Rugby Southland's marketing team couldn't have wished for a better start to the season, with over 7,000 visitors attending 'Singles' Day'.
In sunny and warm conditions the Stags started the match well.
Southland winger Viliami Fine stepped into action and passed the ball to hooker Jack Taylor.
Taylor sprinted to the line but was brilliantly stopped by Otago fullback Finn Hurley.
Southland captain Sean Withy proved to be the dominant player of the match, with one of his powerful runs he wrong-footed Blair Ryall, who scored the first try with a clever attacking line.
Southland dominated possession and territory in the first half, but at half-time the team led only 10-6.
Otago had made four times as many tackles as the Stags, so the locals knew that if they remained calm they would finish the game stronger.
Early in the second half, winger Viliami Fine received a pinpoint pass and cut past two defenders to score a well-deserved try.
There were moments in the second half when Otago had the momentum and the visitors reduced the deficit to 15-13.
Skilled Otago baseballers Cam Millar and Finn Hurley began to show their class.
Millar missed a goal that would have given his team the lead, but the Stags then regained the lead.
Centre Isaac Te Tamaki took an inside ball and ran through to score the try, giving the Stags their first Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy since 2020.
It was a proud day for Stags head coach Matt Saunders and his colleagues.
The loose forwards led by Sean Withy were excellent, number 8 Dylan Nel was particularly strong on the ball, while Blair Ryall and strong young replacement Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa also impressed.
On Saturday at 4.35pm Southland will take on Hawke's Bay in the Ranfurly Shield Challenge in Napier.
The Bay defeated North Harbour 41-32 in the first round.
This appears to be the Stags' best chance of regaining the Shield, as their coaches Saunders and James Wilson were with the team as players in 2009 and 2011.
– By John Langford