Rugby Park was renamed Bekhuis Park last week as a tribute to lock Josh Bekhuis, who was making a record-breaking 144th appearance for Southland.
North Harbour was expected to win this game but they were blown off the park by the fired up Stags team.
No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa scored the opening try, while the next one was a length-of-the-field effort where wing Michael Manson outpaced the cover defence and offloaded a perfectly timed pass to halfback Lachie Albert to score.
Hooker Jack Taylor scored the next three tries off the back of some accurate phases of play from the forward pack. Wing Rory van Vught was next to dot down and Semisi charged over for his second try just before halftime.
With a lead of 47-7 at halftime, the Southland fans who had been basking in the heat could hardly believe the improvement in rugby skills and the weather.
Harbour scored four tries in the second half but that never seriously threatened the almost unbelievable nine tries and seven conversions compiled by the Stags.
Tupou Ta’ealoa, Taylor and Manson played some of their best rugby on Saturday. Midfielder Isaac Te Tamaki played his 50th game, while his Pirates Old Boys team-mate Kaea Nikora Balloch made his debut late in the game at first five-eighth.
The coaching team of Matt Saunders, James Wilson, Dale McLeod, Kane Thompson and captain Sean Withy deserved the result on Saturday after a frustrating season where the team had shown their potential but had not been consistent enough.
The Southland Spikers U16 team also performed well at the tournament. The Spikers beat North Canterbury 21-12 and beat Buller 31-21. In the bowl final, the Spikers went down in a tough contest 13-10 to Otago Country.
The South Island under 18 girls tournament was also in Christchurch and got under way on Sunday.
By John Langford
