Adrian Seconi

A family that shoots clays together, stays together, Commonwealth Games competitor Natalie Rooney says.

With a gun slung over his left shoulder and a vest dotted with badges, Alistair Stuart looks the part. And he has certainly been around the traps.

Forget a gentle warm-up. Otago's pre-season matches against Canterbury next week could be the most important games of the summer for some of the squad's fringe batsmen.

Rally driving sisters Heather Johnston and Karen Harper will jostle for family bragging rights when they compete in the Lawrence Rally this weekend.

The prospect looks promising for the return of top-level cricket to Alexandra's Molyneux Park after Otago coach Mike Hesson gave the pitch a cautious nod of approval yesterday.

Basketball Otago (BBO) has a new manager, former Nuggets swingman Markham Brown, who is charged with driving the organisation forward.

The next two days will be crucial for more than just the 25 players on show during two one-day trial games at Alexandra's Molyneux Park.

The Country is coming to town and it is dead keen to show the city lads how strong cricket is in the regions. Cricket writer Adrian Seconi previews the Dunedin senior club competition beginning today.

Defense. Defence. Defence. It is a chant, it is a mantra, it is absolutely key for Otago's national championship prospects.

Competition for spots in the Otago middle order just got a lot tougher with former Canterbury batsman Iain Robertson relocating to Dunedin.

Nothing lifts the spirits quite like a cheque for $25 million.

Southland sisters Kirstin and Caitlin Anderson hope to follow in the footsteps of the Daniels siblings and taste success at the Commonwealth Games.

Down but not out. Otago is still alive in the national championship but must beat Auckland-Waitakere on Thursday to nab a spot in the top four.

The Southern Steel has made a tentative booking to play all its home fixtures in Dunedin next year after a heavy snowfall caused part of the roof of Invercargill's Stadium Southland to collapse on Saturday.

Otago shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit has been named in the Steel squad alongside New Zealand under-21 and Canterbury shooter Sophia Fenwick.

Shooter Te Paea Selby-Rickit is suddenly the hottest property in Otago netball and is still coming to terms with her sudden rise.

Stadium Southland management is considering importing a sprung wooden court from Singapore to host the region's netball and basketball games in the velodrome until the stadium can be rebuilt.