Royals optimistic despite loss of experience

Connor Neil holds the ball for the Dunedin City Royals in their preseason game against Selwyn at the weekend. PHOTO: JULIE COLLINGS

They might be down on a little bit of experience this season, but you can never count the Dunedin City Royals out.

Preparations are well under way for the Royals, who have been in preseason since the start of January, as they again line up for the Southern League starting next week.

The Royals finished fourth last year — and will be the only team south of Christchurch after Green Island opted to sit out this season — finishing with eight wins, five draws and five losses.

Head coach Richard Murray has been impressed with early signs from his team, but admitted they had shed some experience in the offseason.

Captain Ollie Petersen (Waterside Karori), Kaleb de Groot-Green (Christchurch United), Tom Stewart (Selwyn), Ben Stanley (Napier City Rovers) and Sean Cooper (FC Bulleen, in Melbourne) have all left.

Some had finished university, while others had been scouted by other clubs.

"That’s just the nature of the beast, being a university city," Murray said.

"Part of the club is being a pathway for players to go on to bigger and better things.

"It’s a lot of experience that we’ve lost and they’re genuinely good people as well, which is the more important thing.

"Also, it’s an opportunity for others and it gives them again a path into the first team and to play at that level."

The Royals have picked up Cato Williams (Queenstown), Jack Julian (University) and Cam Clark (Roslyn), who all want to test themselves at the higher level.

Among those to keep an eye on are Alex Boomer in goal and Hayden Aish, who was the Royals player of the year last season.

The Southern League is a long season, running from March to September, and after a red-hot start last season — the Royals beat Cashmere Technical, who finished in the top two — they tripped up towards the latter half due to injuries.

"That’s what caught us out last year," Murray said.

"I think while we thought we had good depth, once we got a few injuries to the key players, it did make a difference to how we played because we lost a little bit of momentum and then it was hard to get it back."

The Royals struggled to get preseason games against other Southern League sides, only playing Nomads and Selwyn, and suiting up against local teams.

"You play the cards that are in front of you, so it is what it is."

Another Canterbury team, University of Canterbury, had been added to the competition this year which meant the Royals would be making about eight trips to Christchurch, and one to Nelson, throughout the season.

There was always movement along the league, especially considering Christchurch clubs "have a few more carrots to dangle in front of players", but the Royals continued to learn from previous seasons.

"For us, it’s about just fighting hard every week and trying to be consistent and improve.

"It’s tough against those bigger teams — we also know that we can compete with them.

"Probably the most important thing is picking up points against teams that are similar or below us, those ones you’re somewhat expected to win.

"It’s important that you pick those results up because that’s what builds momentum and confidence."

Apart from their opener, when they will play Cashmere Technical at Logan Park next Friday, the Royals will play all their home games at Tahuna Park this year, utilising the upgrade the ground received during the Fifa Women’s World Cup last year.