Rugby: Comfortable wins for leading trio

Zingari Richmond centre Taylor Fiddes is chased by Dunedin first five eighth Greg Dyer at Kettle...
Zingari Richmond centre Taylor Fiddes is chased by Dunedin first five eighth Greg Dyer at Kettle Park on Saturday. No 8 Tom Cummins is in the background. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Taieri Harbour and Southern all recorded impressive bonus point wins on Saturday to keep pace with one another at the top of the Dunedin premier competition.

While Taieri and Southern predictably beat Green Island and Pirates respectively, Harbour needed a second half surge to overcome a spirited University A side.

Alhambra Union beat an error ridden Kaikorai side, while Dunedin picked up a much needed win over Zingari Richmond.

Dunedin 19
Zingari Richmond 11

The weather conditions dictated the game at Kettle Park. Dunedin played into the wind in the first half and effectively won the game with a strong forward display.

Dunedin dominated from the outset and camped in Zingari territory. The defence finally cracked and halfback Ed Hoadley went over from a ruck for an unconverted try after 10 minutes.

Zingari finally exploited conditions and spent some time in Dunedin territory, and Thomas Johnson kicked a penalty and lock Joe Latta crashed over after 34 minutes to take a three point lead.

Dunedin scored a late try to prop Donald Brighouse, and Greg Dyer's conversion gave the home side a crucial four point lead at the break.

Turning with the strong breeze, Dunedin blew three tries in the early part of the second half off a strong scrum, twice losing the ball over the line.

Zingari was grateful for the reprieve and Johnson kicked a penalty after 23 minutes to reduce the deficit to one. The Colours also blew a few try scoring opportunities.

Dunedin broke out and scored a converted late try to replacement Loosie Pofitu Fesili to seal the win.

Mark Grieve Dunn was a colossus for the Sharks in an indefatigable display. Brighouse and No 8 Matt Vaai were powerful with ball in hand, and midfielders Jay Barrett and Tumua Ioane were the best backs.

Loosie Blair Tweed was Zingari's best and Thomas Johnson was far and away their best back. Joe Latta dominated at lineout time.

Alhambra Union 27
Kaikorai 20

Alhambra Union overcame three second half yellow cards to beat Kaikorai at Bishopscourt.

The Broncos made the most of a stiff tail wind to lead 20 0 at halftime, but the home side came roaring back to snatch a losing bonus point with courtesy of a late penalty goal.

Halfback Tom Barnsley got Alhambra Union off to the perfect start, darting 10m from the base of the ruck to give his side a 7 0 lead after just 50 seconds.

After a couple of Sam Ellis penalty goals extended the lead, centre Kurt Baker was dragged down a couple of centimetres short of the line, but flanker Ty Pelasio barged over to leave Kaikorai staring down the barrel of a heavy loss.

With the wind at its back after the break, Kaikorai enjoyed a wealth of territory and possession.

However, too many silly mistakes doomed the home side. Even when Baker (deliberate knockdown) and Barnsley (professional foul) were sent to the bin - leaving Alhambra with just 13 men for five minutes - Kaikorai could not get on the board.

Prop Scott Manson was also binned in the second half for a ruck infringement on his own line.

Winger Matt Jones, flanker Johnny Appleby and prop Jonah Aiona crossed late in the second half to give Kaikorai hope, but Alhambra captain Mike Colville killed off any hope of a comeback when he dotted down out wide.

Southern 49
Pirates 29

Southern avoided an upset defeat at the hands of a rampaging Pirates side by calling on its bench and fine tuning positional play at Hancock Park.

Two late tries had Pirates right in the match at halftime, with Southern leading just 25-19.

A 40m penalty by Craig Sneddon in the opening minutes of the second half instilled further confidence in Pirates.

Southern quickly made personnel and positional changes and ran in three quick tries to take control. The game ebbed and flowed until Pirates countered with a late five pointer to captain Craig Millar.

Loose forwards Mika Mafi, Ethan Perrett and Adam Knight inspired the Southern pack. Ryan Thompson was imposing in the lineout, while Warren Moffat and Joe Weatherall stood out in broken play. Bryce Hosie made an impact when brought in to first five eighth.

Josh Clark, Motu Huch and Millar lent plenty of heart to the Pirates pack, while Sneddon put in some towering clearing kicks.

Taieri 43
Green Island 17

Taieri had little trouble dispatching winless Green Island at Peter Johnstone Park.

Ben Miller, who started at No 10 after Josh Casey pulled up lame in the warm up, scored after just 90 seconds and the Eels never looked back.

Miller played well running the cutter, as Taieri grabbed four more tries to lead 31-5 at halftime.

Taieri prop Nick McLennan scored two tries, his first coming after a bulldozing run from 25m out when he fended off a few would be tacklers. He also dominated at scrum time and consistently put his side on the front foot with ball in hand.

Flanker Vincent O'Connell also stood out for Taieri, making a bunch of good tackles and popping up all over the show to pounce on loose ball.

Green Island was guilty of too often kicking the ball back to Taieri's dangerous back three, and of falling off too many tackles. It did enjoy patches of dominance, particularly late in the first half, but it struggled to finish.

Green Island prop Ricky Campbell scored a well deserved double to match McLennan's effort.

Harbour 38
University A 31

A dominant Harbour pack took control in the second spell to beat University A in an exciting game at the University Oval.

The students led 17-14 at the break and took a 10 point lead when centre Matt Faddes scored early in the second half.

Winger Gavin Stark used his lightning speed to create three of University's four tries. His 15m dash through the gap gave Faddes clear space for a 35m sprint to the line.

New Zealand colt Fletcher Smith controlled the game at first five eighth. He scored 16 of the students' points with a try and kicked five goals from five attempts.

The decisive period in the game came in the middle of the second half when Harbour scored three tries and 19 unanswered points to lead 33-24. The Harbour forwards were unstoppable with the rolling maul and the pick and go, and used their strength to create the tries.

Lock Hale T Pole was a key player in the Harbour pack with his aggression with the ball in hand. He was backed by flankers Charles Elton and Hadleigh May, who scored two tries. Hooker Pete Mirrielees made the game safe for Harbour with a try in the final minutes.

Fullback Sala Halaleva was the most dangerous Harbour back and No 8 Dillon Hunt the best University forward.

 

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