A Saturday time slot for the annual first XV rugby fixture between St Kevin’s College and Waitaki Boys’ High School is here to stay.
The schools agreed last year to move the Blood Match from a Friday to a Saturday.
St Kevin’s principal Jo Walshe told the Oamaru Mail last week the school had "no intention of moving it back to Fridays".
Waitaki Boys’ rector Darryl Paterson said both schools wanted the match to be "more family friendly".
"I was not here last year, but the feedback I received was that the move to Saturday certainly created a more positive culture for those who chose to attend."
Ms Walshe said the feedback from last year was "very positive".
"The feedback was that it was a very family friendly game and our old boys enjoyed the Friday night get-together and the opportunity to get to know the current team a little before the match.
"There was also more of an opportunity for them to make a weekend of it."
When asked if she had a message for those who felt the day was devalued being on a Saturday, Ms Walshe said she had "no idea who would think that".
"I think most people appreciate not having to take a day off work."
Mr Paterson agreed.
"For the players who compete annually for the prestigious Leo O’Malley trophy — the peanut — I would argue they would find value in the fixture no matter where or when it was played."
Tomorrow’s match will be the 92nd edition of the Blood Match, it having been played annually since 1934 and missing only one year, 1938, due to an epidemic.
