Club Rugby: Maher's magic moment gets Barbarians home
The Barbarians was awarded a penalty 40m out and it was the replacement fullback Jordan Maher who was given the job of trying to seal victory at the sun-baked Gore.
Logan Savory wraps up round three of Southland’s premier club rugby competition which included wins to the Eastern-Northern Barbarians, Pirates-Old Boys, and Woodlands as the competition stepped up in intensity from the first two rounds.
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This is the moment goal-kickers dream about.
With time up and the scores locked up at 11-11 between the Eastern-Northern Barbarians at the Gore Showgrounds on Saturday, Jordan Maher was handed the ball.
The Barbarians had been awarded a penalty 40m out and it was the replacement fullback who was given the job of trying to seal victory at sun-baked Gore.
Maher made no mistake sending it through the uprights to clinch a thrilling 14-11 win which may well prove vital later in the competition.
“It was a really good moment for Jordy,” Barbarians coach Bretton Taylor said.
While it was that kick that was the match-winning moment there was a defining play a bit earlier which Taylor said was just as big in the context of the game.
“Levi Emery made a try-saving tackle on Tevita Latu and that was probably the game right there. He chased back and managed to nail him.”
Watching the tense game unfold on Saturday were Stags decision-makers Matt Saunders and Daryl Thompson. It’s a game that would have had to prompt a smile given the physicality and intensity on display.
It was a step up from what had unfolded in the first two rounds.
Taylor said some of his players described the contest as the toughest game they’ve played in.
While Marist lost on fulltime, the response the proud club showed from its 70-14 hammering at the hands of Woodlands a week earlier was top-notch.
“I don’t know what happened to them the past couple of weeks, but they were very good yesterday,” Taylor said.
Marist led 8-3 at halftime and Taylor was thankful they were not down by more at the break given the pressure put them under.
“We were just hanging in there…. Marist always comes out of the blocks and start well against us. You know it’s coming but it’s quite hard to stop.”
The likes of Jacob Coghlan and Caine Taylor were again good for the Barbarians, as was Tom Simmers.
Marist was bolstered with the return of some key players who had been missing in previous weeks, including its general Scott Eade who adds plenty of experience and direction.
The Barbarians now turn their sights to Blues on Thursday night at the Gore Showground, while Marist has the bye.
Twenty-one unanswered second-half points lifted Pirates-Old Boys to what turned out to be a comfortable 35-17 victory over Blues at Surrey Park in Invercargill on Saturday.
The two teams traded points in the first half scoring two tries apiece. Just a Jay Renton penalty separated the two teams at halftime, with Blues leading 17-14.
Pirates-Old Boys probably had the stronger bench of the two teams - which included flanker Matt James - and on a scorching day there was the thought Pirates-Old Boys had the makings of finishing the strongest.
That’s exactly how it played out. Pirates-Old Boys dominated proceedings in the second half scoring three tries to zip to pull away to the 35-17.
What made life that bit more tougher for Blues was the fact Pirates-Old Boys were going up in sevens with first five-eighth Kaea Nikora-Balloch kicking five from five conversions.
The young first five-eighth has been one of the best through the opening three rounds of Southland’s premier club competition which is not just a positive for the Pirates-Old Boys club but has firmed himself as a future Stags prospect.
He combines well with halfback Josh Murrell.
Centre Isaac Te Tamaki took charge late in the game scoring a try before then putting a well-weighted crosskick to Matt James out wide who scored.
While it came unstuck for Blues in the second half there was enough shown to suggest when they get a couple of more troops back they will be a real threat.
Blues were put under pressure up front, particularly at scrum time, which wasn’t helped when veteran prop Micheal Peterson was forced from the field with an Achilles injury.
But out wide Blues - through the likes of Brad Kooman and Michael Manson - have plenty of firepower.
Chuck in hooker Jacob Payne, who is injured, and Hayden Michaels who is currently with the Highlanders, and Blues will be better than their 0-3 start to 2023.
Teenage wing Sione Baker continues to stamp his mark on Southland club rugby through the first three rounds. He scored a further three tries in Woodlands’ 39-10 win over Midlands on Saturday.
Baker, who last year was part of the Hurricanes under-18 setup, has made the shift south to link with the Rugby Southland academy and the Woodlands club.
He’s scored seven tries in his first three outings in Southland and in doing so has shown plenty of raw pace and agility.
He’s causing some opposition defenders some nightmares at the moment. Baker has quickly emerged as a potential Stags prospect, if not this season, in seasons to come.
Woodlands coach Richard Jones agreed Baker certainly has something about him.
“He’s still got some growth in his game. His work rate off the ball we are talking to him about, and his positional stuff working with Rory [van Vugt] at the back, but his skill set is good, and he is an electric finisher,” Jones said.
While Baker feasted himself on three tries on Saturday Midlands pushed Woodlands hard throughout the 80 minutes.
In fact, Midlands tested the high-flying Woodlands the most out of any teams to date this season.
Midlands has a team that works particularly hard for each other led by Joe Robins, who is one of the best going around Southland club rugby.
“They’ve got a decent squad and they definitely gave it to us. I think they will get a couple of wins the way they are going,” Jones said.
Midlands coach Brendan Dennis is encouraged by what his team is offering up as the Winton-based club continues to try to establish itself as a competitive premier club after making the step up from Division One.
“We’ve got areas of our game we can tighten up but the team’s happy with where we are at,” Dennis said.
“Give us a bit of time and hopefully we can put some teams under some real pressure and get the W. There are good signs for us.”
Midlands lost regular first five-eighth Jack Keen very early in the game against Woodlands but Henry Earland shifted into that position and did a good job.
Former Woodlands prop Chris Barrett, who is now playing for Midlands, also put in a good shift.
For Woodlands, loosehead prop Joe Walsh continued his strong form, while halfback Liam Howley was also good.
Division One
Wyndham 43; Drummond Limehills Star 26
Waikaka/Riversdale 45; Albion 19
Edendale 38; Te Anau 23
Tokanui 31; Pioneer 26
Division Two (CJ Soper Memorial)
Waikiwi 50; Mataura 7
Bluff beat Collegiate by default
Bush Pirates 29; Pioneer 25
Riverton 24; Ohai-Nightcaps-Otautau 0 (Western Banner)
Division Two (Life Members Trophy)
Midlands 52; Woodlands 12
Pirates-Old Boys 36; Blues 26
Wakatipu 44; Marist 21