The Eastern Northern Barbarians beat Invercargill Blues 37-21 on Saturday in round three of Southland’s Galbraith Shield Competition.
The Barbarians led 19-14 at halftime at the Gore Showgrounds.
Coach A.J. Aitken was pleased to get the win after overcoming a plucky Blues team.
"Blues were up for it, especially early on. We matched their intensity for the first 20 minutes but then we buttoned off for the next 20."
Captain Jacob Coghlan played with high energy in his 50th match for the club and led by example from No 8 with his direct ball carries.
Teenage second five-eighth Crenshaw Conroy gained some confidence from breaking through the defence on multiple occasions.
Classy left wing Banuve Dretiverata has come down from Christchurch to play this year and has impressed Aitken in the opening rounds.
"He hunts for work. He has a similar build to Sevu Reece and is just as fast.
"He fights to make extra yards and is capable of playing at the next level."
Centre Angus Simmers also put in a good effort in his 50th game for the Barbarians. Prop Troy McIvor, loose forward Zak Donovan and halfback James Holland all made an impact when they came off the bench in the second half.
The Blues played a physical style and tested the defence; unfortunately, they had to resort to golden-oldies scrums after 60 minutes.
Woodlands beat Star 27-23 at Waverley Park on Saturday.
Woodlands started well and scored three good tries in the first half.
Coach Richard Jones was happy with the result. "The Scruffy Butt Memorial Trophy means a lot to us. We had it for five years prior to losing it convincingly last year, so it is good to win it back," Jones said.
Woodlands led 19-15 at halftime but Star scored first after the break.
Woodlands’ best player was fullback Drew Carter. The victors had a few other impressive players on Saturday but it was a patchy team performance that caused some frustration.
Star made inroads from their lineout drives with lock Jeremy Bekhuis leading the way. Halfback Jackson Hughan set up the first try for Star and scored the second one. Star midfielder Sam Mustchin was another standout.
Pirates-Old Boys earned their third convincing win of the competition when they beat Marist 45-10.
Wing Isaac Rounds scored his second try before halftime so POB led 19-0.
POB got good impact from their bench players; replacement No 8 Ben Keenan scored off the back of a 5m scrum, before replacement hooker Shaun Kempton intercepted a pass and sprinted away for a long-range try.
To round out the scoring, second five Napo Seru barged over from close range and Isaac Rounds scored his hat-trick.
Utility back Scott Eade made his 150th appearance for Marist.
This Saturday, POB will host Woodlands, while Barbarians will start favourites in Gore against Marist. The Star and Blues game is at Waverly Park.
Southland’s division one competition kicked off last Saturday featuring six Eastern Southland clubs in the eight team division.
Wyndham beat Albion 38-20 at the Gore Showgrounds. Centre Hayden Diack was man of the match, while blindside Jaden Walsh and halfback Luke Caldwell were Wyndham’s other leading performers.
Pioneer beat Tokanui 47-3 at Newman Park. Jordan Anderson celebrated his 100th game for Pioneer by scoring three tries.
The Waikaka-Riversdale Vikings beat the freshly promoted Bluff 56-47 in an entertaining match at Riversdale.
The Vikings had a strong scrum and solid ball-carriers around the ruck. Lock Alex Peirce scored a hat-trick of tries to help build the Vikings 26-21 lead at halftime.
Bluff scored with a minute left to play to get within striking distance but it was the Vikings who scored the last try to seal the win.
Peirce led the Vikings on attack and defence, while dual try-scoring prop Joey McClure carried the ball strongly and had good control at the mauls. Dylan Winsloe was the best of the backs.
Edendale earned a 60-17 win in Te Anau. The Magpies built a commanding lead by halftime.
Openside flanker Coebie Symes was man of the match, while one of the team’s five debutants, Logan van der Straaten impressed at fullback. Experienced prop Adam Muir got stuck in.
This Saturday is Club Day at Edendale; the Wallis and Speight’s shields will both be up for grabs when the senior team take on the Vikings.
The four clubs from Central Southland in the division two competition played against each other on Saturday. Midlands beat Central Pirates 36-12 and DLS beat Wrights Bush 32-19.
The three Western Clubs — Otautau Ohai Nightcaps, Riverton and Waiau Star — won their respective division two matches.
In the women’s competition Albion beat Wakatipu 56- 14 in Queenstown in round three on Saturday. Pioneer women lost 42-24 to the Marist and Midlands combined team, while the reigning champions Star beat Blues 71-nil.
Club Rugby Results:
Division One: Edendale 60 Te Anau 17, Wyndham 33 Albion 13, Waikaka/Riversdale 56 Bluff 47, Pioneer 47 Tokanui 3.
Division Two: Otautau-Ohai-Nightcaps 40 Mataura 14, Drummond-Limehills-Star 32 Wright’s Bush 29, Waikiwi 55 Collegiate 7, Midlands 36 Central Pirates 12, Waiau Star 10 Wakatipu B 3, Riverton 33 Mossburn 12, Woodlands B 32 Blues B 7, Pirates-Old Boys B 38 Marist B 7.
Women: Marist/Midlands 42 Pioneer 24, Star 71 Blues 0, Albion 56 Wakatipu 14.
By John Langford
