The four Galbraith Shield finalists were decided after the last round of Southland premier club rugby on Saturday.
The unbeaten Pirates Old Boys team will host Star in one semifinal, while defending champion Woodlands will host Blues in the other. Five teams were capable of qualifying for the finals before Saturday games and it was Marist which was knocked out.
Star required nothing less than a four-try bonus point win on Saturday and earnt it with a 40-17 victory over Marist at Oreti Park on Saturday.
Star denied Marist any competition points, ending its season.
Blues was soundly beaten 52-17 by Pirates Old Boys. Blues was able to sneak past Marist on the ladder and into the finals due to its points scored and conceded differential.
Woodlands finished second after beating the Eastern Northern Barbarians 41-29 on Les George Oval.
In division one’s Ack Soper Shield competition the four finalists were known before the last round. Midlands finished on top after beating Riversdale 27-8 on Saturday. The Speight’s Shield was won and taken back south to Winton.
Midlands will host Wyndham this Saturday, while Waikaka will host Edendale, a team in top form after thrashing Wyndham 44-7, when Devon McLeod converted five tries and kicked three penalty goals.
Division one Gerald Dermody Shield finalists are Mataura, Mossburn, Collegiate and Pioneer.
Division two has another round-robin game still to play.
- John Langford
