The Tuataras had a string of corners and all the pressure was on Albany early in the game on Saturday but Albany goalkeeper Felix McIntosh did a fine job to keep the teams level as Albany was unable to get out of its half early on.
The game became more a battle of the middle as it went on. Taieri got a penalty corner right on quarter time and narrowly missed the shot.
Taieri continued to dominate territory and possession through the second quarter but the Alligators’ goal-line defence was more than up to the task.
The third quarter was again torrid, but Matthew Deller broke the deadlock after recovering from a poor trap off a corner.
Soon after, Taieri doubled its lead from another corner as the Alligators’ constant defending took its toll.
Rain began to fall in the final quarter and did not relent. It did not stop the heat of the Taieri attack and it scored again midway through the quarter.
Taieri ended up winning 3-0 with the other goals coming from Finn and Jordan Ward.
Taieri beat University Blue Whales 5-1 on Friday night helped by a brace from Deller.George Wood scored for the Blue Whales.
Kings United strolled past University Black Panthers 11-0, and it was a case of who did not get on the scoresheet for Kings. There was a hat trick for Daniel Torr, a double for William McNaughtan and goals for Charles Darling, Craig Turner, Hitaua Arahanga-Doyle, Joseph Yoon, Ronan McNeill and Zach Mason.
Taieri beat the University Stingrays 4-2 in the women’s grade with a double to Olivia Wills and goals each for Chantelle Murrell and Anna Boult. The goal scorers for the students were Oaklea Bowden and Shaila Dayal.
Early in the game, Taieri player Lily Bentall was taken to hospital after a ball to the head.
City was almost on the receiving end of another upset but hung on to beat the University Huskies in a penalty shootout after the score had finished 1-1 at end of normal time. Tegan Buchanan scored the goal to break the tie.
To finish off the evening’s play, Momona beat Kings United 6-1. There was a double for Bex Clemenston, goals for Liv Preston, Angelique Peyroux, Nicole Strawbridge and Neve McLean. The solitary goal for Kings was scored by Ella Rooney.
