Club rugby: Revamped Southland premier competition under way

Sunday, 24 March 2019

The emotions varied in Te Anau on Saturday as the Te Anau Rugby Club created history and also farewelled one of its own.

Prominent Te Anau farmer Shane Gibbons was killed in a jetboat accident earlier in the week.

Edendale player Bram Fodie in action in the Southland premier club rugby game against Woodlands.

Gibbons was a popular member of the Te Anau community, which included within the Te Anau Rugby Club.

A group of Te Anau senior players rushed from Gibbons' funeral on Saturday to the historical showdown with defending Galbraith Shield champions Marist.

Woodlands No 8 Curtis Williams looking over top before the scrum in the Southland premier club rugby fixture against Edendale at Edendale.

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It was Te Anau's first game playing in Southland's top flight premier competition, and while they lost 42-13, they won many admirers with the attitude they played with.

Coach Dale Waiaru said the team played with emotion, both in respect for Gibbons and because they had a shot at arguably Southland's best club team.

At times it affected their decision-making but Wairau, who has previously played premier rugby for Star and Pirates-Old Boys, said he was proud of what the team produced.

'History was made. We celebrated the day, it was a fantastic occasion against strong opposition,' he said.

For Te Anau, the premier grade was already in its sights, the rejigged 12-team combined division one and premier format this year has simply sped up the process.

'We wanted to win division one this year and advance up, so we are a year ahead of where we wanted to go because we've got a young squad.'

'But after the game there was this real excitement within the team. We are chuffed to be part of this competition.'

That excitement will extend to its next showdown against another traditional club rugby powerhouse in the form of Woodlands.

Woodlands was provided scare on Saturday with a determined Edendale team pushing them to the wire.

Devon McLeod latched on to an intercept pass early in the game and scooted away to score. His conversion put Edendale up 7-0.

Woodlands then grabbed a couple of tries to lead 12-7 at halftime, before the two teams battled out a scoreless second half.

Edendale went close to snatching a victory late in the game when Bram Fodie went through a gap and passed to Vaughan Webber, however the quick Tauasosi Tuimavave hauled him in.

Star made a confident start to their 2019 season leading 47-5 at halftime before pushing out to a 70-5 win over Riversdale in hot conditions at Riversdale.

Halfback Hayden Edgley cashed in with four tries while the scoreline was blown on the back of Kaleb Talamahina's impressive deeds with the boot. The fullback kicked 10 from 10 in a flawless goal-kicking display.

Star rolled out a powerful side against Riversdale which included No 8 Jordan Stewart who has returned to Southland after a season playing in Manawatu.

The other fixtures also went as expected on Saturday with Blues beating 2018 division one champions Wyndham 43-12, Pirates-Old Boys running out 57-0 victors over Waikaka and Eastern-Northern Barbarians toppling 2018 division one finalists Midlands 35-5.

RESULTS

Premier (Pool 1):

Woodlands 12, Edendale 7;

Eastern-Northern Barbarians 35, Midlands 5;

Marist 42, Te Anau 13;

Premier (Pool 1):

Star 70, Riversdale 5;

Blues 43, Wyndham 12;

POB 57, Waikaka 0;