Decked out in kit that would have been more fashionable in the 1990s, the Taieri Tuataras smoked the Kings United Cobras 6-0, locking up the Challenge Shield for the summer, as well as all but securing the points trophy.
It was an aerial assault early from the Tuataras, and that was ultimately an avenue they would catch Kings napping in on more than one occasion.
A big ball into the circle was taken down by Oliver Battrick, who knocked it past Lachlan Colquhoun.
James Nicolson nearly scored with a one-time deflection from another aerial minutes later, but steered it just wide of the post.
Colquhoun kept Kings in it through the rest of the first half, making several big saves to keep it at 1-0 in the face of plenty of Taieri pressure.
Missing Daniel Torr and James Nation, Kings really struggled to get out of their own end. There was a few penalty corners in succession to end the quarter for Kings, but Issac Hallam this time stood up for the Tuataras.
After regrouping at the break, Kings came out with renewed energy, and continued to test Hallam, but they could not get it past him, and were ultimately made to pay for it. Jarrod Casey slotted a flick, before another overhead came looping over the Kings defence, with Battrick knocking it past Colquhoun for Ryan Smith to then poach it as it was heading over the line.
Down 3-0 at three-quarter time, Kings threw the kitchen sink at it, but that only resulted in the score blowing out. They tried with 11 field players, but two more to Battrick, and another to Smith sealed the deal for the Tuas.
Out at King’s, Albany sewed up a top two spot by taking down the University Whales 3-0. It was yet another limp performance from the students, who will be heading into the finals with only wins against the Barbarians and Panthers to their name.
In the Premier Women’s competition, two fourth-quarter goals took the City Highlanders to a crucial 2-1 win against Momona.
An injury-stricken Momona side were coming in off a 5-1 defeat the night prior against the same opposition. But they started the fastest of the two sides, as Millie White was able to convert at penalty corner time inside the first 10 minutes.
The women in red hung on bravely, but it was not to be. Chloe Donaldson equalised with 10 to play, before Tessa Jopp launched a huge nail into the Momona coffin with a winner inside the final five minutes.
The result puts City into pole position, though the Kings United Royals do have a game in hand.
The Royals game in hand is against the Taieri Tigers, who they snuck past 2-1. Taieri were extraordinarily gritty, but a late goal from Madi Lobb swung it in Kings favour.
Elsewhere the University Huskies took down the University Stingrays 7-1.
— Nicholas Friedlander
