The Mangere East Hawks haven’t won a SAS Fox Memorial Premiership since capturing their maiden title back in 2003 but under former Kiwi Richie Blackmore they are daring to dream.
The Hawks completed and up and down qualifying campaign, beating some top sides while also losing to teams below them on the ladder, on the way to finishing the first round in sixth place.
They enter the SAS Fox Memorial Premiership proper this week knowing they have a capable side if they can learn to back-up good performances.
“Unfortunately, it is where I thought it might be – I say that because we are quite a new squad,” Blackmore told Counties Sports Hub. “I expected we might have made bigger improvements up to this point and I don’t think we have.
“In saying that we are still in quite a good position, so we just have to keep on working.
“From a talent point of view there is certainly a lot of that in the side. A lot of that has been driven by players returning to the club and wanting to contribute back to their club from their junior years.
“It doesn’t matter what quality you have you still have to turn the page to get consistency.
“We probably haven’t quite got that right. Our inconsistency on the pitch is a reflection of that.”
With seven weeks until finals the Hawks need to try to find that consistency if they are a chance of landing a second title and Blackmore thinks that is more than achievable.
“I think we are not far away and I kinda feel the players have the attention to turn a corner,” he said. “Part of that is confidence – when you get those little things right.
“We have the talent to challenge the top three.”
The top three sides have been a class above most of the season. The Pt Chevalier Pirates went through unbeaten while Glenora dropped just their match against the Pirates. Mt Albert made a slow start but finish the qualifiers in top form and it seems the remaining clubs are chasing the top three.
But Blackmore insists there are teams outside the top three capable of producing a one-off performance to win a finals match.
“The three teams have been sitting there for the vast majority of the last 10 years so they have solid foundations in place,” he explained.
“The other teams are looking to challenge for that fourth spot.
“At this point those teams are hoping for a chance to go into the finals and then get a good performance on the day, which all of them are capable of.”
The Hawks begin their SAS Fox Memorial Premiership campaign against the Bay Roskill Vikings at Blockhouse Bay Reserve on Saturday.
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