, and a bonus point if the margin is also correct.
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A former champion Southland racehorse has died
One of Southland's harness racing stars of yesteryear has died. Howard Bromac, aged 23, was put down at Macca Lodge, Wendonside, this week, his former trainer-driver Kirk Larsen said. (READ MORE HERE).
Racing dates sorted…
Another massive season of harness racing looms with the announcement of the dates for the 2023/2024 harness racing season.
As it was last year, one of the big features of the new season is the positioning of the Invercargill Cup in December, scheduled for a twilight meeting on Friday 22 December. That date plus the 4pm start time positions it for Christmas break-up functions.
The traditional summer racing circuit will again visit Central Otago soon after New Year with meetings at Omakau (2 January), Roxburgh (4 January) and Cromwell (6 January). The Cromwell meeting is hosted by the Wyndham Harness Racing Club each year and as they did last year the club will return to Cromwell for two further meetings on Friday 23 February and Sunday 25 February.
The prestigious Diamonds Day takes place at Ascot Park Raceway, Invercargill on Sunday April 21 2024 while there are several feature events for each club throughout the season.
The season begins on Thursday 10 August with the Winton Harness Racing Club hosting a meeting at Central Southland Raceway in Winton.
(Out & About)
Southland Squash Open - Friday, Saturday - at Squash City (Onslow St, Invercargill), ILT Stadium Southland
The Southland Open has become a key date on the New Zealand squash calendar in recent years, with a record field assembling in 2022 and the capped 120-strong field for 2023 filling up in just one week when registrations opened in February.
The men’s and women’s fields will battle it out at both Squash City and ILT Stadium Southland and there will be no shortage of action across the courts for people to check out.
(On the Couch)
Highlanders v Reds - Friday, 7pm - Sky Sport
The Highlanders less than inspiring season is on the ropes. It needs to knock over the Reds tonight [Friday] to keep its top-eight playoff hopes alive. Yes, that’s a thing in a 12-team competition.
But most importantly one of our own, Matt Whaanga, is making his Highlanders debut.
Go well Matt!