Dunedin quick to lower students’ colours

Dunedin 33

University 21

Dunedin came out of the blocks on Saturday at Logan Park on a sunny autumnal afternoon with a point to prove after a sluggish start to the division 1 club season.

They scored inside two minutes when they turned over possession and the ball found its way to winger Kyan Rangitutia, who powerfully broke a couple of tackles and fed the ball back into halfback Adam Lennox, who raced away to score.

Lennox then returned the favour when he put Rangitutia away on a searching run to the line and Dunedin had a 14-point lead without raising a sweat.

Varsity had a terrible first half with numerous handling errors, while Dunedin were faultless as they created pressure and scored some stunning tries.

University prop Steve Salelea tries to get away from the Dunedin defence during the division 1 game at Logan Park on Saturday. Photo: Stephen Jaquiery

Dunedin lock Curtis Palmer took half the Varsity pack over the line with a powerful surge, Oscar Schmidt-Uli finished off a sweeping back movement initiated by fullback Cam Burgess, and No 8 Max Ratcliffe crashed over from a tap penalty.

Varsity finally held on to the ball for an extended period and halfback Brad Campbell sneaked over from a ruck close to the line late in the first half, but Dunedin had the game won at the break with a 33-7 lead.

By comparison, the second spell was a mediocre affair with both teams unable to hold on to the ball for extended periods, and there was a lot of whistle, so it became an ugly watch.

Varsity provided the only scoring of the second half with tries at either end to centre Josh Dent and blindside flanker Will Riley.

The Dunedin pack had a decided edge at scrum time. Reuben Palmer had another powerful game, while young blindside Louis Lepionka was a menace with ball in hand.

Lennox was a livewire at halfback, Rangitutia was an immense presence on the wing, and fullback Burgess was probably the best back on the park.

For Varsity, midfielder Mac Harris broke the line numerous times, winger Aaron McMurray looked dangerous at times, and big lock Mitch Tinnock was their best up front. — Paul Dwyer

Harbour 35

Green Island 32

Harbour first five Rique Milne produced a stunning performance to help his side edge Green Island 35-32 at Watson Park.

The classy No 10 banged over three penalties, slotted three conversions and finished off a couple of tries for a haul of 25 points.

He has surprising pace, a wonderful passing game and an accurate boot, which he used to good effect to kick five penalties and lead the Hawks to a 15-13 win over Taieri last weekend.

Harbour are the only unbeaten side in the competition.

They had to fight hard against the Grizzlies, though, as the defending champions led 27-17 at halftime.

But the Hawks stepped up their defence and kept them scoreless for the bulk of the second half.

Green Island fullback Sam Nemec-Vial nabbed an intercept late in the game to secure a bonus point.

Not long before that, he got completely clobbered in a tackle. Toni Taufa hit him so hard that you did not have to imagine what the impact felt like.

Taufa was one of the standouts in the Harbour pack, while fullback Taniela Filimone made some devastating runs and set up Milne for one of his tries.

For Green Island, loosie Heath MacEwan was immense, as he is every week.

Highlanders winger Michael Manson muscled his way across the line for two first-half tries, and hooker Peter Mirrielees answered an SOS for the club. He is well into his 40s but looked evergreen out there. — Adrian Seconi

Kaikorai 69

Alhambra-Union 14

Kaikorai steamrolled Alhambra-Union at the North Ground.

The Demons ran in 11 tries in a one-side romp.

Classy flanker Lucas Casey collected three tries for himself.

He was everywhere again. The rangy blindside was dominant in the lineout and never far from the breakdown.

The Otago loosie certainly has an eye for the try-line.

So does winger Rico Fisher. He bagged a hat-trick as well.

Halfback Taine Hand had his kicking boots on. He knocked over five conversions and had a tidy game at the back of the scrum.

The scrums were more even in the opening 40 minutes but Kaikorai dominated that phase in the second half.

Prop Moana Takataka and Highlanders hooker Henry Bell played a big part in that.

No 10 Charlie Breen was a livewire and has very solid instincts.

There were not a lot of highlights for AU. They scored late in both halves but were never in the contest.

Their defence, well, let us just say it is a work in progress.

Halfback Oliver Thode was one of their best.

Openside Zac Perrett got around the field, and loosehead Petelo Amato held his side of the scrum up for the most part. — Adrian Seconi

Taieri 28

Southern 19

Taieri’s mobile pack and dangerous backline helped the Eels win the Roy Nieper Trophy as they beat an error-ridden Southern at Bathgate Park.

For the most part, Southern dominated territory and possession, but handling and discipline kept the visiting team in the game.

The Magpies got off to a rollicking start through their forward pack. They took control up front and carved a swathe deep into Taieri territory.

Winger Josh Buchan scored in the corner in the opening minutes.

Southern continued to dominate territory but their threats were countered by an epic performance from the Taieri pack on defence.

As the first half counted down, Southern had little to show for keeping Taieri pinned in their own half.

The lack of progress appeared to frustrate the Magpies, which allowed Taieri to break free and score through centre Matt Whaanga. The conversion gave them a 7-5 lead at the break.

The Eels dominated the opening exchanges of the second half, scoring through first five Sam Waitoa. The conversion gave them a handy 14-5 lead.

Southern sparked into life and ran in two tries in quick succession to snatch a 19-14 lead.

But their errors returned, and Taieri pounced. They rumbled upfield to score through Jared Burns to regain the lead at 21-19.

Taieri continued to dominate deep inside the Southern half.

Tom Bolton burst through a gaping hole in the Southern backline to score and put the game out of reach for the home side.

The Taieri pack was menacing throughout while it was another superb captain’s knock from Whaanga, ably supported by fellow midfielder Caleb Leef.

Southern’s forwards were full of work. Loosie Harry Taylor and lock Corban Agar stood out. — Wayne Parsons

Round 5

The scores

Dunedin 33 (Adam Lennox, Kyan Rangitutia, Curtis Palmer, Oscar Schmidt-Uli, Max Ratcliffe tries; Cam Burgess 4 con), University 21 (Brad Campbell, Josh Dent, Will Riley tries; Taine Robinson 3 con). Halftime: Dunedin 33-7.

Harbour 35 (Rique Milne 2, Gabriel Francesconi, Taniela Filimone tries; Milne 3 con, 3 pen), Green Island 32 (Michael Manson 2, Heath MacEwan, Ben Lopas, Sam Nemec-Vial tries; Liam Barron 2 con, pen). Halftime: Green Island 27-17.

Kaikorai 69 (Rico Fisher 3, Lucas Casey 3, Gregor Rutledge 2, Henry Cleaver, Charlie Breen, Sidney Fidow tries; Taine Hand 5 con, Breen 2 con), Alhambra-Union 14 (Sam Berry, Andrew Matoto tries; William Thode 2 con). Halftime: Kaikorai 38-7.

Taieri 28 (Matt Whaanga, Sam Waitoa, Jared Burns, Tom Bolton tries; Joe Cockburn 2 con, Caleb Leef 2 con), Southern 19 (Josh Buchan, Bede Dodd-Edgar, Paul Tupa’i tries; Wyndham Patuawa 2 con). Halftime: Taieri 7-5.

Standings