Opening derby eagerly awaited

• Published date: 24 June 2022
• Publication title: Sports Tab

Dunedin Thunder

First season in league: 2008.

Championships: None.

Last year: Won 4, lost 10.

Coach: Felipe Aguirre.

Key players: Regan Wilson, Ben Harford, Tristan Darling.

The oil: Suffered a huge loss in longtime star Paris Heyd, as well as Joe Orr. Injured player Felipe Aguirre steps in for his rookie season as coach. Still retains a handy core and has some youth coming through.

Home games: v Red Devils (July 15-16), v Admirals (July 29-30), v Swarm (August 12-13), v Stampede (September 2-3).

Away games: v Stampede (June 25-26), v Red Devils (August 6-7), v Admirals (August 27-28), v Swarm (September 10-11).

Southern Stampede

First season in league: 2005.

Championships: 2005, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019.

Last year: Won 15, lost 0.

Coach: Cam Frear.

Key players: Stefan Amston, Mitchell Frear, Connor Harrison.

The oil: The Stampede was robbed blind of a championship a year ago...