Charity stripe not charitable for Rams
Cashmere Technical are determined to achieve what no-one has been able to do in the 18-year history of the Mainland Premier League – win four titles in a row.
Tech held off Nelson Suburbs by just two points last winter to pull off a three-peat and again loom as firm favourites.
Rival clubs are envious of their success and coach John Brown expects their opponents to lift every time they face them in 2016.
‘‘There’ll be a fair bit of pressure on us. Everybody will want to knock us off our perch. The boys, that’s what motivates them.’’
Nelson, Ferrymead Bays and a new look Coastal Spirit, who have recruited strongly, shape as the biggest threats to Tech’s dominance.
Universities, who finished fifth last season, have also bolstered their squad with coach Robbie Barraclough declaring it ‘‘as good as we’ve ever had’’.
Tech have lost winger/striker Shawn O’Brien to Coastal and will have to overcome the loss of Canterbury United defender Julyan Collett, who is moving to Auckland for work. Defenders Jeremy Wild and Nick Wortelboer are both unavailable, while talented youngster Oscar Evans is on a football scholarship in the United States.
Key Tech men, Canterbury national league players Aaron Clapham, Dan Terris, Gary Ogilvie and Tom Schwarz will sit out the start of the season, but filter back later in the competition. English marksman Liam Oxley, who stood out for Tech last season, returns for his second MPL campaign.
Brown will be able to call on the experience of Stu Kelly, Dan Schwarz, Danny Boys and goalkeeper Danny Knight to start their campaign.
He is confident youngsters Jordan Halligan, Roddy Lockhart, Sho Mathieson, Jayden Booth, Ben Howes and Ryan Stanley will step up and make an impact.
‘‘Hopefully with what we’ve done the last three years, we can raise the other teams to get up and show them where the level is,’’ Brown said.
Coastal under new coach Ekow Quainoo have been active bringing in fresh talent. Aside from O’Brien, they have also added Western midfielder Jacob Allen, who is out with a knee injury until mid-April, former Tech and Universities goalkeeper Pieter Taco Bierema and Hawke’s Bay United defender Sean Liddicoat.
Coastal will have to find a new source for goals up front with potent strikers Gareth Turnbull and Tim Dunn not featuring this season.
Quainoo, a ‘‘Rangers boy, through and through’’ wants to be the one to get the best out of Aaron Spain, who is yet to deliver on his true potential.
The Danny Halligan-coached Ferrymead Bays have retained the bulk of last year’s squad, including skipper Chris Murphy, veteran goalkeeper Adam Highfield and striker Michael White, who broke the MPL record for goals in a season with 24 in 2015. Bays have picked up hard-working Dragons’ defender Andreas Wilson and Fraser Angus from Western, along with Christchurch United English midfielder Andrew Tuckey.
Nelson will be missing integral performers Sam Ayers, Ross McPhie and Omar Guardiola, who caused problems up front last season.
They will lean heavily on Canterbury United goalkeeper Coey Turipa, who will captain the side, fellow Dragon Atkin Kaua, and English player-co-coach Ben Wright. Universities have been impressive in pre-season and will be targeting a top four finish. Stalwarts Simon Tither and Hamish Foy will be integral to their prospects. Canterbury Rams’ coach Mark Dickel won’t be tearing strips off his players at training.
Dickel had every right to be livid after his team butchered a 14 point third quarter lead in their 71-69 loss to Taranaki at Cowles Stadium on Thursday night.
After a pleasing home win over the Nelson Giants in the opening round of the National Basketball League, it was a disappointing way for the Rams to back up.
Canterbury were their own worst enemy, converting 5/18 (28 per cent) from the free throw line and scoring just 29 second half points on 34 per cent shooting. Late in the game, they couldn’t put the ball in the hoop, missing several easy lay-ups.
Rather than roast his players, Dickel praised Taranaki for the way they disrupted his side and fought back into the contest.
Taranaki lost all 18 games last season, but under new coach Ross McMains are 2-0 to start 2016.
‘‘I’m not upset or disappointed. I realise in basketball, it’s just as easy to lose as it is to win,’’ Dickel said.
‘‘All the players were mad after the game. You don’t need to tell them what they’re doing wrong. They’re all smart enough to know you should make your free throws.’’
Canterbury’s free throw shooting is fast becoming a major concern. Against Nelson, they also struggled, hitting just 9/19 (48 per cent).
A return of 14/37 (38 per cent) is unacceptable and the Rams’ players need to take greater individual responsibility if they are to fix that shameful stat.
‘‘I don’t really know what that was because we work on free throws a lot in practice. You’ve got to believe they’re going to go in.’’
The Rams weren’t helped by the late scratching of forward Marcel Jones, who contributed 22 points and 11 rebounds against Nelson.
Jones is battling a groin strain and Dickel hopes it isn’t serious and won’t sideline him for the next few weeks.
‘‘Marcel is a great player. He could be the best player in the whole league.’’
Canterbury face a challenging triple-header next weekend, hosting Southland on Friday and then travelling to play Aucklandbased Super City on Saturday night and Hawke’s Bay on Monday.
Dickel acknowledged they needed greater offensive production from American power forward Desharick Guidry, who has been in foul trouble in both games.
Guidry fouled out in 16 minutes against Taranaki with two points and seven rebounds.
‘‘No-one felt worse after the game than him. I really believe in him. He’s a good player. He’s got to find a way to keep himself in the game.’’
Dickel was encouraged by the play of Marques Whippy and Gareth Dawson, who was effective with nine points and six rebounds.
Off-season acquisition, Tongan guard Marcus Alipate, also had an impact with 10 points and looks a decent player.
Dickel predicts the Rams will need to win 11 of their 18 games to make the top four.
Round 1: Saturday 2.45pm: