The Albany Alligators delivered the performance of their Dunedin club season to down the Taieri Tuataras 2-0 on Saturday.
They booked a place in this weekend’s premier men’s final.
The Alligators came in as underdogs, though with the Tuataras no longer having the services of James Nicolson, there was a quiet confidence about the Alligators, having only narrowly lost the previous week.
From the start, Albany were on it, pressing high, and eventually Jack Cotton had a shot illegally blocked on the line, earning his side a stroke.
After a few antics, Cotton duly converted, sending keeper Issac Hallam the wrong way to put his side in front.
Not long after, Albany were at it again, carving Taieri up and down the right flank.
Nick Parata delivered a great ball, but Eli Turner was unable to turn it home.
That would matter little though, as midway through the second quarter, Nic Finlayson was able to drill a flick home into the side-netting.
With a 2-0 lead, Albany’s tails were firmly up, and they pretty much dominated a side who had not lost a game in normal time since 2023.
Fergus Oberlin-Brown was key, keeping Patrick Ward fairly quiet in the centre of the park.
Naturally, Taieri turned things up a notch in the second half, with the goal of Michael Lobb tested on more than one occasion, but Lobb was assured in his role, making several good saves.
In the final quarter, Ward attempted to turn up the dial, but it felt like too much was being asked of him.
Taieri sorely missed Nicolson and wing-half Brandon Peck, who have headed offshore.
They were unable to make the most of the space created by Ward, as Albany saw that game out fairly comfortably in the end.
Along with Oberlin-Brown and Lobb, it was Albany’s experienced duo of Nick Parata and Johnny Thorn who really stood up.
They will head into Saturday’s final as the favourites.
The Kings United Cobras kept their hopes of making that game alive with a hearty win over the University Whales.
The Whales scored first through a great penalty corner and managed to take a 2-1 lead midway through the second quarter, but once Angus Loe dinked on over Hugh Nixon to make it 2-2, the mountain proved to hard to climb.
Jack O’Neill delivered a brace, as Kings saw off the threat to win 5-2.
In the premier women’s competition, the City Highlanders made their way into the final with a big 5-1 win over the Kings United Royals.
In what was a fairly even game, the Highlanders were able to pull away, delivering what could be a huge psychological blow.
Momona earned the right to battle Kings for the final place in the grand showpiece with a composed 3-1 win over the University Huskies.
The Huskies showed plenty of grit, but the ultimate quality of Momona got them home.
In the fifth-sixth playoff, the Taieri Tigers prevailed 3-1 over the University Stingrays.
— Nicholas Friedlander
