In what was perhaps a surprise, the challenge shield match was a thrilling 2-2 draw in the premier men's competition on Saturday.
Shield-holders University A Whales were strong favourites going into the match against Taieri Tuataras but it was the Tuataras who started stronger, going into halftime 1-0 up.
Both teams set a high price on possession throughout the match, which allowed the game to settle into a good pattern, with side-to-side transition and strong leading the only way to break down defences.
After a sustained period of attack, a crash ball was played into the University defensive circle and Jeremy Smallridge was able to convert from the goal-mouth scramble to put the Tuataras ahead.
During the rest of the first half both teams had long periods of possession but the respective team defences kept the score 1-0.
Taieri sniffed an upset when early in the second half it was able to convert a penalty corner through Matt West to take it to 2-0, but this just fired the Uni team up for the fight.
After a Taieri player was given a green card with about 15 minutes to go, University took advantage of the overlap and forced a PC, which was converted by Henry Will.
Soon after this a University player was shown a yellow and it looked like Taieri would be able to close it out with a third goal, but Dom Dixon in goal for University kept it out.
Lucien Burt then scored a second for University when a Taieri missed trap fell kindly and he slotted a shot past the dive of Taieri goalie Jesse Drake.
Neither team was able to break the deadlock. Taieri had another penalty corner right on fulltime but the shot was saved, which allowed University to retain the shield.
Jamie Pollock and Hitaua Doyle had strong games for University, while Cam Sims and Jordan Ward drove most of the play for Taieri.
In the remaining premier games, Southland upset Kings United 3-2 in Gore and Albany Alligators beat University B Panthers 5-1.
-By Matthew West
