Numbers down but plenty of quality still on hand
DIVISION TWO
Otautau’s inability to field a team and the promotion to division one of Bluff, Pioneer, Wyndham and Mossburn will result in a 14-team division two competition this season.
Nineteen teams contested last season’s provincial-wide extravaganza which involved clubs in more travel expenses and made stern overall demands on all.
Otautau’s regrettable withdrawal will not greatly weaken the overall strength of Western Southland representation that still has Riverton, Wrights Bush and Ohai Nightcaps to call on. Some Otautau players might be absorbed into other western teams.
Invercargill teams on hand are Pirates-Old Boys, Collegiate, Star, Woodlands, Blues and Marist. Tokanui is the sole southern Southland aspirant with AlbionExcelsior of similar status in Eastern Southland.
Balfour-Lumsden is the only northern Southland flagbearer with Midlands and Central Pirates jointly carrying the Central Southland mantle.
After their recent precompetition defeat of division one team Waiau Star for the coveted Western Banner, Riverton look in sharp early season fettle to debut against neighbour Wrights Bush who have also performed pleasingly in warmup games.
Riverton were a gallant competition runner-up to Waiau Star in sodden conditions in the 2011 division two final.
Riverton came out firing early last season only to be tripped by injuries and draw peculiarities that created a playing gap of three weeks. The team then lost momentum but still won nine of its 14 games.
Coaches and managers across the board have expressed concern about playing numbers, particularly in specialist front row positions.
Riverton president Rodney Lonneker, who played for the club, as well as Waikiwi and Marist, and his coaches Corey Mennell, Steve McKay and Joel Allan spoke enthusiastically of Riverton’s resurgence with almost 30 available players.
Lonneker, a local 39-year-old saw mill operations manager, said: ‘‘It is all about helping our young players in the team who are our future. We must provide an inviting environment for them.’’
The team had set small game-bygame goals after organising young and enthusiastic coaching and support crews, coach Mennell said. The team was fit, raring to go and promised to do well, Lonneker enthused.
He said four school teams involving 100 boys and girls underlined enthusiasm for the game at the seaside settlement which was New Zealand’s second oldest and steeped in sporting history and achievement.
Last season’s beaten semifinalists Blues and Midlands will again be formidable aspirants for major honours. Blues last season won 12 of their 14 games before succumbing to Wyndham. Midlands (10 from 14) were knocked out by competition winner Bluff which tasted only one round-robin defeat by Mossburn.
Collegiate, with eight wins, were not far off the pace at times last season and must not be counted out this season.
Coaches and officials said dry autumn conditions had manicured playing fields into a cricketing environment that would favour fitter and faster teams employing expansive tactics.