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”.
Stags 2023 countdown: Assessing the locking options
We are a couple of months away from the start of the 2023 National Provincial Championship season. Logan Savory is taking a look at some of the Southland Stags’ playing prospects for the 2023 season.
Today he looks at the locking stocks, which include a couple of players who have been playing in Spain and now want a crack at the Stags. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content)
Cycling tension: Is Southland's glamour sport splintered?
Southland now has two cycling clubs, Cycling Southland and the new G Force Cycling Club. At this point in time, it appears there has been little dialogue between the two organisations which has prompted the suggestion the sport is splintered. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content)
Thursday night club rugby results…
Some Division One and Division Two Southland club rugby games were held on Thursday night ahead of Kings Birthday Weekend.
Results:
(Division One)
Wyndham 35, Albion 8
Drummond-Limehills-Star 26, Te Anau 24
Pioneer 26, Edendale 18
(Division Two)
Marist 36, Pirates-Old Boys 19
Woodlands 23, Blues 17
Round 15: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
Overall standings: Scott Eade (346 points), Jason Rutledge (311), Matt Saunders (296).
Five points are allocated for each winner picked, and a bonus point if the margin is also correct.
Double duties for Brendon Leitch this weekend in France
Southland’s Brendon Leitch will race in two separate series this weekend at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France. Along with Leipert Motorsport teammates Kerong Li and Jean-Francos Brunot, the trio will compete in the Paul Ricard 1000, the second round of the 2023 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe as well as Leitch racing in the opening round of the 2023 Lamborghini Super Trofeo Europe (one-make) series. (READ MORE HERE).
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(Out & About)
Queens Park v Green Island (Chatham Cup) - Saturday, 2pm - Surrey Park 2, Invercargill
Invercargill club Queens Park will get the chance to mix with a South Island League team on Saturday with the Chatham Cup showdown to be played in the depth south.
Expect it to be a notch up in level and well worth a watch to see how our hometown lads can match against the highly regarded lads from Dunedin.
Head down to Surrey Park at 2pm for a look.
(On the Couch)
Blues v Highlanders - Friday, 7pm - Eden Park, Auckland
The Highlanders can lock in a top-eight spot with a victory over the Blues tonight in Auckland.
But again, that’s not what appeals the most about this game Southlanders. Our Stags midfielder Matt Whaanga gets another start at centre after an encouraging debut against the Reds seven days earlier.
Added to that Scott Gregory comes into the starting lineup wearing the No 14 jersey and of course Gore hero Ethan de Groot is a must watch at loosehead prop.
In case you missed it…
Foundation coach: 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).
