Marist fullback Tiam Toufon heading for one of his three tries in the 62-31 victory over Blues in Invercargill on Saturday. Photo: DEBBIE FAHEY
The Marist faithful were dished up a high-scoring treat at Miller St on Saturday as they went about running in 10 tries in a 62-31 victory over Blues.
Three of those tries came via new fullback Tiam Toufan, who is attempting to put his best foot forward for an opportunity with the Stags in 2026.
Last year Toufan was part of the Western Force’s academy system in Australia, but the outside back has made the shift to New Zealand to chase the next step in his rugby journey.
Marist dominated the early exchanges on Saturday and pushed out to a 29-7 lead about 25 minutes into the game with midfielder Mike Moodie banking two of his team’s five first-half tries.
However, Blues fought back late in the first half, scoring three more tries of its own, and at halftime it was game on with Marist holding a slender 29-26 lead in a first half that saw 55 points produced.
It took a long time for Marist to break down the spirited Blues outfit in the second half, but when they did, through a Sam Downing try, the floodgates started to open.
Marist scored a further four tries to Blues’ one, with the last of Marist’s tries coming via a bit of individual brilliance from Toufan.
While Blues in the end were well beaten at 62-31, they didn’t depart Miller St empty-handed, given they picked up a four-try bonus point.
Most were predicting Saturday’s heavyweight showdown between the Eastern-Northern Barbarians and Pirates-Old Boys to be a tight affair, and that’s exactly what was dished up at Tokanui.
It was the Barbarians who eventually finished out on top at 22-20, but it took an 80-minute effort to get there.
Barbarians coached AJ Aitken hailed his team’s defensive resolve, particularly in the first half, when they found themselves under plenty of pressure.
“It felt like we had bugger all ball through the middle 25 minutes of that first half, if POB didn’t do 25, they would have done 30 phases just pounding away, and we held them out.
“Or defence was outstanding through that, and that is what won us the game,” Aiken said.
It took 37 minutes before the first points were registered, which came via the boot of Taylor Peterson, who landed a penalty for the Barbarians.
However, Greg Dyer levelled the scores back up at 3-3 before halftime, setting up another tense 40 minutes in the second half.
The Barbarians scored soon after halftime through a cross-kick to wing Banuve Dretiverata to go 8-3 up, before Pirates-Old Boys responded first through a second Dyer penalty and then an Osea Moce try to hit the lead at 13-8.
But these two teams were like heavyweights trading punches, and the Barbarians were the next to strike through wing Harry McKenzie, before Pirates-Old Boys hooker Shaun Kempton delivered one of his trademark specials.
He latched onto an intercept and scooted in to score to put his team 20-15 up with about 15 minutes to play.
With about five minutes remaining, it was the Barbarians who threw the knockout punch when lock Harrison Morton scored to level it up at 20-20, and the Taylor Peterson extras made it 22-20, which it remained at full-time.
Hooker Liam Ferguson backed up his four-try haul in week one with another strong performance on Saturday for the Barbarians, while the likes of veteran looseforwards Lachie McCall, Jacob Coghlan, and Brenton Howden turned in big games.
For Pirates-Old Boys, hooker Kempton was one of the many who had good days out.
A late Alex Burns try snatched victory for Woodlands over a gritty Star outfit on Saturday, and they locked away the Scruffy Butt Memorial Shield for another year in the process.
Woodlands held a seven-point buffer at halftime, before Star levelled the scores at 21-all in the second half, and it was game on at that point.
First five-eighth Sam Mustchin had his kicking boots on on Saturday, and he put Star 24-21 in front with a penalty as Star went in search of what would have been regarded as an upset win.
However, with about six minutes to play, Woodlands crossed through Alex Burns to hit the lead at 26-24, which it stayed until fulltime.
It ensured the Scruffy Butt Memorial Shield remained in Woodlands for another 12 months.
The shield is named after the late Phil “Scruffy Butt. Butt played 100 games at prop for Southland between 1970 and 1980.
He played his club rugby for Star and had a strong association with the Woodlands area.
It goes on the line each year, when the holders host their first home game between the two teams.
Despite the loss, Saturday’s performance was a vast improvement from Star’s round one demolition at the hands of Pirates-Old Boys when the Waverley Park lads lost 59-0.
Woodlands coach Barry Smith said they were bracing for a response from Star on Saturday, given what was at stake.
“They are a proud club, and they wouldn’t have been happy with that score the week before, and with the Scruffy Butt on the line, it was all adding up to be a massive game, and that is what it turned out to be,” Smith said.
Smith was again impressed with what loose forward Sloane Lankshear delivered in the win on Saturday after his strong round one performance against Blues.
Fellow looseforward Riley McRae also put in a good shift, while the experienced midfielder Tauasosi Tuimavave continues to be a force in club rugby.
For Star, Mustchin was a key figure playing out of position at first five-eighth, while Nate Corbett was a threat at fullback.
The Stags’ all-time most capped player, Josh Bekhuis, returned after missing round one and added some steel to the Star pack.
The 40-year-old got to square up again against his old mate Jason Rutledge, the Stags’ second most capped player.
DIVISION 1…
Albion 25, Tokanui 17
Pioneer 31, Waikiwi 29
Wyndham 43, Waikaka/Riversdale 7
Riverton 34, Edendale 29
DIVISION 2/3…
Marist 38, Blues 26
Pirates-Old Boys 17, Collegiate 15
Woodlands 29, Star 26
Wakatipu 42, Waiau Star 31
Te Anau 27, Mossburn 12
Midlands 36, Drummond-Limehills-Star 7
Central Pirates 41, Bluff 7
Otautau-Ohai-Nightcaps 43, Wright’s Bush 7