The senior team had a thorough preseason of training and socialising to match the effort of the Limehills rugby committee members who were preparing to host their centenary celebrations in April.
Player depth had been a concern for DLS in recent seasons but there was a big squad assembled this year. Twenty of the DLS players took time off work for a week on the Gold Coast in March to play a game of rugby and socialise.
The DLS team is coached by Glen Tayler and Paul Millar and managed by Glen Cunningham and Steve Brunell. The captain is experienced forward Stanley Smith.
The team began the competition as one of the 16 teams in the division two grade but got off to a disappointing start with a 24-17 loss to Waiau Star in Tuatapere.
The celebrations at Limehills were enjoyed by many over three days. The local small black teams (primary school aged) and Central Southland College teams all played during the Saturday morning session.
A large group of former DLS players also found some rugby boots and played a game against the Wyndham presidents’ grade team. In the main game of the day DLS competed well in front of a big crowd but lost to Midlands 36-7.
The following week DLS earned a 29-26 win down at Bluff but then undid that good work with a 10-7 loss to Central Pirates.
The team bounced back at Drummond with an 88-26 win over Wrights Bush but two wins from five games was not good enough to qualify for the top half of the competition. DLS were consigned to division three for the remainder of the season.
The boys were beaten 45-29 by Wakatipu B in Queenstown. The 36-5 win over Collegiate on Drummond ‘Club Day’ was a good effort in the wet and muddy field conditions.
Last weekend DLS had a 60-point win over Blues B on the dry ground at Oreti Park.
DLS are currently placed on top of the division three points table after winning four of their five games. The boys will be playing at Wrights Bush this Saturday before hosting Marist B at Limehills next Thursday night in their last round-robin match.
DLS should be hosting a semifinal if they can hold their current form.
DLS 2026 Seniors: Troy McBride, Morgan Riordan, James Riordan, Zac Dunnage, Connor Wilson, Xavier Trussler, Jarrod Kean, Barney Wilson, Stan Smith, Liam Hickman, Corey Hurst, Sitiveni Timi, Hayden Jackson, Kyle Sinclair, Josh Kirk, Jimmy Johnstone, Nathan Milne, Cooper Dodds, Brooke Forde, Jackson Evans, Scott Bixley, Hayden Shearing, Nick Carleton, Matthew Scully, Daniel Thwaites, Chase Wilson, Harry Smith, Isaia Kubu.
