Star fullback Nate Corbett scored to help his side to a seven-point lead at halftime in the wet and muddy conditions on Marist’s home turf at Miller St. Corbett scored again early in the second half but his side went down to 14 players when loose forward Aukistino Salanoa was sent off. James Moodie crossed first for Marist and blindside flanker Luke Cassidy then scored two tries in a top individual performance. No 8 Felix Lauofo was man of the match and tighthead prop Liam
McIntosh also impressed. Josh Jennings had the chance to win the game for Star with a penalty goal attempt in the closing stages but it was flagged away. Pirates Old Boys beat Woodlands 35-5 at Sandy Point. Centre Sam McLachlan scored two of the five tries for POB. The veteran utility back’s first try was scored after eight minutes and McLachlan’s next was just before halftime when he finished off a long-range team movement which helped his side build a 23-point lead at the break.
Woodlands lock Riley Smith scored a try after halftime but that was the end of the scoring until inside the last 10 minutes when Hayden Hegarty powered off the back of a POB scrum to score under the posts. Winger Tevita Chute capped off the bonus-point win with a try in the corner against a stretched defence. With one round remaining before the finals, Pirates Old Boys are now seven points clear of Woodlands on the ladder and five points behind the leading Eastern Northern
Barbarians. Woodlands had toppled the Barbarians the previous week but were low on player resources again on Saturday. The Barbarians bounced back from their loss to Woodlands to beat Invercargill Blues 57-10 at the Gore Showgrounds. Blues had been improving as a team during recent weeks but the local team were hungry to get back into winning form. The combined side led 21-5 at halftime and the second 40 minutes was under complete control by the locals. Replacement winger Banuve Dretiverata scored twice. Veteran forwards
Lachlan McCall at hooker, prop Morgan Mitchell and No 8 Brenton Howden each scored a try. The locals converted six of their nine tries. Prop Tom Scanlan made a welcome return from injury off the bench for the Barbarians. — John Langford
Marist, Star, Miller St, Aukistino Salanoa, Nate Corbett, Luke Cassidy, Felix Lauofo, Liam McIntosh, Pirates Old Boys, Woodlands, Sam McLachlan, Hayden Hegarty, Tevita Chute, Eastern Northern Barbarians, Invercargill Blues, Banuve Dretiverata, Morgan Mitchell, Brenton Howden, Tom Scanlan