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”.
How about this for a club cricket XI?
Logan Savory has had a go at coming up with a Southland Club Cricket XI from his time following the competition. Some only made brief appearances, others are long-serving legends in the Southland club scene. Click here to check out the XI. (Paid subscriber content).
Club cricket final: Appleby or Invercargill-Old Boys?
Appleby hasn’t beaten Invercargill-Old Boys for two seasons, which included a 145-run loss in the 2022 final, they believe that can change on Saturday. Appleby captain Sam Downing and Invercargill-Old Boys captain Liam McWilliam share their thoughts on 2023 ILT Premier League decider. [READ MORE HERE].
Southlander wins big at NZ Cricket Awards
Keegan Russell has become the third Southland Cricket Association development officer to win a New Zealand Cricket Award during the past eight years. (READ MORE HERE).
Round 5: Tribune Super Rugby picks panel….
All three of our panellists picked five winners from six games this weekend. Matt Saunders loyalty to the Highlanders finally paid off although this week Scott Eade and Jason Rutledge both also picked the Highlanders.
Eade did pick more margins correctly which meant he was the round 4 winner and still holds and overall lead.
Overall picks standings: Scott Eade (100 points), Jason Rutledge (96), Matt Saunders (79).
Skipping NPC and starting at Super Rugby….
First of all, a big congrats to Jack Taylor Taylor has been named on the bench for the Highlanders showdown against the Drua in Dunedin on Saturday. That’s a big win for Southland rugby’s pathways programme.
The former Southland Boys’ High School pupil is in line to make his Super Rugby Pacific debut in Dunedin.
It’s an impressive effort given the hooker is just 19 years old in his second year out of school.
It follows another couple of Gore products - Finn Hurley and Cameron Millar - who made their Super Rugby debuts against the Force at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Sunday.
Now Taylor and Hurley have something interesting in common. If Taylor does come off the bench against the Drua both would have played Super Rugby before playing at NPC level.
It’s another example of how Super Rugby officials now largely skip provincial rugby and do their head-hunting - in regard to a talent search - through the first XV and under-20s systems now.
For someone whose No 1 rugby interest is the NPC it’s a little concerning, but also not that surprising that the NPC is not necessarily our major rugby breeding ground any longer.
In saying that… Long live the NPC. We’ll get to see Taylor in maroon later in the year.
Brendon Leitch confirms Michelin Le Mans Cup entry
Brendon Leitch has confirmed he will line up in the 2023 Michelin Le Mans Cup that gets underway at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya on April 22. Leipert Motorsport will enter two Lamborghini Huracán GT3 EVO2 cars. (READ MORE HERE).
Age is just a number… Just ask Te Anau’s town folk
Most 70-year-olds are putting their feet up, but not Te Anau’s Gail Kirkman and Warren Green. They are too busy breaking records. (READ MORE HERE).
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(Out & About)
Southern Steel v Magic - Saturday 7.30pm - ILT Stadium Southland
Will the Steel faithful turn out in force on Saturday night? It’s been a tough first four games for Reinga Bloxham’s girls as they continue to search for a much better showing.
It won the fourth quarter against the Mainland Tactix at ILT Stadium Southland on Monday, and the key question will be if they can take that small confidence boost into Saturday night.
(On The Couch)
Highlanders v Drua - Saturday 4.35pm - Sky Sport 1
Can the Highlanders go back-to-back? More importantly though, with our Southland eye-patch on, will Jack Taylor make it off the bench for his Super Rugby debut?
In case you missed it….
I [Nathan Burdon] was helping out at Challenge Wanaka a couple of weeks ago and got to see first-hand the value the inclusion of an adaptive event can have. Not just for the 28 participants - some who had travelled from as far as Christchurch to take part - but for all the supporters, and those watching on with genuine joy as those young people tested themselves. [READ MORE HERE].
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