Rugby: Jug quest keeps the interest up

Maniototo winger Matt Holmes has Quinton Smith in support as he makes a break against Roxburgh in...
Maniototo winger Matt Holmes has Quinton Smith in support as he makes a break against Roxburgh in the Central Otago club rugby game in Roxburgh on Saturday. Photo by Caswell Images.
It might not be as prestigious or as well known as the White Horse Cup but the Speight's Challenge Jug is on the move and becoming more coveted.

It has already changed hands twice this season but that probably went unnoticed by players and followers.

Roxburgh won the jug with a 10-9 upset win over Arrowtown in the opening round, and Alexandra took it off Roxburgh the following week.

However, none of the three teams involved realised this was the case so Alexandra only got its hands on it for the first time last week.

The jug, introduced to the competition by former Arrowtown coach and Speight's representative Hayden Finch last season, has largely flown under the radar since but there is plenty of incentive for teams to be the holder at the end of the first round.

''Essentially, it's to make that first round important right up to the very last game,'' Finch said.

The advent of the top six/bottom five competition split, and the loss of first-round points for all teams at the end of it, meant that some teams had nothing to play for nearing the conclusion of the first round.

They were either in the top six or they were not. So, Finch suggested a challenge cup.

''We [Central Otago Council of Clubs] wanted to make every game worthwhile,'' Finch said.

Maniototo, the White Horse Cup holder and defending champion, has not held the jug before but is looking to change that.

Maniototo coach Charlie Hore said the jug was a good initiative.

''It's not like winning the White Horse Cup or the competition but it would be good to have it,'' Hore said.

''It's another bit of silverware, isn't it, and it'll look good in the photo.''

His side's best chance at getting the jug is if Arrowtown topples holder Alexandra this weekend and defends it against the Wanderers, before a May 9 encounter at Ranfurly.

That game would also double as a White Horse Cup match.

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