Steve Hepburn

Otago has made an encouraging start to its season with a Hamish Rutherford century guiding it to a commanding eight-wicket win over Canterbury in a warm-up game in Alexandra yesterday.

When Manchester United was struggling to win anything in the late 1980s and into the 1990s, many were calling for the head of manager Alex Ferguson.

A life well travelled - Hoani Matenga has been through three passports, played for clubs in five different countries and still has time to play bass with New Zealand's hottest band.

This is going to be a dance of the desperates at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.

The Oamaru Jockey Club will hold a meeting on Thursday to seek a common approach and response to the Messara report.

Beating Auckland is never easy - and Otago has the record to prove that.

The Highlanders - the most popular team in the land - have confirmed they will play all their home games in the region next year.

Otago will have its captain on the wing and the return of one of its Super Rugby players when it takes on Bay of Plenty at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night.

There are those out there who think being a boxer is about just throwing a good punch — being a bit of a brawler.

The front-row stocks have taken a hit for the Highlanders and the side will be out looking for reinforcements.

The log o’ wood has a chance to come south in the next two weeks but it will be hard work to wrestle it off the Mooloo men.

Plenty of guts and all the glory.

The Dunedin men's and women's club sevens tournaments will kick off this weekend as club players come out of mothballs for the coming sevens season.

Otago did not need much of a pointer on what it needed to work on this week.

Otago is about to enter its toughest week of the year and history shows few sides bag three wins in a row.

We all do it - worry about others, look at the big picture.

Otago still has its destiny in its hands but a tough draw is not doing it any favours.

Haley Van Leeuwen has been to the top of the hill - and she has the medal to prove it.

Big and strong will in the end always beat tough and brave.