North Otago
An exciting finish saw Maheno snatch a 3837 win over Athletic Marist in the opening weekend of North Otago club rugby.
After an even first quarter Athletic Marist broke the ice when veteran prop Aisake Fonua galloped 40m to score.
Two minutes later Maheno fullback Jordan Oatley split the defence and midfielder Sam Tatupu added the conversion.
Athletic second fiveeighth Simon Lilicama put his side back in front 87 with a penalty in the 24th minute, before Maheno centre Lachie Kingan touched down for Tatupu to convert and put Maheno back in front 148.
Athletic Marist struck back straight after halftime, fullback Ross Lewis bursting through the Maheno defence to race 50m to score, putting his side 1514 up.
This lead increased almost immediately when another veteran, Willie Tahitua, ran 50m to score for Lilicama to convert and take it out to a 2214 lead.
Lewis crossed for his second try four minutes later and Lilicama’s conversion put Athletic out to a 2914 lead.
Midway through the half Maheno surged back with tries to winger Forrest Beer and midfielder James Tatupu to leave Maheno three points down at 2629.
Athletic No 6 Will Sunderland extended Athletic’s lead to 3426 with an unconverted try.
Beer crossed for his second try 10 minutes from fulltime and Tatupu’s conversion made it 3433.
Lilicama added a penalty, extending Athletic’s lead to 3733, before Maheno first fiveeighth Craig Smith scored an unconverted try to snatch the game with only minutes remaining.
Kurow, which showed real promise in the 2017 season, started the season with a 530 win over a depleted Excelsior side at Kurow after leading 390 at halftime.
No 8 Corey Hollister scored the first of his two tries five minutes into the game.
First fiveeighth Tyler Burgess added penalties in the eighth and 15th minutes to take the home side out to an 110 lead before a dominant Kurow through openside clanker Cam Bennet added an unconverted try to give Kurow a halftime lead after Burgess’ conversion.
Tries came thick and fast for the rest of the game, prop Petelo Pouhila scoring two tries, Hollister adding his second and Fale Havard and Isaac Milne getting into the act as well and Burgess adding the extras with his accurate boot.
Old Boys dashed out to a 260 lead at halftime over Valley.
Rightwinger Fina Liva opened the scoring in the fifth minute but tries followed to halfback Inoke Naufahu, prop Kelepi Funaki and flanker Filepi Veamatahau with Naufahu adding the conversions.
Old Boys dominated the third quarter, centre Jim Bulitavu, Canadian lock Brendan Mangold and Malu Fale adding tries.
Naufahu and Harry Frost added conversions to take Old Boys out to a 477 lead after Valley centre Matthew Vocea scored a try, which he converted.
Valley finished with late tries to No 8 Sam Sturgess and prop Cameron Schultz giving some respectability to the 4717 scoreline.