Perfect weather conditions graced Southland on Saturday afternoon for round 2 of the premier club competition.
In the most anticipated game of the round, the Eastern Northern Barbarians beat Woodlands 26-24 at Woodlands.
The Barbarians led 19-0 at halftime and when they scored another converted try after the resumption, the locals looked to be dead and buried.
Woodlands then scored an intercept try and the Baabaas started to give away a cluster of penalties and lost a man to the sin-bin.
The momentum had switched and Woodlands fought back to score three more tries to trail by just two points. In the closing stages, Woodlands attempted a penalty from 40m out but it was flagged away.
Barbarians coach Bretton Taylor said it ended up closer than he would have liked.
"We had the edge up front and were turning pressure into points before things turned around on us a bit there. But we’ve got the five competition points and we’ve got a bit to work on."
Fullback Ben McCarthy was man of the match after making some scything runs, and hooker Liam Ferguson and No 8 Benny Hill were two standouts in a very good forwards effort led by prop Morgan Mitchell. Ryan McFaul played well in the midfield.
Woodlands coach Richard Jones was frustrated that it took 50 minutes for his team to get into the game.
"Our ball security and option-taking was poor in the first half", Jones said.
"The Barbarians have got a big, physical pack, and their backs were good, too. They won the key moments and we were outplayed. We stayed in the fight — we just need to fine-tune a few things."
Lock Alex Yellop and second five Tauasosi Tuimavave were the best of the locals.
Pirates Old Boys Hawks were comfortable 45-7 winners over Marist.
The Hawks were clear favourites on their home ground and wasted no time in asserting their dominance.
Second five Napo Seru used his bulk to bowl over for the first try, openside Matt James was next to score from a lineout drive and fullback Kaea Nikora-Balloch stepped through the line to score and convert the third try within the first half hour.
The fourth try was scored in the corner after the ball went through the backline for winger Eneriko Taukei to dot down.
Marist scored first in the second half through an intercept try but the Hawks made sure there was no chance of a comeback when Matt James charged down a kick to score his second try.
Hawks winger Isaac Rounds finished off two good backline tries to round out the dominant victory.
Pirates Old Boys’ Nikora-Balloch, blindside Dusty Coveney and No 8 Jakob Harrex were the game’s best players.
Star earned a confidence-boosting second victory in a row when they beat Blues 48-7. Playing on their home turf, Star led 21-0 at halftime.
— John Langford
