Second-tier contests set up

A premier reserve grade and division one B competition will be introduced to this year's Southland club rugby competition.

Rugby Southland, along with the premier clubs, have opted to reinstate a grade that sees the premier club's second team play alongside their premier teams each week.

Woodlands, Marist, Midlands, Star, Blues and Pirates-Old Boys have all entered premier teams as well as teams in the premier reserve grade.

A second-tier division one competition has also been introduced this year, allowing the clubs to have their two teams travelling together.

Many of the clubs' second teams in the division one B competition will be their former senior C teams.

The Southland-wide premier competition will start on Saturday, with each of the six teams playing each other three times in round-robin play before the semifinals.

Despite there being just six teams in the competition the semifinals format will be one-plays-four and two-plays-three in the playoffs, meaning just two teams miss out on a spot in the semifinals.

The semifinals will be held on July 3, then there will be a weekend off because of the Ranfurly Shield game against North Otago before the Galbraith Shield final is held on July 17.

All other grades will start on April 10, with finals set down for August.

LIKELY 2010 CLUB RUGBY GRADES

Premier (March 20 start date). Blues, Marist, Midlands, Pirates-Old Boys, Star, Woodlands.

Premier reserve (April 10, start date). Blues, Marist, Midlands, Pirates-Old Boys, Star, Woodlands.

Division one (April 10 start date). Waikiwi, DLS, Edendale, Wyndham, Waikaka, Te Anau, Riversdale, Mataura.

Division one B (April 10 start date). Waikiwi, DLS, Edendale, Wyndham, Waikaka, Te Anau, Riversdale, Mataura.

Division two (April 10 start date). Tokanui, Collegiate, Otautau, Ohai-Nightcaps, Waiau Star, Central Pirates, Excelsior, Riverton, Mossburn, Wright's Bush, Balfour.

* Keep an eye on The Southland Times this week as rugby writer Logan Savory takes a look at each of the six premier teams in their quest to win the Galbraith Shield in 2010.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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