The big power men in the student pack played a key role when University beat Kaikorai 27-17 in the semi-final at Carisbrook today.
All Black Adam Thomson, in his first club game of the season, played a dominating role as the students took charge and scored 11 points in the last 20 minutes to win the game.
The big rangy Thomson was never far from the ball. He teamed with No 8 Paul Grant to take the students in to the lead just before halftime.
Grant burst away from a scrum 60m out and broke through the middle and Thomson was up in support to score the try to give University a 13-12 lead at the break.
The other key men in the pack were locks Alby Herron and Josh Townsend who dominated the lineout and were dangerous with the ball in hand.
It was a gutsy display by Kaikorai with lock Seko Kalou playing a key role. But the student pressure told as Kaikorai ran out of steam in the last 20 minutes.
In the other semi-final Alhambra-Union won a cliff-hanger against Pirates 24-20.
The game looked to be in Alhambra-Union's control when they led 13-10 after 10 minutes in the second spell.
But Pirates came back into contention when centre Marshall Suckling scored his second try to reduce the gap to one point, 21-20, with just seven minutes left.
UNIVERSITY A.............................27
KAIKORAI...................................17
University A 27 (David Thompson, Brad Nicol, Adam Thomson tries; Chris Noakes 4 pen, dropped goal), Kaikorai 17 (Richard Cowley, Mark McGregor, Rob Griffiths tries; Cam Rutherford con). Halftime: University 13-12.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
ALHAMBRA-UNION.....................................24
PIRATES........................................................20
Alhambra-Union 24 (Desma Liaina, Brad Rapley, Ben Pereira tries; Luke Reihana 3 pen), Pirates 20 (Marshall Suckling 2 tries; Glenn Dickson 2 con, 2 pen). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 13-10.
Referee: Tim Baker.
TAIERI....................................53
SOUTHERN...........................26
Taieri 53 (Jared Campbell 3, Andrew Reid, Tom Davie, Hayden Parker, Steve Green, Ricky Stewart, Matt Hogan tries; Reid 4 con), Southern 26 (Harry Uffindell, Lewis Hancock, Ean Griffiths, Mark Sherlock tries; Hancock 3 con). Halftime: Taieri 29-7.
Referee: Jeff Grubb.
DUNEDIN....................................45
HARBOUR......................................14
Dunedin 45 (Sam Lawson, Simon Davey, Joe Bradley, Simon Luke, Tom Verdonk, Josh Hamilton tries; Robbie Smith 6 con, pen), Harbour 14 (Wayne Gibson, Brad Griffiths tries; Craig Sneddon 2 con). Halftime: Dunedin 10-7.
Referee: Adam Morrison.
GREEN ISLAND .............................34
ZINGARI-RICHMOND.....................0
Green Island 34 (Chris O'Neill 2, Sam Erepia, Paul Butson, Josh Beer tries; Shane McNoe 3 con, pen), Zingari-Richmond 0. Halftime: Green Island 7-0.
Referee: Doug Rodgers.
