For the record, on Saturday the Glenorchy side — bolstered by a couple of former Highlanders in ex-All Black Waisake Naholo and Hale T-Pole, and Otago loose forward Rupeni Tamani — won 30-10.
The Wakatipu team, largely comprising members of this year’s Central Otago Premier Rugby Championship-winning side, also included the oldest player, 53-year-old Matt Cleaver, who took the field with his 17-year-old son, Henry.
Played under golden oldies rules, as per tradition during the match which was last played in 2020, anyone given a yellow card had to skull a beer before they were allowed back on the field.
Glenorchy Invitational XV manager Brian Greer said that added "a bit of flavour".
"We think that’s quite an innovation and should probably be introduced throughout all rugby."
Mr Greer and his brother-in-law, who own a crib in Glenorchy, said they though that was "horse s..." — Glenorchy should have rugby".
"So, we said to the GY boys, ‘You get three or four players, and we’ll backfill it with [Dunedin’s] Harbour and Pioneer from Gore, and we’ll challenge Waka for the Head of the Lake’.
"It’s just to try to bring people to Glenorchy; it’s a beautiful place.
"It’s funny, actually, so many of these boys have never been here — we came in [on Friday] night in the dark and they woke up [on Saturday] morning, like, ‘Are you kidding?’
"It’s just awesome for the community and the young fellas who’ve never been here."
Saturday’s game was played in perfect conditions and had everything you could ask for — some big hits, a few laughs, a short period of time when the Glenorchy Invitational team didn’t realise they didn’t have enough players on the field, a punch-up, and a streaker who took a leisurely jog across the pitch in the final quarter.
"It was awesome," Mr Greer said.
