09/09/2010
Woodville's Warren Duff takes Don Smith Medal
Woodville Rugby Club’s Warren Duff has claimed his second Don Smith Medal for SA Rugby’s Best and Fairest player for his outstanding season in 2010.
The awards night, held at the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club, proved the ongoing talent of Duff, who’s been inundated with praise and awards since he first took the Ray Herde Memorial Shield for best under 21 player nine years ago.
The inside centre first won the Don Smith Medal in 2003 and since then has won the Sir Norm Jude Tackling Trophy four times over the last seven years.
Duff is renowned for hard hitting play and his team focused attitude which also gave him the honour of representing the state in 2004, 2007 and 2008 when he played for the Adelaide Black Falcons.
Despite Duff’s exceptional 2010 season, Woodville were unable to follow up the success of their 2009 season by making the semi-finals a second year in a row.
South Australian Rugby Union chief executive Lachlan Clark said there’s no greater team player than Duff and that he’s truly deserving of the medal.
“Warren is a long serving player of Woodville and a true club man and has once again had an outstanding year in 2010,” said Clark.
“Warren is the kind of hard hitting and skilful player every team would want.”
The Edna Reilly Memorial Trophy for the Best and Fairest Women’s player was won by fellow Woodville star, Abby Chitty and the Ray Herde Memorial Shield for best under 21 player going to Jack Macklin of Old Collegians.
As part of the presentation evening, Andy Collins and Patrick Talbot were inducted into the SA Rugby Hall of Fame.
DonSmith Medal Presentation Award Winners
Coopers Alehouse Volunteer of the Year - Gai Williams, Southern Suburbs RUFC
Ray Rosser Memorial Trophy Coaches Award - Mark Dobson, North East Districts RUFC
Bob Hogarth Top Team Tries Award - Burnside RUFC Third Grade
SARU Women's Top Team Tries Award - Burnside Women
Darryl Ryan Memorial Shield Best Club Grounds - Woodville RUFC
H.J. Rogers Memorial Shield for Administrative Services - Kim Evans, Old Collegians RUFC
Coopers Club Championship Champion Club - Burnside RUFC
Ray Herde Shield Most Outstanding Under 21 Player - Jack Macklin, Old Collegians RUFC
Meredith Knowler Tackling Trophy (Women) - Emma Yates, Southern Suburbs RUFC
Sir Norman Jude Tackling Trophy (Men) - George Taka, Onkaparinga RUFC
SA Rugby Hall of Fame 2010 Inductees - Andy Collins, SARURA and Pat Talbot, Burnside RUFC
SA Rugby Life Membership 2010 Inductee - Arthur Mallison, Woodville RUFC
Chairman's Trophy for Best Back - Warren Duff, Woodville RUFC
President's Trophy for Best Forward - Andrew Brown, Brighton RUFC
Edna Reilly Memorial Trophy for Best and Fairest Women's Player - Abby Chitty, Woodville RUFC
Don Smith Medal for Best and Fairest Men's Player - Warren Duff, Woodville RUFC