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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Club Rugby: 22 tries, two outings.... How's that for a start
“We are having a lot of fun, and we do that on Tuesday and Thursday at training as well, that is what rugby is about. As long as we can keep doing that, I think we’ll keep getting some good results." (READ MORE HERE).
Howley: 'I’m definitely back having another crack'
The Southland Stags has two halfbacks locked in for the 2023 NPC season, will Liam Howley nail down the third spot? (READ MORE HERE) (Paid subscriber content)
Veteran & the rookie… A special Southland rugby moment
There was a moment in the 72nd minute of the Highlanders’ victory over the Fiji Drua on Saturday in Dunedin.
For most, it was a simple lineout win late in a pretty one-sided contest. For the odd eagled-eyed Southland rugby follower it was something savour.
Nineteen-year-old hooker Jack Taylor on debut for the Highlanders threw a dart to the middle of the lineout where he hit 36-year-old lock Josh Bekhuis.
The two Southlander’s current stories are remarkable for almost the opposite reason.
Bekhuis has made a fairytale return to the Highlanders almost 14 years after he played his first game for the Dunedin-based team
On the flip side, Taylor is at the start of his Super Rugby career in just his second year out of school and without yet playing in an NPC game.
To put the whole thing into perspective, Taylor was in his first year of primary school when Bekhuis played his first game for the Highlanders.
Here’s hoping for much more to come from that Taylor-Bekhuis lineout combo this year when the pair unite during the Stags’ 2023 NPC campaign.
Appleby captain: 'It doesn't get better than that'
Appleby has beaten Invercargill-Old Boys in a thrilling 2022-23 Southland senior club cricket final to get its hands on the prized ILT Premier League trophy. (READ MORE HERE).
Southern Steel take 'small wins' from fifth loss
“I think we are at the stage where we need to take these small wins. Obviously, we want to actually win, but getting a bonus point is great, getting our attempts up was our target.” (READ MORE HERE).
Take a bow Marshall Erwood, Southland cyclist in hot form
Competing in the junior men’s racing Marshall Erwood claimed two titles in the elimination and scratch race at the Oceania Track Cycling Championships. (READ MORE HERE).
Get to know Erwood some more….
During the week Nathan Burdon penned a piece on Marshall Erwood which run in The Tribune. It’s a look at a what makes him tick and what’s ahead. Given his latest performances it might worth finding out a bit more about him given his name is likely to keep appearing in the future. Have a read. (READ MORE HERE).
Southlanders to the fore in Super Rugby Aupiki decider
Matatu - the South Island women’s team - has been crowned Super Aupiki champions for the first time.
It upset Chiefs Manawa 33-31 in front of 4,014 fans at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium Waikato.
The even better bit is the Matatu team featured three Southlanders in the starting line up - prop Amy Rule, lock Emma Dermody, and centre Amy du Plessis.
We might not have a Farah Palmer Cup team in Southland but the province is still playing an important role in breeding female rugby players.
This week Rule, Dermody, and du Plessis are our combined Tribune Sportsperson of the week.