Club Rugby: Three Galbraith Shield semifinal spots booked

Sunday, 23 June 2019

Charging Star prop Chris Apoua is challenged by Pirates-Old Boys flanker Ben Keenan in the Southland premier club rugby fixture at Surrey Park on Saturday.

Eastern-Northern Barbarians prop James Matheson has booked his team a Galbraith Shield semifinal spot through a conversion from near the sideline on Saturday.

The Barbarians beat Woodlands 14-13 at the Gore Showgrounds in a game which Barbarians coach Nathan Howden concedes Woodlands were probably the better team and they got out of jail with the result.

Inside 10 minutes to play Woodlands led 13-7 before the Barbarians struck back with a try out wide leaving Matheson with the honours.

In a moment which will have many frontrowers glowing with pride, the prop calming slotted the conversion to grab a 14-13 lead and the eventual win.

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Howden said in the final act of the warm up to the game, ironically, Matheson slotted a kick between the uprights from the exact same position he kicked the matchwinner.

Woodlands had a difficult penalty attempt late in the game to go back in front but it was unsuccessful.

Howden said the win was again built on its defensive effort in an otherwise mixed showing from the combined country team.

The four competition points has pushed the Barbarians to 32 points which will be enough to ensure them of a semifinal spot with one game still to play in the round-robin stage of the season.

However, Howden said the job was not down as they now hunt a win next week over Blues to ensure the Barbarians book a home semifinal at Gore.

For Woodlands, they now need to bank five competition against Pirates-Old Boys next week and hope Blues get none against the Barbarians to give them a shot at playing playoffs rugby this year.

A late try to halfback Hayden Edgley against Pirates-Old Boys also helped Star to lock in a semifinal spot at Surrey Park on Saturday.

With the scores locked up at 18-18 late in the game, Edgley was awarded the matchwinning try after referee Kirk Rae consulted with his touch judge.

It was Edgley's second try after earlier he dotted down from a pushover scrum.

Pirates-Old Boys has been winless through the Galbraith Shield round of this year's premier competition but they threw plenty at Star in an effort to play the role of semifinal spoiler.

No 8 Hayden Hegarty kicked Pirates-Old Boys into gear when he was introduced in the second half.

For Star, prop Chris Apoua carried the ball well as he builds towards this year's Stags campaign.

At 30 points, Star sits five points clear of fifth-placed Woodlands on the competition standings.

However, if both teams were locked on 30 points after next week's games Star would still advance given they have beaten Woodlands twice this season.

Blues can still be caught by Woodlands, although they need just one competition point next week after they pulled off an important 20-0 win over Marist against the odds on Saturday.

Marist is well clear at the top of the standings while Blues went into the game with a host of players out injured.

Blues raced out to a 17-0 lead early in the game on the back of three well-worked tries.

Blues were unable to grab what would have been a vital four-try bonus point in the second half, but the victory was still welcomed at Balmoral Dr.

Halfback Jay Renton got through his first full 80 minute showing this season and was Blues' best in the victory.

For Marist, prop Shaun Stodart was a standout.

Marist still have some heavy artillery up their sleeve with Stags forwards Phil Halder and Flynn Thomas still expected to line up for the Miller St boys.

RESULTS

Premier

(Galbraith Shield)

Blues 20, Marist 0; Star 23, Pirates-Old Boys 18; Eastern-Northern Barbarians 14, Woodlands 13.

(Ack Soper Shield)

Edendale 35, Te Anau 19; Midlands 54, Waikaka 5; Wyndham 7, Riversdale 0.

Division One

Wakatipu 55, Waiau Star 19; Waikiwi beat Star by default; Albion-Excelsior 35, Blues 26; Mossburn 32 - Pioneer 15.

Division Two

Balfour/Lumsden beat Blues by default; Mataura 64, Bush Pirates 0; Riverton 52, Pirates Old Boys 7; Ohai-Nightcaps 22, Drummond-Limehills Star 26; Bluff 61, Collegiate 5.