Editorial: Glimmer of hope for Steamers fans

FILE

There hasn't been too much to celebrate if you are a Steamers fan this season.

They currently sit second from the bottom in the ITM Cup premiership competition and are in serious trouble of finding themselves being relegated to the championship division if they can't find that winning form.

It's only set to get worse, too, with the Bay travelling down to the capital to take on Wellington who currently sit in second place behind Auckland.

You'd have to be a real optimist to think the side can pull themselves out of the doldrums and salvage much from this season.

The only real glimmer of hope for the blue and gold and their fans is the opportunity of a possible Ranfurly Shield challenge.

Current shield-holders Counties Manukau have to put the shield on the line against Taranaki on Sunday. If the yellow and blacks can keep the remarkable pattern of the new holders losing the shield at their first defence, awin will see Taranaki defend it against the Steamers on Saturday, September 14.

A shield challenge always brings out the best in a team and that's exactly what the Steamers will have to bring, not just for a potential challenge, but for the rest of the season.

Technically, the Steamers didn't front against Canterbury on Thursday.

There is no disgrace in losing to Canterbury but Steamers fans, especially those who battled the chilly conditions to watch the match, may have left the ground that night wondering why they bothered.

To be fair to Kevin Schuler, up to 13 of his first-choice players weren't available due to injury or unavailability.

But all ITM Cup teams have the same problems.

Lets just hope for the fans' sake the season will have a silver lining in the shape of the "Log of Wood".