Club Rugby: Late extra-time drop-goal decides semifinal
The 2023 Galbraith Shield finalists have been found. The Eastern-Northern Barbarians will take on Pirates-Old Boys.
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We’ve found our 2023 Galbraith Shield finalists with the Eastern-Northern Barbarians and Pirates-Old Boys to square-off at Rugby Park on Saturday.
It comes after two hard-fought semifinals with plenty of drama mixed in. Logan Savory wraps up the two games.
First five-eighth Greg Dyer has landed a drop goal deep into extra time to lift Pirates-Old Boys to a remarkable 27-24 victory over Woodlands on Saturday at the Les George Oval.
Down 17-3 with close to 10 minutes to play Pirates-Old Boys found itself in a difficult position.
Woodlands was in the box seat to progress to another Galbraith Shield final and push for a fourth straight title.
However, there was a significant momentum shift which was aided by the fact Woodlands halfback Liam Howley was shown a yellow card.
Pirates-Old Boys then went about scoring two converted tries to level the scores at 17-17 at the end of normal time.
The two teams then went about two 10-minute halves of extra time to find a winner. A draw in extra time would have been enough for Woodlands to advance.
Pirates-Old Boys scored yet another converted try in the first half of extra time to lead 24-17 at the change of ends.
However, Pirates-Old Boys made a mess of the kick-off and Woodlands eventually scored a try and the scores back locked up at 24-24.
Enter Dyer.
With about three minutes to play Pirates-Old Boys found itself in good field position and Dyer spotted the opportunity.
He dropped back into the pocket and positioned himself for a drop goal attempt. When it came, Dyer made no mistake.
However, Pirates-Old Boys still had a few nervous minutes ahead of them to hold on, which they did.
It capped off a remarkable 100 minutes of Southland club rugby in challenging conditions where the game was played in the afternoon under lights, given how gloomy it was.
Pirates-Old Boys coach Ben McHugh was confident his team would finish well given the playing depth it had on the bench and that proved to be the case.
“That first 40-50 minutes, [Blair] Ryall, Cabbage [Jason Rutledge], [Marty] McKenzie, Woody were hissing…. but we knew we had a bench that could be key,” McHugh said.
Although even he admitted to a few doubts at 17-3 with close to 10 minutes to play.
Looseforward Jakob Harrex was immense for Pirates-Old Boys as was his opposite Blair Ryall as the pair dished up an intense battle.
Both first five-eighths, Dyer and Marty McKenzie, were also key figures with their kicking games.
Pirates-Old Boys now have a week to recover from its 100-minute thriller against Woodlands and put its best forward to win the club’s first Galbraith Shield title since 2006.
The Eastern-Northern Barbarians is about to contest its second Galbraith Shield final it its 11-year history.
The combined country team has progressed to Saturday’s Southland premier club rugby final following a stellar second-half defensive display against Marist at the Gore Showgrounds.
The Barbarians opened the scoring through a Levi Emery penalty but found itself down 5-3 at halftime following a Marist try.
Marist continued to the through plenty at the Barbarians in the second half but could not breach the home team’s defence, a hallmark of the Gore-based team’s strength.
Emery kicked a second half penalty to go up 6-5 before looseforward Caine Taylor delivered the key blow when he finished a nice try.
The Emery extras pushed the margin out to the all-important eight mark at 13-5.
That’s how it finished.
Emery, at fullback, was a key figure in getting his team home in the final 30 minutes while the looseforward trio of Taylor, Leroy Ferguson, and Jacob Coghlan again impressed.
Their match-up against Dustin Coveney, Ben Keenan, and Jakob Harrex is likely to be a good one.
Like Pirates-Old Boys, the Barbarians also has depth on its bench and that too played a part in its good second half showing.
Coach Bretton Taylor was at the helm when the Barbarians won its first and only Galbraith Shield title in 2016 and naturally, he’s delighted to be back for a shot at it again.
“It is nice. The job is only half done but we are wrapped to be there.”
Division 1
Wyndham 39, Te Anau 33
Tokanui 76, Albion 0
Pioneer 45, Drummond-Limehills-Star 12
Edendale 25, Waikaka/Riversdale 19
Division 2 - (Top 4)
Riverton 18, Waikiwi 5
Bluff 30, Mossburn 7
Division 2 - (Bottom 4)
Ohai Nightcaps 31, Pioneer 12
Waiau Star 36 - Central Pirates 8
Life Members Trophy semifinals
Star 19, Marist 5
Woodlands 21, Pirates-Old Boys 17
President’s Cup
Waikaia 20, Tokanui 0
Balfour 55, Wyndham 19
Riverton defaulted to Waikaka
President’s Trophy Final
Mataura 7, Pirates Old Boys 5
Bugger!