Kaikorai 19
Green Island 0
The highlight reel would be awfully brief.
Kaikorai’s important 19-0 win over Green Island in the Dunedin premier club clash at Bishopscourt on Saturday was not one of the great games.
The weather saw to that. Some light snow even fell during the first spell and the resulting combination of cold hands and a wet ball produced roughly a million knock-ons.
Green Island certainly fumbled just about every opportunity it had to convert possession into points. The Grizzlies were guilty of some ill-discipline as well.
Blindside Jesse Vaafusuaga was red-carded for punching midway through the first spell.
That left Green Island labouring with 14 men for the best part of 60 minutes.
Shortly after Vaafusuaga’s departure, Kaikorai loosie Uaita Poutu crashed over to score the only try in the game.
Kaikorai led 10-0 at the break and added three penalties in an uninspiring second half.
Green Island blotted its copybook further when a member of the management was asked to leave the ground by the referee.
Grizzlies No 8 Tom Marshall was arguably one of the best players on the park. He carried strongly, made countless tackles and grabbed his share of lineout ball, while second five Jake Te Hiwi was powerful in the midfield.
For Kaikorai, Henry Bell had a good game at the back of the scrum. First five Mitchell Taylor produced some delightful touches, and Filipo Whitehouse-Opetaia Tovio was threatening in the midfield.
The win lifts Kaikorai (14 points) to fifth place, while Green Island (11 points) drops out of the top six.
University 38
Alhambra-Union 19
University improved its slim playoff prospects with a 38-19 win over Alhambra-Union at the University Oval.
The students led 25-7 and basically sealed off the win with a nice try to talented halfback Kieran McClea shortly after the break.
Varsity attacked from just inside the AU half and got a pass to McClea, who skipped away to score from about 30m out.
He had a very solid shift. His clearances were accurate and his combination with No 8 Will Stodart was excellent.
Stodart carried strongly and did some good work off the back of the scrum.
Blindside Konrad Toleafoa featured prominently as well.
For Alhambra-Union, halfback Noah Hotham had a tight game behind a beaten pack.
The highly rated No 9 plays for Tasman and is rumoured to have secured a Crusaders contract for next season as well.
Highlanders utility Vilimoni Koroi came on in the second half and looked dangerous when he decided to have a crack.
But AU just did not get enough ball. University outplayed it upfront.
The win lifts University (13 points) to sixth place, but it has a bye this weekend and may have left its run too late.
AU (seven points) has a mathematical chance, but it looks done.
Southern 14
Harbour 9
Southern weathered the conditions to grind out a 14-9 win over Harbour at Watson Park and all but lock in a position in the playoffs.
The Magpies took their time, playing to the conditions in a first half dominated by rain and a strong wind. Once they played to their strengths in the forward pack, they scored through captain Harry Taylor.
Southern’s dominance up front came at a cost with two yellow cards, prop Jay Tofaeono sitting out play either side of the break and Taylor for 10 minutes in the middle stages of the second half.
Locks Corban Agar and Aaron Einarsson featured in the set pieces and were mobile around the field, filling an active role in supporting loose forwards Taylor, Jordan Dwight and Mika Mafi.
In the backs, first five Jack Leslie remained a safe pair of hands, reading the game well and embracing defensive responsibilities.
Winger Dylan Hook was secure under the high ball, turning it into attack and getting the forward pack back on the front foot.
After taking a 9-0 lead in the first quarter through penalties, Harbour was guilty of squandering well-won ball with aimless kicking on the back of major contributions up front from Hagan Free, Jack Kiely, Taylor Dale and Toni Taufa.
Taieri 33
Dunedin 11
Dunedin started the game at Kettle Park with a strong breeze at its back and controlled possession and territory, which Ajay Faleafaga turned into points through two penalties.
When fullback Tomas Hanham-Carter got on to the end of a cross kick from Faleafaga to score wide out, Dunedin looked comfortable at 11-0, but that would be as good as it would get for the Sharks.
Taieri controlled the last 15 minutes of the spell, and its committed pack hammered away at the line. The Eels only had one try to show for it from hooker Brady Robertson, but if it wasn’t for heroic Dunedin defence, it could have been two or three more.
Dunedin started the second half well, then threw an intercept pass to Eels winger Taylor Fiddes, who ran 95m to score, and Dunedin’s day was done.
All Black Shannon Frizell came on at halftime for Taieri and made a huge break up the middle which eventually led to right winger Marc Rooney dotting down.
Taieri capitalised on countless handling errors from Dunedin, and centre Mitch Scott feasted on that with the last two tries of the game.
It is hard to see any side challenging Taieri for the title this year as the Eels are brutally efficient and capitalise on any errors or weakness.
Scott was the Energiser bunny in the middle of the park and he still has magical acceleration. Frizell was lethal with ball in hand and front rowers Robertson and Cameron Allan-McNeill were into everything.
Prop Kees Scott and lock Fabian Holland battled away manfully in a beaten Dunedin pack.
Dunedin rugby
Round seven
- Kaikorai 19 (Uaita Poutu try; Ben Miller con, 3 pen, Nic Proffit pen), Green Island 0. Halftime: Kaikorai 10-0.
- University 38 (Jeremiah Asi, Konrad Toleafoa, Will Stodart, Kieran McClea tries; Jacob Waikari-Jones 3 con, 4 pen), Alhambra-Union 19 (Lotu Solomona, Will Siale, Levi Emery tries; Ben McCarthy 2 con). Halftime: University 25-7.
- Southern 14 (Harry Taylor try; Jack Leslie 3 pen), Harbour 9 (Obey Samate 3 pen). Halftime: Harbour 9-5.
- Taieri 33 (Mitchell Scott 2, Brady Robertson, Taylor Fiddes, Marc Rooney tries; Cam Millar 4 con), Dunedin 11 (Tomas Hanham-Carter try; Ajay Faleafaga 2 pen). Halftime: Dunedin 11-7.
