Marist had the bye last weekend and tipped over the Galbraith Shield holder.
Marist was down on props and when Tangaroa Walker was taken to hospital with an ankle injury after 10 minutes the scrums went uncontested.
Marist was down to 13 men at one stage but scored two tries with two players in the bin.
The side scrambled well on defence and despite missing some key players, the rest displayed a great attitude.
No 8 Liam Ody-Johns was the game’s best. His huge defence included some try-saving tackles and he carried the ball strongly. Ody-Johns has recently moved south from Hawke’s Bay.
Marist winger Keanu Kahukura was good, while hooker Flynn Thomas impressed when he came on for the last 30 minutes.
Pirates Old Boys earned a tough 18-14 win over Star at Waverly Park. The Hawks showed plenty of character to win this match after a disrupted preparation and having four front rowers unavailable. The Hawks called on Liam and Keenan Bakker from the club’s B team.
The brothers were playing in their first premier grade game together and Keenan’s first game at hooker. He is usually a prop, while Liam is usually a flanker and did a great job at prop.
Star started the match with the wind at its back and used the vast majority of possession at the right end of the field to build a 14-point lead.
Just before halftime the Hawks scored a try through wing Kepu Suli.
As injuries hit, the Hawks’ 41-year-old battler, Regan Johns, came off the bench with 25 minutes remaining. Such was the makeshift forward pack the locks had a turn throwing the ball into the lineout.
Greg Dyer and lock Craig Smith scored tries for the Hawks, and while Dyer missed all the conversions he did land a vital penalty goal. Star was relentless in its attack during the last 10 minutes, but the Hawks’ defence was outstanding.
Hawks co-coach Ben McHugh said it was the gutsiest performance he had seen in his coaching career and he was very proud of the players.
Hawks halfback Josh Murrell was good and prop Lennon Gaven had a heroic match before dislocating his shoulder in the last play of the game.
Suli had a big game on the wing, while the club’s Stag reps Dyer, Issac Te Tamaki and Smith were again vital.
In the third game, the Eastern Northern Barbarians beat Midlands 28-7 at the Gore Showgrounds after leading 14-0 at halftime. Blues had the bye.
In the division one competition, Tokanui earned a 21-0 win in Mossburn, while in division two DLS is in good form for the Drummond Centenary this Saturday after beating Balfour 33-13.
- John Langford
