Mid Canterbury loom as major obstacle to cup challenge

With three outright wins in as many games, Southland should be in the box seat to challenge for the big prize in New Zealand’s minorassociation provincial cricket – the Hawke Cup.

But despite rolling out one of the more impressive campaigns in many seasons, the Steve Jacksoncoached team isn’t yet assured of a trip to either Hamilton on Nelson to challenge for the cup.

The Hawke Cup format sees New Zealand’s 22 associations split into four zones.

The winner of each zone gets the chance to challenge the holders – at the moment that’s Hamilton.

Southland is part of the Southern Zone which includes Otago Country, North Otago, Mid Canterbury and South Canterbury.

To date this season Southland have had three comfortable outright wins – Otago Country, North Otago and South Canterbury.

Mid Canterbury, however, are still nipping at Southland’s heels after they beat North Otago outright at the weekend which followed their previous outright win over Otago Country.

If Mid Canterbury beat South Canterbury this weekend the Southland-mid Canterbury fixture from February 25 would loom as basically a Southern Zone final.

Jackson admitted yesterday it would be nice to head into that clash knowing a challenge for the cup was sorted, but that was out of their hands.

Southland, who will be in Hamilton where the hosts defend the cup against Nelson, will be eagerly awaiting news this weekend on the Mid Canterbury-south Canterbury game from Timaru. If Southland are to book a challenge they will either meet Hamilton in Hamilton or head to Nelson if Nelson grab the cup.

Southland or Mid Canterbury’s challenge will be a three-day game played from March 9-11.

Hamilton highlighted last weekend that it would take a very good performance to lift the cup from them.

In a defence against Wairarapa, they piled on 678 batting first, including a knock of 170 from New Zealand test wicketkeeper BJ Watling.

In reply Wairarapa were bowled out for just 137.