There were negative comments from some club members regarding the reason behind the occasion.
This would have been a little more conclusive if a North Otago squad had been named for the match on Sunday against a Royal Air Force team touring from England.
Some suggested it was at the wrong stage of the club programme as the game between Town and Country has come before the semifinals and the final of Citizens Shield.
But the match was a fine example of premier rugby talent from the players involved. Country, after trailing 22-7 at halftime, fought back in the final 40 minutes to win 33-29.
A full round of matches remains before the semifinals and finals. Old Boys, which is still unbeaten, leads the Citizens Shield competition with 45 points and will play Excelsior (19) on the No1 ground tomorrow.
Second-placed Valley (25) will meet Kurow (nine) at Kurow and Maheno (19) plays Athletic Marist (16) at the Maheno Domain.
In recent weeks, Old Boys has appeared to be coming back to the rest of the field and a full Excelsior side could cause a boilover.
Two weeks ago, Kurow showed Old Boys is not unbeatable. Kurow, on the form it showed against Old Boys, will give Valley a good work out on the home ground, while Maheno will have to lift its game if it wants to make the semifinals.
The North Otago Heartland squad will be close to being finalised by coaches Nigel Walsh and Jason Forrest. The pair would have been happy with the efforts of Town and Country with the first Heartland game selection eight weeks away.
No doubt Sunday’s warm-up game against the RAF team will refine the selection.
North Otago looks to have a mobile forward pack backed up by some tight physical exponents while there appears to be pace to burn in the backline.
There is some competitive talent in the five-eighths and halfbacks while Walsh and Forrest have some potential in the props and locks.
There is also some size, agility and intuition among the big men.
- Terry O'Neill