Spotlight on Southland Sport: Sunday Special
The Southland Tribune does its best to wrap some key moments in the Southland sporting weekend. Enjoy.
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Marty Banks touch and go; Stags look for first five-eighth cover
Marty Banks looks like a touch-and-go prospect for the start of the Southland Stags’ 2023 National Provincial Championship season. (READ MORE HERE). (Paid subscriber content).
Club Rugby: Barbarians burst Woodlands' bubble in top-of-table clash
The Eastern-Northern Barbarians claimed the top-off-the-table bragging rights, Tevita Latu impressed as Marist continues to be the big improvers, while Pirates-Old Boys farewelled Matt James with a win over Star. Logan Savory wraps up round seven of Southland’s premier club rugby competition. (READ MORE HERE).
Southland dominates World Championship selection
Cycling New Zealand has confirmed its nine-strong group of promising teenagers to compete at the world junior track champs with three of them hailing from Southland. (READ MORE HERE).
Oh so close…. Southern Steel produce its best showing
The Southern Steel has delivered its best performance of the 2023 ANZ Premierships season but cruelling has come up short of victory against the Central Pulse in Invercargill on Saturday night.
The performance wasn’t faultless, but the pure desire shown by the Steel was commendable as they finally delivered a 60-minute effort, igniting its fortress of fans.
A halftime advantage has previously eluded the Steel this season, but a tenacious effort earned a five-goal buffer heading to the locker room and the team’s faithful knew a thriller was looming.
As the Pulse held its composure, the Steel faltered slightly, and the resulting hesitation was enough to level the odds on the scoreboard heading into the final stanza.
A goal-for-goal stand-off unfolded with neither side giving an inch in a physical and willing contest.
The Steel twice fought back from two-goal deficits to level the scores while also having the chance to take the win with 40 seconds on the clock.
Ultimately it all came down to a 50/50 possession call in the final seconds of an epic showdown to finally seal the Steel’s fortunes, leaving head coach Reinga Bloxham feeling “gutted” for her players.
Shooting Stats - Steel:
Saviour Tui 31/38 (82%)
Georgia Heffernan 12/14 (86%)
Shooting Stats - Pulse:
Amelia Walmsley 25/26 (96%)
Tiana Metuarau 13/15 (87%)
Joyce Mvula 6/7 (86%)
MVP: Kate Burley (Steel)
Te Anau bank another win in Southland football comp….
Te Anau’s encouraging start to the 2023 Southland Express Men’s Premier Football competition continues.
Te Anau has won all three of its games to start the season with the latest a 4-0 victory over Gore on Saturday.
The lakeside town remains unbeaten alongside Queens Park at the top of the league. Queens Park again impressed on Saturday with its 6-1 victory over Winton.
The Thistle-Old Boys showdown at Waverly Park was a tense one with Thistle eventually emerging as 2-1 winners.
Old Boys went 1-0 up with a goal to Nikolai Molijn before Riley Milne-Wahren equalised in the 17th minute.
Thistle had plenty of opportunities in the second half and through captain Alexander Simons it found what turned out to be the match-winner in the 60th minute.
In other Southland Express Men’s premier fixtures, Thistle’s second team lost 7-0 to the Gore Wanderers, and Old Boys’ other team beat Southend United 2-1.
Meanwhile in Southern Premier League action Queens Park was beaten 1-0 in Queenstown on Saturday.
With a string of injuries and withdrawals Queens Park’s squad depth was severely tested.
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In case you missed it….
Are these the top 10 Sharks? The Southland Sharks family of players since its inception into New Zealand’s National Basketball League has reached 100 through its 13 years. Logan Savory takes a stab at picking the top 10 players from the Sharks’ days to date. (READ MORE HERE).
World Champs bound: Surrounded by the most beautiful maunga in the country - let’s say the world - it shouldn’t really be a surprise the Fiordland athletics club will send three representatives to the world mountain and trail running championships later this year. (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