The day was promoted as “A Rugby Bonanza” and the 4 games played at Forsyth Barr Stadium did not disappoint. Starting the day at 10:40am was the NZR U85kg Barbarians Cup Round 2 fixture. A fast moving spectacle with plenty of action. The local team the Carisbrook Bush-Pigs defeating the Lincoln Short-Finned Eels 30-24. The Bushies will host Upper Hutt from Wellington in two weeks time.

Next up was the Championship Colts final between two Kaikorai club teams. The Kaikorai Undertakers underlining their favourites tag defeating the Kaikorai Cobras 47-22.

The third game up was the Otago Premier Schools 1st XV final. Southland Boys HS plays in the Otago competition. It is great to have them involved and following last weeks semi-finals the final was between the 1st XV’s from Otago BHS v Southland BHS. In a truely entertaining game if rugby it took Otago Boys #10 Finn Hurley to knock over his 2nd drop goal of the day late in the game to take the win.

Otago BHS 1st XV 26 - Southland BHS 1st XV 24.

The last game of this rugby Bonanza was the Metropolitan Premier Colts final. The Dunedin Makos were looking to obtain a 3rd consecutive Premier Colts title, while a very strong Kaikorai Devils Colts side was looking to spoil that Makos run of titles. The Kaikorai Devils came to the final in the top qualifiers position and were looking to pick up the Colts trophy and bannner for 2021 to top off a very good season. In true finals fashion scoring points was not easy. Defence from both sides was huge and in the end it was Makos player Ryan Watherston, intercept try that broke the deadlock. Watherston converted his own try and with 3 penalties scored all of the Makos 16 points. The Devils had their chances and came within centimetres of scoring on a number of occasions, but either a mistake by the Devils or a penalty conceded gave the Makos the opportunity to clear their line. The final score being Dunedin Makos 16 - Kaikorai Devils 3.

Thank you to all those who turned out to support your teams. The crowd created a great atmosphere and certainly put an exclamation mark on the success of the Rugby Bonanza!

Article added: Tuesday 17 August 2021