SAS seemed happy to be in CCL but not allowed by Colin Grant as would have a bye in that league.
So yes a compromise may have been the case as no Hurunui this year in Div 1 so a gap to fill.
Looking at the results from Div 2 may have been a better option to have asked Mid Canterbury - won 11 - 2 (or any other side that had been in Div 2 for a while) if the wanted to replace Hurunui,