Last play post hitting match-winner decides Galbraith Shield finalists
Sunday, 9 August 2020
In terms afternoons of rugby, they don’t much more dramatic than how the final round of Southland’s premier club competition played out on Saturday.
What we do now know is Woodlands and Star will square-off in Saturday’s 2020 Galbraith Shield final at Rugby Park. But it’s how Star snatched that finals spot over two other contenders which was where that dramatic tale sits.
Heading into Saturday’s games Woodlands had already secured the top spot.
It left Pirates-Old Boys (27 competitions), Marist (25 points), and Star (22 points) scrapping it out for the right to take on Woodlands.
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Star had the bumpiest of roads to navigate given it needed to secure a bonus-point victory, deny Pirates-Old Boys of any bonus points in their game at Surrey Park, and also hope Marist get tipped up by Woodlands.
Star ticked the required boxes with a 29-5 win over Pirates-Old Boys after leading 19-0 at halftime.
But while that unfolded at Surrey Park, a couple of kilometres away at Miller St, Marist looked on track to upset Woodlands and head off Star and Pirates-Old Boys for that finals spot.
Marist led 21-7 at halftime and secured the four-try bonus point in the second half when it led 28-12.
Woodlands then scored two converted tries to bring back to 28-26.
With time up on the clock, Woodlands managed to put itself in a position to strike and referee Nathan Lyall awarded the competition frontrunners a penalty about 48m out.
With the wind behind him up stepped Marty McKenzie to take the shot in what was the last act of the game, and the entire round-robin series for that matter.
In a moment that broke the hearts of Marist supporters, McKenzie was successful with that penalty attempt.
To add to the drama it hit the upright and bounced inside the posts to secure Woodlands the 29-28 win.
Marist did secure two bonus points and remarkably it left Star, Pirates-Old Boys, and Marist all tied on 27 competition points at the end round-robin play.
The calculators came out to decide which team progressed the Galbraith Shield final. The formula used was how many competition points were accumulated in the six games played between those three teams.
Star ended up with 13, Marist 11, and Pirates-Old Boys 9.
Marist captain Scott Eade captain acknowledged the green-and-blacks 2020 season was decided by a matter of a couple of points and a ‘’couple of inches’’, pointing to McKenzie’s match-winning kick that hit the upright and bounced in.
But with a bigger picture view, Eade admitted it was a great afternoon for Southland rugby.
“You couldn’t have scripted it better could you?’’
While disappointed not to progress Eade was pleased Marist did end the season with a good performance against a quality Woodlands side.
Naturally there was plenty of excitement within the Star camp on Saturday evening after producing somewhat of a Hoodini act to make another Galbraith Shield final.
Although the mountain Star has to climb to get its hands on the Galbraith Shield this Saturday looks even steeper.
Just a matter of a fortnight ago Woodlands racked up a 54-7 victory over Star in their Scruffy Butt Memorial Shield encounter, and Woodlands produced that despite missing a couple of strike backs in the form of Tauasosi Tuimavave and Josh Moorby.
Star’s management also has some work ahead of itself with the judiciary as it works through captain Jordan Stewart’s red card from Saturday and potential suspension.
Hooker Talaemaitoga Tupati - who has signed with the Southland Stags for this year’s Mitre 10 Cup campaign – came off the bench for Pirates-Old Boys in the second half on Saturday.
Tuapati and Stewart ended up in a confrontation which resulted in Tuapati being shown the yellow card.
When he returned to the field Tuapati again clashed with Stewart and referee Jason McMath believed he had saw punches thrown and showed both players red cards.
Stewart was adamant he did not strike Tuapati and the Star management will sift through the video footage in an attempt to state their case and ensure Stewart can play against Woodlands in the final.
Southland club rugby results
PREMIER
(Galbraith Shield)
Star 29; Pirates Old Boys 5; Woodlands 29, Marist 28; Eastern-Northern Barbarians 29, Blues 19.
Saturday's final: Woodlands v Star
DIVISION ONE
(Ack Soper Shield)
Midlands 36, Edendale 20; Waikaka 24, Te Anau 17; Wyndham 26, Riversdale 17.
Saturday’s final: Midlands v Te Anau
(Gerald Dermody Shield)
Pioneer 43, Waikiwi 24; Tokanui 43, Albion 14; Mossburn 45, Wakatipu 17.
Saturday’s final: Pioneer v Tokanui
DIVISION TWO
(CJ Soper Trophy)
Pioneer 29, Blues 27; Waiau Star 22, Drummond-Limehills-Star 22; Bluff 30, Star 10.
Saturday’s final: Bluff v Waiau Star
(Life Members Trophy)
Collegiate 25, Woodlands 21; Marist 26, MIdlands 10; Pirates Old Boys 37, Bush Pirates 10.
Saturday’s final: Collegiate v Marist