Veteran Adam Cowan will be a key player again for Palmerston North Marist (file photo).
FOOTBALL: There is a new look to the men’s Federation League club competition this year with Gisborne Thistle taking part, Red Sox-Manawatū dropping out due to a lack of players and Palmerston North Marist going international again. The upshot is once more there is a bye every week in the nine-team league, something they had hoped to avoid this year by keeping Levin in the picture despite the side finishing bottom by a country mile last season. At Marist, Brazilian Juliano Schmeling is at the coaching helm, taking over in February from Belgian Kenny Santy, as the city side has another crack at winning the federation title and with it, the chance to compete for promotion to the Central League.