Amber Parkinson, from the Invercargill section of the 4th
Otago Southland Battalion Group, beats Rueben Costello,
from the 2nd Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and West
Coast Battalion Group, in their netball match at the annual
battle between the two South Island reservists units, held
in Dunedin at the weekend. Photo by John Cosgrove.
The annual three-sport clash between the two South
Island-based army reserve battalions in Dunedin on Saturday was
all about unit pride ahead of their merger at the end of the
year.
The competition, involving rugby, netball and golf, was
between 4th Otago and Southland Battalion Group, and the 2nd
Canterbury, Nelson, Marlborough, and West Coast Battalion
Group.
Slideshow: Reserve battalions' sports competition
This year pride in their individual units took centre stage
as they played against each other for the last time as
separate battalions. By the end of this year they will become
one.
Speaking at the prize-giving on Saturday night, 4th Otago
Southland commanding officer Lieutenant-colonel Roger
McElwain said the competition would continue despite the
amalgamation.
Otago Southland took the Burrows Bayonet Rugby Trophy for the
17th time in its 21-year history, after a record 91-5 win.
The home side also won the netball 40-16, to retain the
Anderson Trophy.
However, Canterbury won the Julian Smith Golf Trophy with a
score of 253, over 4th Otago Southland's 259.
The southern side also won the Eric Batchelor Cup.
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