Spotlight on Southland Sport: Friday Edition
Plenty of sport to delve into in this week's Spotlight on Sport: Friday Edition. Enjoy the read.
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Oh so close to ending a 45-year wait….
When Jacob Duffy was called into the New Zealand test cricket squad it prompted a thought.
When was the last cricketer, who had played for Southland, to play in a test match.
When reports started to surface that the 28-year-old was actually a strong prospect to make his test debut I started to quickly delve back into the cricketing archives to try find the answer.
From what I can figure Robert ‘Jumbo’ Anderson played the last of his nine tests in August 1978.
I think I am right to say no former Southland cricketer has played in a test since that 1978 outing from Anderson.
Brian McKechnie, Jeff Wilson, and Duffy himself have played in limited over fixtures for New Zealand since Anderson’s test, but none of the trio has got a start in a test.
As it turns out the whispers coming out of Mt Maunganui were off the mark. Duffy was not included in the playing 11 with Scott Kuggeleijn selected ahead of him.
The New Zealand Cricket Almanacks are back on the shelf for now.
From the Archives….
Jacob Duffy put his name in lights for all to see in 2012 when he debuted for the Otago Volts in a T20 fixture while he was still attending Southland Boys’ High School. The then 17-year-old took three wickets on debut with one of those wickets Kane Williamson.
Take a trip down memory lane and have a read of the story that I put together for The Southland Times in 2012 following that game. (READ MORE HERE).
Goldie's Chance, the horse that's giving its 46 owners a thrill
Goldie's Chance has turned out to be an absolute cracker and more success could be coming her way in Saturday's $100,000 ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas. (READ MORE HERE)
Fancy a trip to the Gore Racecourse on Sunday….
Thoroughbred racing takes centre stage in Southland this weekend with the Southland Racing Club hosting its first-ever $100,000 race on Saturday.
However, if you prefer the standardbreds the Gore Harness Racing Club will host an 11-race grass track meeting on Sunday.
The first race goes at 12.40pm and the last is scheduled for 5.54pm.
Joseph Kororiadi…..
The Murihuku Swimming Club member has been named in a Swimming New Zealand’s “Long List” to prepare for the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games which will take place in Trinidad and Tobago.
Kororiadi is one of 40 swimmers named on the “Long List”.
To be eligible for the Youth Commonwealth Games, swimmers must swim a qualifying time at the 2023 Apollo Projects NZ Age Group Championships in the Hawke's Bay later this year.
Well done, and all the best Joseph. We all know how hard swimmers train; you deserve every reward you get.
Coach sold on import's return from first conversation
“The team this year has a lot of stuff to set straight from last year that we didn’t accomplish, and I feel confident in the guys that are coming back. (READ MORE HERE).
Gilmour Rosebowl’s home is still at Waikaka….
Waikaka’s female golfers kept the Gilmour Rosebowl locked away for another month at least with its victory over Invercargill club Queens Park on Tuesday.
The Gilmour Rosebowl is a challenge trophy competition among women’s teams representing golf clubs throughout Southland and is played for monthly.
Next up, in terms of challengers, is the Invercargill Gold Club.
(Out & About)
The Southland Junior Athletics Championships will take place at Surrey Park this weekend and the weather looks like it will play its part.
Long-time Southland athletics coach Lance Smith offers up a personal view heading into the province’s junior championships.
Smith: “Here’s how I see it. Sport is about competition and competition is about winning. But winning isn’t necessarily coming first. It can be doing better than last time, improving on times or distances, finishing higher up in the field than previously, learning new skills, pushing your personal boundaries, learning more about yourself, loving what you do, any number of things with the most important one, having fun.
Do all or any of these and you are a winner. And that is what I hope to see at the champs.
The photo below epitomises my feelings towards youth sport, particularly 11’s, 12’s, 13’s and 14’s competing at their championship.
One of the girls had just achieved a PB in her high jump. The other two are pleased for her and are as delighted as she is even though they are in a competition and competing against each other. I honestly can’t remember the outcome or who won; all I remember is all three were winners that day.”
(On The Couch)
Game 3 of the New Zealand Breakers-Tasmania Jack Jumpers semifinal series will take place in Auckland on Sunday and can be viewed through Sky Sport. The series is locked up at 1-1.
There are not many ANBL games where you can’t find a Southland Sharks connection to it with former Sharks players scattered throughout the league. Included in the Jack Jumpers roster is Jarrad Weeks who was a popular import at 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
In case you missed it….
Super Bowl ring: “It was a really beautiful moment, yes, I’m standing here as Atipa, but I was bringing everyone with me, I was bringing Zimbabwe with me, bringing New Zealand with me, bringing Otautau with me.” (READ MORE HERE)
Nathan Burdon: “I’ve been fortunate to see the paddock from both sides of the fence and that’s the perspective I want to explore in this column.” (READ MORE HERE).
Letter from chairman: With the announcement last week of the appointment of Matt Saunders as Director of Rugby, a new role for the union, Rugby Southland thought it best to provide further detail into the role. (READ MORE HERE)
