Visitors from far to do battle in Colac Bay Shield at Waipu

As far as New Zealand domestic away trips go, few go further than the biennial Waipu versus Colac Bay Shield Match.
The rugby match on Saturday at Waipu's Caledonian Park, was inspired by the friendship of two former Invercargill teammates, Jeremy Winders and Paul Sheehan. The mates decided that distance shouldn't be a hinderance to their mates meeting each other and proposed a rugby trip.
It was first held in February of 2009 when Sheehan, who lives in the North, convinced 21 Waipu Rugby Club ex-players and supporters to travel down to Colac Bay - 30 minutes west of Invercargill - and the tradition was started. "We took a team down on the proviso that they would come back and challenge us a couple of years later in Waipu," Sheehan said.
Both teams are from small rural, coastal Scottish settlements and Sheehan said the camaraderie grew quickly and now Waipu is gearing up to return the pleasure in their own Northland style.
"Colac Bay started out as a whaling station, it's a small rural community with about 200-300 permanent residents, so while it's a lot smaller than Waipu, there is plenty in common," he said.
Colac Bay arrives on Friday but unlike their Waipu counterparts, the partners have demanded to come along so a golden oldies' netball challenge has also been created and the travelling party will exceed 50.
Highlights of the weekend's programme will include the welcoming the visitors on Friday night at the Waipu Rugby Club rooms and the blessing of the shield by Takahiwai's kaumatua. The shield, carved by Waipu plumber Alwyn Jones, is held by the Colac Bay team. Colac Bay will be treated to a taste of Waipu's famous Highland Games at Caledonian Park before the netball starts at 12.30pm. The rugby will kick-off at 3pm, following the Waipu senior side playing a pre-season match as a curtain-raiser. Both games will be piped on by the Waipu Pipe Band.