Kaikorai end on top after game of 2 halves

Dunedin loose forward Louis Lepionka finds the tryline in the tackle of Kaikorai flanker Rawiri Martin as Mefi Tupou closes from the left and Dunedin halfback Tim Hogan from behind. Photo: Gerard O'Brien

Kaikorai 28

Dunedin 19

Kaikorai won this game in the first spell when they controlled territory and possession and scored the necessary points to give them a lead Dunedin could not peg back in the second.

Dunedin were their own worst enemies, turning over crucial possession with sloppy handling and passing allied with some aimless kicking. Kaikorai were able to take advantage epitomised by the game’s outstanding figure — Highlanders midfielder Meihana Grindlay, who was an irrepressible force. He had a hand in all three of their first half tries.

The first was a big break that lead to a 5m lineout where hooker Ben Hellriegel went over. The next two were clean breaks with sumptuous offloads leading to tries by centre Jake Fowler and halfback Henry Scott.

Dunedin did score from a piece of individual brilliance by winger Max Morgan who made a break on the blind, put in a tantalising kick and won the race to the ball. But they conceded a 21-7 lead at the break.

Dunedin fought back in the second spell and had two tries in the first 15 minutes to blindside Louis Lepionka and halfback Ashton Booth, cutting the lead to two. Then came the turning point, when Dunedin turned over possession and Kaik forced a 5m lineout; although the Sharks held, they lost a man to the bin, and Kaikorai made them pay dearly when prop Sefo Kautai went over to seal the game.

For Kaikorai, apart from Grindlay, first five Ben Miller’s long range kicking kept frustrating Dunedin, and up front lock Lachie Stevens won a mountain of ball.

For Dunedin, prop Fatai Koloi came of age for the Sharks with a monumental performance both on attack and defence, with powerful carries and bone-shuddering hits. — Paul Dwyer

University 42

Alhambra-Union2 5

University banked another five points with a 42-25 win against Alhambra-Union at the University Oval.

They have extended their perfect start to the season to six wins from six games.

But a good chunk of the honour lies with the vanquished.

AU took it to their more highly-rated opponent, scoring five tries.

First five Will Thode continues to lead the effort for the Broncos.

Midfielder Tylar Diack made some threatening runs, and loose forwards Oliver Church and Luke Jordan were industrious.

Prop Benjamin Latu crashed over for a try and had a solid game.

The home side struck first, though. Their forward pack rolled up field and winger Caleb Abrahams finished off in the corner.

But University lost the services of loosehead Charles Engelbrecht for 10 minutes for an infringement.

The Broncos piled on pressure and eventually found some space out wide. Thode dotted down in the corner for the first of his two tries.

Some slick back play created room for Franklin Barry to slip over to give the visitors a 10-7 lead midway through the opening half.

University pounced on a mistake through midfielder William Lawrence-Vaivai, though. And they used their all-powerful lineout to add another.

AU hit back just before the break. No 8 Oliver Church barged over to cut the lead to 21-15.

The plucky visitors turned up the heat after the resumption and scored a bonus-point fourth try.

Thode finished off in the corner following a long period of attack.

But a couple of defensive lapses saw University pull away and clinch an uncomfortable win. — Adrian Seconi

Taieri 92

Zingari-Richmond 12

A rampant Taieri side ran in 13 tries in an unforgiving display over a depleted Zingari-Richmond in the Downie Stewart Challenge Trophy match at Peter Johnstone Park.

Zingari-Richmond filled the bulk of their squad with players from its premier grade 2 ranks. Despite that, they held a full-strength Taieri side out with gritty defence for the first 10 minutes.

But the floodgates burst after that. The Eels took full advantage of ill-discipline and defensive lapses.

Wing Marc Rooney opened Taieri's 92-point account when allowed to run the ball back up from a clearing kick. Prop Jared Burns scored soon after as the Eels jumped out to a 14-0 lead before lock Rupene Koroi struck back for the Colours.

But Zingari-Richmond continued to wilt under the weight of a high penalty count. A penalty try and a further five tries inside the second quarter had them on the ropes.

The 54-7 halftime scoreline said it all.

A second yellow card to Zingari-Richmond No 8 and Highlander Hugh Renton had him red-carded, reducing the visitors to 14 men.

Wing Joseph Hola scored for the Colours despite his side being down a man. But from then on, the game was all Taieri.

They cleared their bench and dominated all facets to run in a further five tries for a huge 92-12 victory.

For Zingari-Richmond hooker Charlie Stewart and flanker Maurice Mow featured at the breakdown and around the fringes.

It was an imposing team performance from Taieri, led up front by prop Jared Burns, locks Jalen Forgie and Eric Peita, along with open-side Tom Bolton.— Wayne Parsons

Southern 37

Harbour 17

Mackenzie Palmer produced a flawless display from the kicking tee to help Southern post a much-needed 37-17 win against Harbour at Watson Park.

They trailed 17-10 at the break, but rallied with a second-half resurgence and nabbed a four-try bonus point in the process.

The home side took full advantage of the idyllic conditions and hard and fast track to run in two early tries to prop Kenneth Delai and centre Viliame Lea.

Southern regrouped and began to assert itself on the big Harbour pack, which had exerted dominance during the first quarter, with front rowers Delai, Gabriel Francesconi and Benjamin Fakataha doing the heavy lifting.

Loose forward Lucas Govaerts and Senita Lauaki featured strongly around the fringes.

Southern first five Jimmy Taylor slotted a penalty and touched down for the first of his two tries. That had the Magpies heading to the break down by seven points, but with the growing feeling they could edge the home side.

They certainly did that. They piled on 27 unanswered points in the second spell, mainly off the back of what became a dominant display at the set-piece.

Palmer proved his versatility, shifting from fullback to halfback. He teamed with Taylor in a dangerous inside back combination. No 8 Mika Mafi and wings Josh Timu and Paul Tupa’i added further penetration.

Taylor, in just his first season of premier rugby, had the golden touch throughout. His two tries had the touch of a player with a huge future.

The Southern pack took full toll on a Harbour team which was reduced to 14 men through yellow cards twice in the second half. — Wayne Parsons

Round Seven

The scores

Kaikorai 28 (Ben Hellriegel, Jake Fowler, Henry Scott, Sosefo Kautai tries; Ben Miller 4 con), Dunedin 19 (Max Morgan, Louis Lepionka, Ashton Booth tries; Brayden Dew 2 con). Halftime: 21-7.

University 42 (Calen Abrahams, William Lawrence-Vaivai, Matt Thompson, Connor McLeod, Kieran McClea, Isaac Kramers tries; Stanley Solomon 6 con), Alhambra-Union 25 (Will Thode 2, Benjamin Latu, Luke Jordan, Franklin Barry tries). Halftime: 21-15.

Taieri 92 (Matt Whaanga 2, Tom Bolton 2, March Rooney, Jared Burns, Nick Shearer, Archie Gillies, Alele Vaihu, Tom Bolton, Joe Cockburn, Reef Newdick, Josh Whaanga tries; Penalty try, Archie Body 10 con), Zingari-Richmond 12 (Rupene Kori, Joseph Hola tries; Semisi Ma'asi con). Halftime: 54-7.

Southern 37 (Jimmy Taylor 2, Mika Mafi, Josh Timu tries; Mackenzie Palmer 4 con, 3 pen), Harbour 17 (Benjamin Fakataha,Viliame Lea, Kenneth Delai tries; Kyle Kloppers con). Halftime: 17-10 Harbour.

STANDINGS