Barry Leonard dominant in tight for Star beating Marist 1976..

June 1976 saw Invercargill take a lead in the  Galbraith Shield competition.  Pirates and Marist suffered their first loss and draw respectively.  The Points table looked like this after the fifth round.

Star led at half time against Marist 10-0, and looked as though it was going to give Marist a thumping with the ball swinging wide to the wingers. Star went on to win 16-7. 
However Marist were not going to make it that easy for Star and it was the forward power of Neville Lynch, Peter Grace and Paul Nally that ensured Star were going to have a tough time of it.
Marist only being down 10-7 at one stage looked as though they could do it, but against the run of play, Bob Barber scored a great try.
Rod Forbes and John Ryder both added to tally for Star and Lin Booth was in complete control of his team. Graeme Anderson played well at full back and kicked two conversions.
In the forwards no one worked harder than Kevin Stevens, and with great support from his loose forwards, Stuart Fleming and Athol Soper.  In the tight Barry Leonard was dominant and he gave some stimulating runs for a prop.
In the second half it looked as though the Star forwards had ran out of firing power and it was the Marist forwards who took control.
For Marist Garry Kirkman scored a great wingers try and Jana Takitimu kicked a penalty.
Referee was Mr E. Gillan.

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Stuart Dermody takes revenge for Tokanui against Pirates 1976....

 Tokanui took revenge on Pirates when they beat them 14-6, for beating them in the previous season taking away Tokanui's chance of winning the Galbraith Shield.
It was the boot of Jeff Gardiner that kept Pirates in their own half.  His long ranging punts kept them on the back foot all day.
Pirates did not get the ball out to their backs, but the one time Barry Belesky managed to get his hands on the ball, he ran through the entire Tokanui pack but unfortunately did not score.
Tokanui:  Stuart Dermody(1) Jeff Gardiner (1) (2PG)
Pirates:   Garry Pankhurst (2PG)
Referee Mr Murray Jarvis.

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Ian Greig scores two tries for Invercargill against Collegiate in 1976....

Invercargill had an easy win over Collegiate by beating them 41-16. If Invercargill's kickers had of been on song the score would have been a lot larger.
Ian Greig had a good game in the tight, scoring two tries and John Eddy who had just come back from an injury also scored two tries.
Collegiate were trying to score points on Invercargill's mistakes instead of playing their own game.
Brian Lawson, Collegiate's full back used his punt well to drive the Invercargill team back.
Invercargill:  Ian Greig (2) JOhn Eddy (2) K. Robertson, C. Millar, Gary Muir, M. Leach, B. Hay (1) Roger Ramsay (1con) (1PG)
Collegiate:  G. Murphy (1) B. Lawson (2PG) (1Con)
Referee:  Arthur Gormack.

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John Polson directed play for Old Boys to beat Waikiwi in 1976....

Old Boys only managed to beat Waikiwi 7-0 and the latter looked a much improved side.
It was the Old Boy's forwards of Tom Pryde, Martin Black and Des Barnett that were outstanding for their team.  
John Polson at first five eight was the silky general directing play to exactness.
Alistair Dick, having his first club game of the season for Waikiwi was solid on defence and Ron Davis showed his pace on the wing.
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Jeff Young's great penalty goals were not enough for Bluff to beat Woodlands in 1976.....

Woodlands beat Bluff 14-12 in a close but untidy game and it was Bluff centre, Jeff Young that managed to get his team ahead 12-10 by a great penalty goal 40 metres out.
Woodlands never gave in and it was their winger, Grant Telfer that finally scored after a relentless attack on Bluff.
Woodlands:  Grant Telfer (1) B. McFaul (1) K. Fahy (2PG)
Bluff:  P. Aeiriti (1) Jeff Young (2PG) (1Con)
Referee:  Mr T. Murdoch.

Reference:  Invercargill Clear Leader After Pirates Loss.  The Southland Times  June 1976.