Southland's seven premier grade teams began the second round of the Galbraith Shield competition on Saturday.
Woodlands beat Marist 43-10 at Miller St.
The powerful Woodlands squad had not played much this season and coach Richard Jones said it was good to get the team back into it.
"It felt like we started to get our game going out there. We wanted to nail our set piece and get the front-foot ball for our backline. Our big lads were physical, the whole pack was aggressive on defence and that set the tone."
Marist fullback Cullen Thompson kicked an early penalty, but then Woodlands scored four tries and 24 points to take a 24-3 lead at halftime.
Woodlands halfback Liam Howley and wing Drew Carter scored second-half tries.
Jones said there were plenty of standouts.
"Second five-eighth Matt Whaanga was pretty dangerous on attack and defence. He’s in good nick, he’s a good organiser and takes some pressure off Marty [McKenzie].”
The Eastern Northern Barbarians were dominant against Star, especially at scrum time, and ran out as convincing 31-7 winners in Gore.
Star got off to a good start when prop Sanasco Cricton scored in the opening minutes.
After 15 minutes, the Barbarians scored back-to-back converted tries. The first was a penalty try from a scrum and the second came from a charged down kick to openside Jacob Coghlan.
First five Rylee Stewart kicked a penalty to extend the lead to 17-7 at halftime.
Right wing Sheamus McGuigan and midfielder Angus Simmers scored converted tries out wide in the second half.
Coghlan was named man of the match, but Simmers and No8 Caine Taylor also impressed.
Coach Bretton Taylor said it was good to get the job done.
"There was a 20-minute period of domination when we should’ve scored a couple more times, but overall we’re happy to bag the five points."
Midlands was outsized and outclassed by Blues on club day in Winton.
Blues got off to a slick start and never looked like losing, No8 Arese Poliko and lock Albert Qoro were too big and strong, and provided first five Anisoni Kaufononga with an armchair ride.
Blues scored four tries to lead 29-0 at halftime and another five tries in the second spell to win 60-0.
Midlands’ Juan Kyle covered plenty of ground and the team never gave up.
- John Langford
