Club Rugby: Last play try sorts 2025 semi-finalists
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A Leroy Ferguson try in the last play of the game lifted the Eastern-Northern Barbarians to a win on Saturday and also locked in the 2025 Southland premier club rugby semi-finalists.
The Barbarians trailed top-of-the-table Pirates-Old Boys 25-22 in Te Anau with time up before Ferguson scored the matchwinner to end up 29-25 winners.
The win secured the Barbarians a spot in the semifinals with one round-robin game to play and avoided what would have been a quarter-final like showdown against Star this Saturday.
The Barbarians will be joined by Pirates-Old Boys, Woodlands, and Marist with Star and Blues now out of contention.
Ferguson didn’t just provide the match-winner on Saturday but was one of the Barbarians’ best as the country team appears to be finding form at the perfect time of the season.
Fellow Stag Woody Kirkwood also impressed, while midfielder Ryan McFaul, and prop Troy McIvor off the bench, were also key in the important win.
The Barbarians season looked on the ropes a few weeks back when they had lost four in a row, but they have done enough since to make sure they will be playing semifinal footy.
Related Reading: Stags hopeful racks up remarkable 36-point haul
Coach AJ Aitken noted a few weeks ago the thought of tipping over the competition leaders would have been viewed as a longshot, but he’s pleased with the progression of the Barbarians heading into when the season really counts.
“It’s no secret having those three Stags players coming in has helped us immensely. But everybody [on Saturday] was so gritty and correct… I’m pretty happy really,” Aitken said.
While Ferguson was clinching the Barbarians a semifinal spot in Te Anau, back in Invercargill at Miller St Marist got the job done against Blues to also secure Marist a semifinal spot.
Although a physical and determined bottom-of-the-table Blues made Marist work very hard for it.
Blues led 17-5 early in the second half on the back of a Brad Kooman try, and midway through the second half sat in the box seat at 24-12 up.
At that point, they were the better team as Blues’ big ball runners, such as Kelepi Holi and Kepu Taifua, had a field day.
However, three Marist tries in the final 18 minutes to Jackson Bevin, Riley Hika, and Keanu Kahukura got the job done as Marist finished 29-24 winners.
The third premier fixture was played on Wednesday night, with Woodlands beating Star 56-22 on the back of a 36-point haul from Fletcher Morgan.
Pirates-Old Boys has locked in the top spot, and Woodlands will also finish second, no matter what happens in the final round on Saturday.
One thing still to be determined is whether the Barbarians or Marist finish third or fourth, which will sort out who plays who in the semifinals the following week.
(Premier Women - Semifinals)
Star beat Pioneer by default
Albion 20, Marist/Midlands 7
(Division One)
Edendale 32, Tokanui 19
Bluff 29, Te Anau 24
Pioneer 25, Albion 21
Wyndham 19, Waikaka/Riversdale 7
(Division Two)
Marist 55, Blues 0
Waikiwi 60, Drummond-Limehills-Star 5
Riverton 34, Woodlands 20
Midlands 32, Otautau-Ohai-Nightcaps 20
(Senior C/President’s Grade)
Mataura 29, Albion 12
Waikaka 43, Bluff 5
Wyndham 26, Waikiwi 12
Pioneer 38, Pirates-Old Boys 0
Balfour 15, Waikaia 5