Club Rugby: Pirates-Old Boys banks important win
Southland premier club rugby semifinalists are all but sorted.
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Greg Dyer has kicked a late penalty to lift Pirates-Old Boys to an important 20-18 win over the Eastern-Northern Barbarians at Oreti Park on Saturday.
Pirates-Old Boys and the Barbarians appear certain to meet in the 2024 Southland premier club rugby semifinals in three weeks’ time.
Saturday’s dress rehearsal had added importance given the Barbarians had their sights on leap-frogging Pirates-Old Boys into second spot to host the semifinal in Gore.
When the Barbarians scored a converted try to go up 18-17 they were in pole position to claim the competition points.
However, through the boot of Dyer Pirates-Old Boys had the last say with a penalty to claim a 20-18 victory.
If there was ever any doubt, Saturday highlighted that a mouthwatering clash between the two teams now looms.
The other semifinal is almost certain to be between top-of-the-table Star and Woodlands.
Star sits in top spot with just the one loss from 11 outings, but bottom of the table Blues did throw a bit at them on Saturday in a high-scoring affair.
Star ran out 48-33 victors as Blues banked its first competition point of the season with a four-try bonus point.
Woodlands need to find some form quickly in its final two round-robin games before the playoffs.
Woodlands has lost four of its past five outings.
The latest was a 24-17 loss to a spirited Marist team in muddy conditions at Miller St on Saturday.
While Marist will miss the playoffs in 2024 some of its young players have shown some encouraging moments throughout the season.
The green-and-blacks will look to finish the season well in its final two outings against Blues and the Barbarians.
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Premier Women
Star 38 - Blues 20
Albions won by default against Midlands
Wakatipu won by default against Pioneer
Senior B-Development
Blues 48 - Star 28
Bluff 38 - Pirates Old Boys 21
Marist 28 - Woodlands 26
Division One
Pioneer 45 - Te Anau 14
Waikaka Riversdale Vikings 24 - Edenale 18
Wyndham 21 - Albion 21
Division Two
Wakatipu 27 - Waiau Star 17
Midlands 26 - Central Pirates 5
Waikiwi 26 - Collegiate 17
Mossburn 25 - Mataura 22
Riverton 43 - DLS 10
Premier Men
(All games 3pm)
Woodlands v Pirates-Old Boys
Blues v Marist
EN Barbarians v Star
Premier Women
Midlands v Pioneer (1.15pm)
Albion v Star (1.15pm)
Blues v Wakatipu (3pm)
Division 1
(All games 3pm)
Albion v Te Anau
Pioneer v Waikaka/Riversdale
Tokanui v Wyndham
Division 2
(All games 3pm)
Mossburn v Bush Pirates
Riverton v Wakatipu
Waiau Star v Mataura
Waikiwi v Ohai-Nightcaps-Otautau
Collegiate v Drummond-Limehills
Senior B | Premier Development
Pirates-Old Boys v Woodlands (12.30pm)
Blues v Bluff (1.15pm)
Marist v Woodlands (1.15pm)