Dunedin 12
The big Harbour pack took control in the early stages at Kettle Park to starve Dunedin of territory and possession, which culminated in a rolling maul try to hooker Gabriel Franseconi after seven minutes.
Dunedin replied after 15 minutes when they attacked the Harbour line and winger Henry Smale went over out wide, but that was to be as close as the Sharks got.
By halftime, Harbour had another three converted tries on the board — to flanker Toni Taufa, midfielder Willie Tufui and rampaging No 8 Taylor Dale — and this game was well and truly over.
It was a crucial half for Harbour, who have pretty much guaranteed a spot in the six and effectively finished Dunedin’s season.
The Hawks scored another four tries in the second half with Dale and Taufa getting doubles and outside backs Viliame Lea and Kyle Kloppers getting on the scoresheet.
Dunedin lost another two loose forwards in the process and ended up with tight forwards filling the gaps. Their bigger issue was the amount of turnovers they conceded, and Harbour gleefully ran in a lot of long-range tries to make them pay.
The Sharks also blew four or five gilt-edged chances and their backline defence was porous at best.
For Harbour, Dale and Taufa dominated in the loose, and Dale reigned supreme in the lineouts. In the backs, midfielders Tufui and Lea terrorised Dunedin on attack and defence.
The only shining light for Dunedin was the performance of tyro lock Alex Arnold. — Paul Dwyer
Kaikorai 56
University 20
Kaikorai sent a warning to the rest of the competition with a commanding win over University at Bishopscourt.
The Demons were frighteningly dominant in the middle stages of the game as they leapt to second on the table with a thrilling display of power and pace.
University, who have now lost three straight after starting the season with six consecutive wins, actually started brightly and jumped to a 10-0 lead.
But after scoring through lively halfback Taine Hand with pretty much their first decent attacking chance in the 21st minute, Kaikorai exploded into action, scoring 49 unanswered points.
They punched holes in the University defence with their aggressive forward play, and their backs showed some real penetration when given half a chance.
Kaikorai led just 14-10 right on halftime when they turned down an easy three and got reward with a try from a lineout.
Winger Jake Hill started the second half with a lovely finish in the left corner and immediately added a second try on the other side.
After captain Charlie Breen and replacement Phoenix Tapatu scored tries, the game was done. University at least fought back with a couple of tries, but Hill iced the comprehensive victory with an intercept try to complete his hat-trick in the last minute.
Kaikorai No 8 Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu was the best player on the park and had good support from fellow loosie Slade McDowall and prop Moana Takataka.
Hill’s finishing was complemented by Ben Miller’s class at first five and Mefi Tupou’s strength in midfield.
Halfback (then wing) Kieran McClea was a spark for University, and lock Jonty Townsend
did some good lineout work. — Hayden Meikle
Southern 41
Green Island 27
There is something about that man Mackenzie Palmer.
The Southern utility back was at his best again as he scored 21 points and engineered a come-from-behind win over Green Island at Miller Park.
Palmer, who started at first five before moving to halfback, took control of the game after Southern had fallen behind 22-5.
He made the right decisions, ran when he needed to run, peeled off some outstanding touch-finders and kicked nearly all of his attempts on goal, a crucial factor as both sides scored four tries.
Green Island looked good when they had some ball in the first half an hour and scored a couple of excellent tries.
But they kicked away too much ball in the second half and committed the errors that led to Palmer kicking five penalties.
Southern pulled the score back to 22-15 at halftime and stormed in front in the second half as they played to their strengths.
Physical props Caleb Hughes and Mike Mata’afa rumbled away, and Corban Agar and Lawrence Leung-Wai also went looking for work.
Palmer deservedly claimed most of the plaudits but there were also some good signs in the backs from winger Jeremiah Asi and fullback Wyndham Patuawa.
Green Island were at their best early when tight forwards Ethan Hippolite, Ben Lopas and Matt McCutcheon were hoeing into their work. Amos Roddick also showed his worth in the physical exchanges.
Alex Piebenga scored two tries on the wing for the Grizzlies. — Hayden Meikle
Alhambra-Union 38
Zingari-Richmond 10
Alhambra-Union's bench players set up a final-quarter onslaught, laying the platform for a 38-10 victory over a shell-shocked Zingari-Richmond at the North Ground.
Zingari-Richmond dominated territory and possession in the first half, but only full back Monty Sherriff scored to hand the visitors a 5-0 lead after seven minutes.
This ignited the fire in the Alhambra-Union pack as they gained possession up front with William Thode, who is a bricklayer's labourer outside rugby, cementing a solid midfield and exposing cracks in the Zingari-Richmond defence, leading to his try and a 7-5 lead for the home team at the break.
Zingari-Richmond began the second spell with a hiss and a roar, scoring quickly through flanker Maurice Mow to regain the lead. But AU began to unleash their bench and the game’s complexion changed.
The home side started dominating, scoring a further five tries.
Oliver Thode directed his side well from halfback, while his twin brother William was a constant threat and provided plenty of space and opportunity for his outside backs.
Fullback Isaac Turoa impressed both on attack and in defence. His try-saving tackle on Ratu Latus, inches away from the line, was nothing short of spectacular. Up front, lock Sam Gander and loose forwards Luke Jordan, Zac Perrett and Oliver Church were full of work.
For Zingari-Richmond, lock Latus and loose forwards Mow and Jordan Dale featured up front, and Lachlan Collins tided up and delivered superbly from halfback. — Wayne Parsons
Round 10
The scores
Harbour 55 (Toni Taufa 2, Taylor Dale 2, Gabriel Franseconi, Willie Tufui, Viliame Lea, Kyle Kloppers tries; Rique Miln 6 con, pen), Dunedin 12 (Henry Smale, Joe Cooke tries; Brayden Dew con). Halftime: Harbour 31-5.
Kaikorai 56 (Jake Hill 3, Taine Hand, Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu, Ben Hellriegel, Phoenix Tapatu, Charlie Breen tries; Ben Miller 8 con), University 20 (Ricky Jackson, Jay Reihana, Kieran McClea tries; Mika Muliaina con, pen). Halftime: Kaikorai 21-10.
Southern 41 (Jeremiah Asi, Isileli Otunuku, Justin Malifa, Lawrence Leung-Wai tries; Mackenzie Palmer 3 con, 5 pen), Green Island 27 (Alex Piebenga 2, Ethan Hippolite, Matt McCutcheon tries; Isaac McAuliffe 2 con, pen). Halftime: Green Island 22-15.
Alhambra-Union 38 (Luke Jordan 2, William Thode, Sam Gander, Manaia Lesa, Oliver Church; William Thode 4 con), Zingari-Richmond 10 (Monty Sherriff, Maurice Mow tries). Halftime: 7-5.
