Barbarians recorded a 13-6 win against Star on Saturday.
Star battled hard right to the final whistle in cold conditions in Waikaia.
The Barbarians led 8-6 at halftime as the fog began to roll in over the Waikaia grounds.
Coach AJ Aitken said it was a tough game.
"Star put pressure on us and they were defensively strong."
Star first five Sam Mustchin kicked two long-range goals in the first half but the Barbarians hooker Liam Ferguson made a dart down the short side to score to take his personal try-scoring tally to 10 tries from the first five games.
The Barbarians landed a penalty goal just before halftime for an 8-6 lead.
Aitken’s message to his team at the break was to get back to basics.
"We just looked a bit unorganised. Our lineout was not great, our game management was a bit off."
The Barbarians scored late in the game to make it 13-6.
"Individually we were good but as a team we were a bit clunky," Aitken said
Openside flanker Ben Hill was man of the match, while prop Morgy Mitchell and centre Liam McFaul made valuable contributions.
Josefa Bula made an impact in the second half when he came on to the right wing, as did James Holland who came on at first five for the last 30 minutes.
Waikaia stalwart Malcom McKee was presented with his Rugby Southland life membership at the game by board members Murray Brown and Rex Carter.
McKee played for Waikaia, then moved into governance spending more than 30 years shaping community rugby in Southland.
He helped establish the Babarians in 2012. The Babarians 2016 team — their only Galbraith Shield-winning team — celebrated their 10-year anniversary at the game.
Lachlan McCall captained that 2016 team. McCall, Morgan Mitchell and Brenton Howden were the only 2016 players in Saturday’s Barbarians team.
Pirates Old Boys cruised through their encounter with Invercargill Blues at Surrey Park. POB scored a 106-point win after leading 36-0 at halftime against a fragile defence.
Captain Greg Dyer scored three of his team’s 16 tries from fullbacks and 11 conversions.
Lock Craig Smith was given the chance to kick the last conversion of the match and nailed it.
After debuting in 2007, Smith was playing his 264th game for POB on Saturday, to become the most-capped Pirates Old Boys premier grade player in their 26-year history.
Woodlands had a 40-27 victory against Marist. The result was in the balance until the 78th minute when Woodlands scored under the posts.
Woodlands had led 21-10 at halftime and 33-27 during the closing stages.
Woodlands coach Barry Smith said Marist fired plenty of shots in the last 10 minutes.
"They were really going at us. The result could’ve easily gone the other way."
Woodlands midfielder Tauasosi Tuimavave was man of the match.
No 8 Robbie McKenzie also impressed in his first game back since injuring his knee in round one.
McKenzie got through 80 minutes and blindside Ryley McRae also took on a high workload.
Right wing Justin Shaw converted five of the six tries, while Marist could only convert one of their five tries.
Woodlands had most of their 11 teams playing at home for club day.
Coach Barry Smith said it was a beautiful day at Woodlands.
By John Langford
