Kahukura turns it on for Marist
Keanu Kahukura picked a good time to turn in his best game of the 2015 Southland premier club rugby season.
The strong-running Marist wing played a pivotal role in helping the Miller Street boys to an important 33-24 win over PiratesOld Boys at Les George Oval on Saturday.
With the competition points table so tight heading into the crunch stage of the season, any win over a fellow playoff contender is treated like gold.
Kahukuru scored two tries and played a major hand in setting up Marist’s third try in a game where the lead chopped and changed throughout.
Marist led 26-24 late in the game when Pirates-Old Boys missed a penalty attempt which would have put them in front.
To make the situation worse, Marist then grabbed possession of the ball and ended up scoring a try themselves in the final minute to push the final score out to 33-24. That try denied Pirates-Old Boys of what could be an important bonus point when the semifinalists are decided.
Marist coach Marty Smith acknowledged Kahukura’s contribution to the win.
‘‘It was a very important game that one, and both teams showed it with the way they played,’’ Smith said.
‘‘Keanu Kahukura had a blinder for us, he played really well. It was the game of the season for him. When he ran, he ran hard.’’
Smith said the other encouraging aspect to come out of Saturday’s game was that they were able to win without their general Scott Eade.
Eade normally plays the conductor role in the Marist setup but he was unavailable on Saturday after he made his Super Rugby debut for the Hurricanes in Napier on Friday night.
Smith said the halfback-firstfive-eighth combination of Shaun Fitzgibbon and Jayleel Fa’amoeIoane stepped up and filled the void well.
Top-of-the table Star opened up a 10 point lead over fifth placed Woodlands and now look set to be the first team to confirm a 2015 semifinals spot with four roundrobin games to play.
Star extended their Southland premier club rugby lead thanks to a 35-28 win over Woodlands in an entertaining game played at Woodlands on Saturday.
Star scored three first half tries to lead 22-10 at halftime.
However, Woodlands were not a walkover, in fact they were outstanding the first 20 minutes of the second half to put their noses in front.
They went from 22-10 down to lead 23-22 as they dominated the territory and possession stats.
Against the run of play Star picked up a try to claw the lead back with about 10 minutes left on the clock.
Tayler Adams extended that lead to nine points when he snapped a drop goal, and at that point the game appeared done.
But yet again Woodlands bounced back with a try to bring the score back to 32-28 and set up a grandstand finish.
Star had the final say though grabbing a penalty to push the final score out to 35-28.
Adams was one of Star’s best in the win through his kicking game. He manouevred the Star troops around the field well, both at halfback and when he was shifted to first five-eighth in the second half.
Woodlands first five-eighth Jamie Verran also directed play well, while lock Jack Falloon continues to impress in 2015 as he pushes for a place in the Stags.
Meanwhile, as expected, the Eastern-Northern Barbarians picked up a bonus point win over Midlands, at Midlands, on Saturday but they were made to work for the points.
The Barbarians led by just 10-3 at halftime and Midlands were in the contest throughout the first 60 minutes.
However, the Barbarians ran away with the game in the final 20 minutes to ensure there was not a major upset in this fixture.
It was a special day for the Midlands club with veteran Damien Pulley playing his 250th game for the Winton-based club.
Blues had the bye.