Rant warning.
Understandable and overdue, but a great big BUT....why would a club pay players for a competition with no prize money, no gate takings and eff-all serious sponsorship? There is only one answer - and at its heart is pure, simple ego; no matter how it may be dressed up as "club ambition". If paying players is the only means you have of being the best club you can be in the environment of no prizemoney, gate or sponsorship, well, you are just deluded as a club. The sooner each club board takes a collective stance to tell players seeking money in Chch to take a hike to a semi-pro league if they are good enough, the better the game will be. Imagine if the total amount of money used to pay players petrol money or gym money or coaching money was spent on proper coach education and facilities. Too many people at clubs are playing games thinking its a (semi) pro league. LOL, but actually just really sad. And anyone who argues "but it's always happened" is either unable or unwilling to see the need for the greater good.
And by the way, if anything, the women playing in Christchurch are easily of a better national standard than the men; based on Canterbury born and bred players and their performance at national league level and NZ representation.
Rant done.