Smith officiated in his 199th game when Otago Boys' High School First XV played Dunstan High School in Alexandra on Saturday but may have to wait until next year to bring up his 200.
At the game, the teams formed a guard of honour as a tribute to Smith.
The 57-year-old's time with the whistle can be directly linked to two of Otago fans' most painful memories.
Smith, born and bred in Otago, watched from the stands as referee Colin Hawke penalised David Latta just centimetres from the tryline to deny his home province the Ranfurly Shield in 1994.
Watching Hawke award a penalty try after Stu Forster kicked the ball out of the Auckland scrum to seal Otago's fate in the 1995 NPC final hurt just as much.
Unlike most Otago fans, Smith would have a chance to sit and chat about the incidents with Hawke after a chance encounter.
``I went up to Lancaster Park with a lot of other people in 1994 and there was the Dave Latta try and obviously there was the penalty try to Auckland in the 1995 NPC final,'' Smith said.
``I didn't know the rules back in those days, really, like most people.''
``I was talking to a guy, who was a referee ... and he said, `Do you want to meet Colin Hawke?' We sat down there for quite a while having a good old yarn.
``I said, `If you coach me for a month, I will give this refereeing a real crack' and the rest is history.''
Smith has officiated at provincial level and rated a game between Ireland and a divisional development team as a highlight.
More recently, Smith, who is now based in Central Otago, has found a passion for country games
``I love refereeing country rugby.
``The spectators and the players and the after-match - they look after the referees. I have had no issues in the clubrooms afterwards.
``We have a good old yarn about the things that went well and the things that didn't go so well.''
Smith encourages players who are nearing retirement or people who are unable to play through injury to give refereeing a go.
``I have always loved rugby. For me it is the best seat in the house and if you can't play it is the next best opportunity out in the middle refereeing the two teams.''
Smith believes a shortage of referees is due to ongoing incidents of sideline abuse.
But having the right personality to deal with that meant it did not detract from his refereeing.
His only regret is he did not begin refereeing earlier in life.
Smith, the groundsman at Molyneux Park in Alexandra, will call time on his career with the whistle when he reaches 200 games.
He is stranded on 199 after missing out on the chance to officiate at last weekend's Central Otago semifinals.
He was disappointed not to be selected for those matches, but understood the need to give younger referees the opportunity.
There is a chance Smith could referee a schools match this season.
If that does not happen he will return to South Canterbury where Hawke taught him to referee to notch his 200th match next season.
