Southland Maori edge Otago rivals in two out of three
Southland Maori have edged out Otago Maori two wins to one in the trio of rugby fixtures played in Invercargill on Saturday.
Southland Maori and Otago Maori fielded teams for a colts, senior women’s, and senior men’s game on Saturday.
The day was a celebration of Maori rugby which started with a Powhiri and Murihiku Marae in the morning before the games in the afternoon.
The colts and women’s games were both held at Marist at 1pm.
The Dale Wairau and Marty Smith-coached Southland Maori colts team picked up a convincing 56-15 win, but the women’s team - captained by Tara Buckley - had a 22-17 loss.
They then headed to Rugby Park where the senior men’s game kicked off at 3pm and it was Southland who run out comfortable 49-22 winners.
Southland Maori is made up mainly of division one and two club rugby players and coach Jason Bishop declared Saturday’s win as an all-round team effort.
However, premier players such as Jordan and Sam Stewart, and captain Tangaroa Walker, did help lead from the front.
Bishop wasn’t sure how the game would play out considering they had limited preparation time together but said the rugby smarts shone through.
Otago Maori have returned after a hiatus from playing in recent years and Bishop said it was great they were now back involved.
He said all three games were played in good spirits.
The Southland Maori senior men’s team will now head to Christchurch on Saturday where they will take on Canterbury in what is expected to be a big step up in terms of the quality of their opposition.