Woodlands, Star vying for shield
A SOUTHLAND rugby stalwart will again be remembered tomorrow afternoon when Woodlands and Star square off at Waverley Park, in Invercargill, during round two of the Premier club competition.
The teams will go headtohead for the Scruffy Butt Memorial Shield, a prize which has added plenty of spice to the StarWoodlands rivalry.
Phil ‘‘Scruffy’’ Butt was a Rugby Southland centurion who played exactly 100 games in the maroon jersey from 1971 to 1980.
Following Butt’s death in 2005, the Rutledge family instigated the development of the shield to honour the former hardnosed Southland frontrower.
At the time, Callum and Andrew Rutledge were playing for Star and their older brother, Jason Rutledge, for Woodlands. Their father, Leicester, played a lot of his rugby alongside Butt for Southland.
It was decided the introduction of a shield would be a good way to honour Butt, who was a stalwart of the Star club. He also had close connections with Woodlands.
The shield is put on the line in the holder’s first home game of the season, when Star and Woodlands meet.
Star holds the shield, so it will be at stake at Waverley Park tomorrow.
Star will be missing a couple of key forwards for the big game, as prop Morgan Mitchell and lock Manaaki SelbyRickit will be playing for the Highlanders Bravehearts in Dunedin against a visiting Japanese team tomorrow.
After a roundone 3116 loss to Marist, Woodlands bounced back last Saturday to topple PiratesOld Boys, 4115.
Star will head into the game on the back of two straight wins against Blues and the Barbarians.
In the other premier fixtures tomorrow, Marist will host PiratesOld Boys, while Blues and the EasternNorthern Barbarians will meet at Balmoral Dr in Invercargill.
The form guide would suggest defending champion Marist should be too slick for PiratesOld Boys, although it could be hard to split the Barbarians and Blues.
In division one action tomorrow, neighbours Te Anau and Mossburn will clash at Te Anau, as the clubs chase northern Southland bragging rights.
Firstround winners Midlands and Riversdale will meet at Winton, Edendale will host Waikaka, while Waiau Star has the tough assignment against what looks to be a competition frontrower in 2018, Wyndham.
In division two there is one of the more intriguing matchups in Southland club rugby action tomorrow. Pioneer and AlbionExcelsior will go at it in the battle of the Gore clubs. Both teams are leading contenders for the 2018 division two title.
In division three action, Mataura will open its season against Collegiate. Mataura was unable to field a division three team last season and after the bye in week one, the side will be back in action at Tulloch Park in Mataura tomorrow.