Pirates-Old Boys secures last premier semifinal spot
A GREG Dyerinspired performance booked PiratesOld Boys the last semifinal spot in the final round of Southland’s premier club rugby competition on Saturday.
Heading into the completion of the roundrobin series Marist, Woodlands and Blues had already locked in playoff berths.
It left PiratesOld Boys and the EasternNorthern Barbarians scrapping for the other spot.
For PiratesOld Boys the equation was simple: beat Star and the semifinal prize was theirs.
Star struck first through a Manaaki SelbyRickit try but PiratesOld Boys dominated the majority of the game and Dyer led the way in the bonuspoint 3722 victory.
The first fiveeighth opened his team’s account when he spotted a gap and split the Star defence to score.
Dyer then produced a nice short pass to put second fiveeighth Sam McLachlan into space and he darted in to score.
The two Dyer conversions and two penalties pushed Pirates-Old Boys out to a 207 halftime lead.
Playing with confidence Dyer banked a second try early in the second half, as did McLachlan, and PiratesOld Boys ensured there were no secondhalf wobbles.
Wade McRae also scored for PiratesOld Boys.
SelbyRickit impressed again for Star and his locking partner Jack Capil played his 50th game for the club.
Prop Jeremy Bekhuis was also acknowledged for his 100game milestone and brother Josh was on hand to watch the game.
Josh Bekhuis, a former Stags
and Highlanders lock, has just finished a contract in France and will soon head to Japan to line up for Honda.
The Barbarians’ hardfought 129 win over Marist in Gore meant little, as the country side finished fifth in the standings.
The Barbarians outscored Marist two tries to none, after trailing 65 at halftime.
Rory and Lachie McCall, and Scott McKee were strong for Barbarians and loose forward Tangaroa Walker impressed for Marist.
Saturday brought the curtain down on coach Sean Hurley’s time with the Barbarians.
The team was on shaky ground before the 2018 season and struggled for playing numbers throughout the campaign.
However, Hurley said the current group was positive about the future and he hoped there were enough players in the country areas who wanted to give premier rugby a crack.
Marist’s loss on Saturday meant Woodlands leapfrogged it into top spot at the end of the roundrobin.
Woodlands highlighted its strength with a 3824 win, taking its record to nine straight victories heading into the knockout games.
Woodlands will now take on fourthplaced PiratesOld Boys in one semifinal on Saturday, while Marist will host Blues, in what shape as two intriguing contests.