Trophy find renews rivalry

The discovery of an old sports shield has reignited a traditional sporting fixture from 34 years ago.

The trophy, found packed away at Silver Fern Farms’ Pareora plant, was the symbol of rugby supremacy between staff at Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant at Timaru and the SFF.

Now teams from either business will line up again on March 15 at Timaru’s Alpine Energy Stadium with the addition of a netball match for a new trophy in a fundraising occasion for St John.

Silver Ferns Pareora plant manager Bruce McNaught said the matches were very competitive when played in the 1970s and 1980s.

‘‘I’ve actually played interworks rugby and it can be quite brutal.

‘‘We assume we won the game in 1986 because we still have the shield, but we don’t know for sure.’’

McNaught said Silver Ferns’ recruitment officer Michelle Collins stumbled across the shield and suggested the two plants renew the rugby match.

‘‘She’s been the main driver of this all along. We approached Alliance and they thought it was a great idea.’’

The plants decided to add another dimension to the rugby match by raising funds for St John and including other activities for the community to enjoy on the day.

‘‘Both companies decided we need to invest back into the local community and St John was a good cause to give back to.

‘‘We will also have activities for children on the day, including a bouncy castle.’’

McNaught said they were expecting a high quality but friendly match.

‘‘We have some really good rugby players between the two plants. In fact we have some South Canterbury representatives that will playing.’’

Alliance Group’s Smithfield plant primary processing manager

Wiremu Rasmussen said there was much enthusiasm among people at both plants to take on the ‘‘competition along the road’’.

‘‘Once word got round, people said: ‘what about netball too?’ So we added that in, and the netballers will be competing for a new trophy.

‘‘Most of the members of our teams are already playing rugby or netball with local clubs, although there are some who haven’t laced their boots up for a few years.

‘‘They are mostly preparing with their own teams but our plant teams are having practice games next month and a big community barbecue afterwards.’’

Rasmussen said the communities were buzzing about the day and they were expecting a good turnout at the stadium.

‘‘Given that Pareora has held the rugby shield since 1986, we’ll be going all out to bring it back to Smithfield.’’

There are also plans to revive games between Alliance Group plants, he said.