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Th e Contenders... Mid Canterbury

2013 Standing: Meads Cup champions

Mid Canterbury will be taking nothing for granted as they strive for a consecutive title. “We will really need to shift the bar this season, it won’t be easy,” states coach Glenn Moore.

“Last year the players worked hard, displaying good ethics. They enjoyed the new environment and really bought into our plans on and off the field. We did our best to make the team become part of this community.”

Inspiring leader and Heartland player of the year John Dampney fresh from a recent hit out for the Barbarians against the Highlanders squad in Invercargill is raring to go. Adding sting to the loose trio will be explosive flanker Gary Redmond formerly of the Tasman Makos. Another home grown product, hefty former Northland ITM Cup prop Scott Vessey will bolster an already solid set piece.

Influential playmaker Murray Williams should return to steer Mid Canterbury around the park. The experience he accrued with Japan, the Chiefs and Bay of Plenty proved invaluable last season. The door will also remain open for exciting utility back Dwayne Burrows who is having a crack with Otago.

Moore who has had an enlarged squad of 35 players working on conditioning and skills since February can sense the Mid Canterbury public are ready for the Heartland Championship to commence: “I can feel a real buoyancy in the air whenever I go into town.”