Terrible weather did not help the cause but, as it did last week, Otago Country got off to a promising start.
Clutha's Rhys Harrold landed two penalty goals before Southland came back to score the opening try of the match through winger Afi Peteru.
Otago Country led 6-5 at halftime, and went further ahead when Wakatipu No8 Henry Youngman scored his side's only try from a wayward lineout throw close to the line.
The Southlanders took the lead with 15 minutes left to play, through a converted try to hooker Jason Rutledge and a penalty to Mike Molloy.
Otago Country coach Roger Cotton was happy with his side's performance and said it was a step up from last week.
''They were quite a bit bigger than us and they just wore us down. We battled quite well with them, actually,'' Cotton said.
Cotton noted the strong play of his midfield, Danny van der Voort and Scott Milne, along with forwards Kerrod Baldwin and Blair van der Voort.
Barbarians coach Damian Pine said the play of his forwards and having some current and former Southland ITM Cup players was the difference.
''Our forward pack sort of started to get on top of them in the second half,'' Pine said.
''[Rutledge] scored a try that was pretty decisive.''
Former Highlanders hooker Rutledge, openside flanker Jordan Stewart and winger Sosi Tuimavave were the standout players for Southland.
Otago Country's next match is against North Otago Development in Oamaru this weekend.
Representative rugby
The scores
Southland Metro 15
Afi Peteru, Jason Rutledge tries; Mike Molloy con, pen
Otago Country 11
Henry Youngman try; Rhys Harrold 2 pen
Halftime: Otago Country 6-5.
