Broad appreciation of Southland support
SOUTHLAND boss Steve Mitchell has praised the whole Southland rugby community for their support for getting the team in with a chance of making the playoffs.
Mitchell said the whole rugby community had got behind the Southland team this year and worked hard to get the side in better shape.
With one round remaining in the Mitre 10 Cup, Southland is sitting fifth on the championships ladder, with Northland just ahead of it.
Southland will play CountiesManukau at Pukekohe on Friday night and is a good chance to get a result. Northland, which is three points ahead of Southland, has the tougher task of playing Waikato in Whangarei on Saturday.
Mitchell, the union’s general manager, who has been in the job for six months, said a lot of background work had gone into the team in the past 18 months.
‘‘The people of Southland are supporting what the team is trying to do. It is about getting everyone involved. Getting everyone on the bus rather than sitting in the stands,’’ he said.
‘‘So you see the likes of Jimmy Cowan and Jason Rutledge running the water for the guys on the sideline. Getting life members to hand out the jerseys before the game and explain what it means to play against Otago for Southland.
‘‘At last week’s game the chant was going up for Southland and they told me it has been a long time since that has happened.’’
Southland stalwart Leicester Rutledge is president of the union while Murray Brown, who has played more than 100 games for Southland, is on the board.
Mitchell said the side had been at the bottom of the Mitre 10 Cup table for too long and it needed to change.
Southland has won three games this season and been close in another couple of games so was more competitive. It had ended a run of 27 straight losses last year with a victory over CountiesManukau although Southland still ended up at the bottom of the table.
Southland is being coached by Dale MacLeod, who is in his first year as head coach with the side.
Mitchell said MacLeod was a holistic coach who looked out for the wellbeing of his players.
‘‘We have gone from the bottom of the table to winning three games and there is still a game to go. We won’t be finishing bottom of the table this year.’’
Southland has not won away from home for five years.