The Southland Club Rugby season kicked off on Saturday afternoon with three scratchy games.
In a replay of last year’s final, the defending champions Star hosted Pirates Old Boys at Waverly Park, losing 31-0.
Star started with the wind at their backs in the first half and restricted the visitors to one converted try in the first half.
Pirates Old Boys scored twice in the 20 minutes after halftime including one from a neat chip kick from Jaye Thompson that was scooped up by Greg Dyer to score beside the posts.
Pirates Old Boys assistant coach Ben McHugh said his team were a bit underdone.
"Some of the boys have been busy with softball and rugby league and we haven’t had Bacon [coach Dayna Cunningham] around the last few weeks.
McHugh said it was a messy game but his team had more individual talent and player continuity from previous seasons.
"Our team was impatient on attack but once Napo Serulele came on he straightened up our attack and Dyer, Thompson and Josh Murrell had enough class to organise the five tries."
Loose forwards Ben Keenan and Dusty Coveny were also good for Pirates Old Boys.
The Eastern Northern Barbarians got away with a 7-6 win over Woodlands on Saturday.
The Woodlands field was in pristine condition but the constant drizzle made ball handling difficult.
Barbarians coach AJ Aitken said it was a bludger of a game to watch.
"Woodlands deserved to win, we only played 10 minutes of good footy, our defence was good but it very much felt like a preseason game."
Woodlands led 6-0 at halftime and held that margin until the 73rd minute when the Barbarians scored a converted try.
Woodlands was on attack for the last five minutes, stringing together multiple phases. The desperate Barbarian defence conceded a penalty but the Woodlands kick for goal missed.
Dylan Winsloe from the Vikings Club ran and tackled hard on the right wing for the Babaas. Fullback Taylor Peterson also impressed. Young lock Harrison Morton had a good competition debut, while replacement Banuve Dretiverata had a high work rate from the left wing. Liam McFaul also had a good last 30 minutes at halfback.
The Woodlands forward pack was good despite having limited front row resources. Captain Liam Howley was full of energy and his kicking game from halfback kept the pressure on the Barbarians.
Marist beat Blues 24-21 at Balmoral Drive.
Blues were leading 21-17 with five minutes remaining when young Marist prop Faybian Shore scored a try on debut.
In the closing stages Blues turned down a kickable shot at goal and instead aimed to score a match winning try. Marist was able to hold them out.
Marist coach Derek Manson said the playing conditions were perfect but his team’s ball handling was terrible.
"We didn’t really get into our game, it wasn’t our smartest footy."
Young prop Hessed Lemmnea improved the Marist scrum. Hooker James Moodie played with high energy.
By John Langford
