Excelsior rebounded from back-to-back defeats to claim bragging rights in the battle of the carpark with a 26-17 win over Athletic Marist last weekend.
While Athies dominated territory and possession early, Blues got on the board first against the run of play.
Excelsior were pinned deep in their own 22m when Oli Knopp shot forward on defence and snagged an intercept that he took 80m to score under the sticks.
Blues’ second try also came against the run of play.
Tyron Davies spied a gap behind the Athies defence and stabbed a kick into the left-hand corner.
The ball rolled into the in-goal area and Tuks Kaukinaivalu beat the retreating defenders to it and scored.
Late in the first half, Athies were finally able to string some phases together.
They found themselves in the Excelsior 22m and their forwards chipped away with carry after carry, before Junior Fakatoufifita crashed over to cut the lead to seven heading into the sheds.
The game fell into a slight lull to start the second half as Blues were more than happy to play the territory game.
Eventually, they won an attacking lineout and Hozayah Taylor scored off the back of a rolling maul.
However, Athies hit back immediately.
Blues corralled the ensuing kick-off but when they tried the clearing kick, it was charged down and regathered by Posiano Kamoto, who scored.
Blues were able to answer a few minutes later as a monster carry from Temesia Bolavucu led to him crossing the line with two defenders hanging off him.
That put the game beyond reach as even a late try from Kamoto was not enough to bring Athies back and Blues got the win.
While it was not always pretty, the fight shown from Blues was commendable.
Several players were playing out of position and they had a limited bench due to their mounting injury list.
Despite all this, they were able to get the win over a quality Athies side.
Valley are now the lone unbeaten team in the competition after a big second half got them over the line against Old Boys.
The Weston men were down at halftime but scored 26 points in the second half to win 33-20.
Maheno got their second win of the season up in Kurow.
The green machine ran in six tries as they beat the Red Devils 38-26.
TOMORROW
There is just the one match being played tomorrow due to the opening weekend of duck-shooting season.
Maheno hosted Excelsior and Valley played Kurow last night to allow their players to participate.
That leaves just Athletic Marist and Old Boys to battle it out at the A&P Showgrounds in the third annual Pasifika day.
On the field, the two teams will contest for the Pasifika Kings of Rugby Bowl and off it there will also be stalls offering food and music played throughout.
PRESIDENTS GRADE
Defending champions Kurow bounced back from their opening round loss in a big way.
They thumped Union 70-nil in a country clash up the valley.
In Oamaru, Athletic Marist are two from two after beating Excelsior 49-10.
After two rounds, Athies and Old Boys are both undefeated — albeit Old Boys have only played one game.
Both sides will go head-to-head tomorrow while Excelsior ventures out to Ngapara to take on Union and Kurow has the bye.
WOMEN’S RUGBY
Excelsior played their first game in front of a home crowd last Friday night.
Unfortunately, they went down 15-5 to Pleasant Point.
After being deadlocked at the break, Pleasant Point was able to pull ahead in the second 40 to get the win.
Tonight, the team heads up to Waimate to take on Southern.
