24/08/2011
2011 Don Smith Medal Presentation Night Award Winners
Woodville’s Warren Duff takes Don Smith Medal
Woodville Rugby Club’s Warren Duff has claimed his third Don Smith Medal for SA Rugby’s Best and Fairest player for his outstanding season in 2011.
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 won the Don Smith Medal in both 2003 and 2010, and has also collected the Sir Norm Jude Tackling Trophy four times over the last seven years. This year he adds not only another Sir Norm Jude Tackling Trophy to his name, as a dual recipient alongside Wayne Vincent of Burnside Rugby Club, but he was also awarded the Chairman’s Trophy for Best Back in the 2011 Season.
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, 2008 and again this year, playing for the Adelaide Black Falcons.
Woodville has been a revelation this year, finishing second in the Minor Premiership of the Coopers Premier Grade Competition.
“To win the prestigious Don Smith Medal two years running is an outstanding achievement especially considering the highly competitive Coopers Premiership Season we have experienced in 2011,” said South Australian Rugby Union chief executive Lachlan Clark. “Duff now joins Henry Djiksman as the only other player to win the Don Smith Medal three times in the 66 year history of the award.”
The Edna Reilly Memorial Trophy for the Best and Fairest Women’s player was won by fellow Woodville star, Abby Chitty, who was also awarded the Trophy in 2010.
The Ray Herde Memorial Shield for best under 21 player went to Ryan Tromans of Southern Suburbs Rugby Club.
As part of the presentation evening, Rob Brown and Jimmy Tapara were inducted into the SA Rugby Hall of Fame, and Phil Badcock was awarded Life Membership of the South Australian Rugby Union.
This Saturday, the Junior Grand Finals and Senior Elimination Finals will take place at Bailey Reserve, Clarence Gardens. For the complete draw and results, visit http://www.sarugby.com.au/news_2011_08_10b.html
Don Smith Medal Presentation Award Winners
Coopers Alehouse Volunteer of the Year - David Rowe, Adelaide University RUFC
Ray Rosser Memorial Trophy Coaches Award - Gary Uili, Brighton RUFC
Bob Hogarth Top Team Tries Award - Elizabeth RUFC - Division 2
SARU Women's Top Team Tries Award - Southern Suburbs RUFC
Neil Charter Development Shield - David Rowe, Adelaide University RUFC
Darryl Ryan Memorial Shield Best Club Grounds - Onkaparinga RUFC
H.J. Rogers Memorial Shield for Administrative Services - Jim Jones, Onkaparinga RUFC & Referees Selection Committee
Coopers Club Championship Champion Club - Burnside RUFC
Physio Direct Adelaide Black Falcons Best Team Player Award - Aaron Mattin, Port Adelaide RUFC
Ray Herde Shield Most Outstanding Under 21 Player - Ryan Tromans, Southern Suburbs RUFC
Meredith Knowler Tackling Trophy (Women) - Abby Chitty, Woodville RUFC
Sir Norman Jude Tackling Trophy (Men) - Wayne Vincent, Burnside RUFC & Warren Duff, Woodville RUFC
SA Rugby Hall of Fame 2011 Inductees - Rob Brown, Brighton RUFC & Jimmy Tapara, Onkaparinga RUFC
SA Rugby Life Membership 2011 Inductee - Phil Badcock, Elizabeth 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