It may seem like very early days in the season - skifields are still open in the Queenstown Lakes area and many are still in rugby mode - but the first-class season actually begins in a week's time.
Otago is set to face Northern Districts in Mount Maunganui next Wednesday in the first round of the Plunket Shield.
In the 50-over match on the outer field at Molyneux Park, Canterbury batted first and struggled through to 206 for nine wickets in its 50 overs.
Chad Bowes scored 49 for Canterbury as the wickets were shared around by the Otago bowlers. Christi Viljoen picked up three while Mark Craig and Nathan Smith took two each.
In reply, Otago was never troubled and reached the target after 37.5 overs.
Mitch Renwick and Rutherford had an 85-run opening partnership until Renwick was out for 39.
Neil Broom then scored 45 as he combined with Rutherford for a 105 run partnership.
Rutherford hit 52 runs in boundaries and went at nearly a run a ball.
Otago coach Rob Walter said it was an encouraging performance and he was happy with his side getting time in the middle with both bat and ball.
He said Rutherford batted beautifully and it was a typical knock by the left hander with some nice solid blows.
Walter said it was always good to win and Otago was a side which needed to learn how to win. Winning was a habit, so the more a side did it the more a side got used to it.
Josh Tasman-Jones was 12th man for Otago.
The two sides start a three-day match at Molyneux Park today and Walter said the weather forecast was good
so the teams were looking to get in as much cricket as possible.
There would be a maximum of 100 overs in the first innings.
