Kings United had a bit of a scare in its Challenge Shield defence on Saturday.
With just two rounds remaining in the round robin it needed a single point to confirm top spot in the round robin, but was also looking to hold on to the challenge shield for the summer.
Taieri was looking to remain a chance of finishing top, or at least confirm second, and to take the shield itself.
The Tuataras started full of fire and Cam Sims opened the scoring after five minutes. Minutes later, it seemed Kings were rattled, as young Tom Meder, on debut, provided a classy finish to double the lead.
Quarter-time could not have come at a better time for the Kings side, which appeared to be a little lost.
After the break, Kings regained its composure and a brilliant touch by Tom Caughley in the circle led to its first score. Taieri was not finished in the first half, however, as striker James Nicolson netted a third for the Tuataras.
With both sides missing several key players, the quality of the match was commendable and the likes of Sims, Zeke Buschl for Taieri, and Dylan Thomas and Rory McLean, for Kings, had strong games.
The third quarter turned into a real battle, as Kings controlled possession for long periods but the Taieri defence, led by Buschl, repelled well with real composure, and goalkeeper Jesse Drake had one of his best games.
It took a masterful individual goal from McLean to get Kings' second.
Then wily veteran James Nation converted a penalty corner to level the score with just over five minutes remaining.
Taieri had a penalty corner with seconds remaining and a slick move created an open shot but it slid agonisingly a ball's width wide.
Kings retained the shield but the match went to a shootout and Taieri took the bonus point in sudden death. But Kings kept the shield by the width of the ball and confirmed its points trophy victory.
Kings sits on 41 points and Taieri is second on 34. University beat Southland (10 points) 6-4 in Gore and sits on 33 points. It will play Albany (30) next weekend, after it lost a shootout with fifth-placed University B (12).
- Matthew West
