Lansdowne Park was the place to be on Saturday

Parking spaces were at a premium in the vicinity of Lansdowne Park on Saturday as the winter sports season arrived in force.

Marlborough’s rugby and netball HQ was a hive of activity with the Marlborough Junior Rugby Festival, the Pre-season Netball Tournament and the local Premier Rugby Final taking place under sunny skies.

Over 50 junior rugby teams and supporters, who are usually based at a variety of venues throughout the region, packed the park, taking part in a series of games designed to kick start their seasons.

At the adjoining netball centre, more than 40 teams took part in the traditional pre-season event. The matches were spread across social, year 7-8, and senior A to C grades, offering an opportunity for players to enjoy some game time before their competitions begin next weekend.

On the other side of the Lansdowne Hub, two exciting rugby matches took place, Central and Harlequins engaged in an exciting division two battle before Waitohi lined up against Central in the premier grand final.