Kaikorai muscled its way to a 22-8 win at Bishopscourt on Saturday.
It was not pretty, though. It squandered many opportunities to score, particularly in the first half.
University deserves some credit for some tough defence. But really Kaikorai should have done better with all that ball and it let itself down with poor discipline.
Otago prop Jonah Aoina got sent to time-out for punching. The frustration had been building for some time.
University had scored in the third minute after Sam Clarke ghosted through a gap and fed a good pass to left winger Robert Fridd.
Kaikorai spent the next 20 minutes camped deep in University territory but failed to score.
Shortly after Aoina had returned from the bin, Kaikorai loosie Slade McDowall received 10 minutes’ rest for a high tackle.
University finally escaped its half only for intercept king Jordan McEntee to poach a pass and run 70m to score.
Then hooker Henry Bell got clear in midfield and ran in from 30m out.
Kaikorai led 14-8 at the break and the score stayed that way until Ben Miller knocked over a late penalty.
Jake Russ was yellow-carded for dissent but replacement Sam Jones barrelled over from a lineout drive in the final minute to extend the margin.
Ricky Jackson made an impact for University when he came on at halftime, while Bell, Christian Lio-Willie and Grayson Knapp had big shifts in the Kaikorai forward pack.
Green Island 35 Taieri 30
Green Island retained its unblemished record in the Gallaway Trophy with a third consecutive win.
It defeated defending champion Taieri 35-30 at Peter Johnstone Park to move to the top of the competition standings.
Both sides made a nervy start to the game. Green Island was struggling in the lineouts.
Towering Highlanders lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit made an impact in that phase for Taieri.
But the Grizzlies had more sparkle out wide. Speedy winger Michael Manson grabbed a double — one in each half.
Fellow winger Neria Fomai cut through the defence to score in the corner.
The Grizzlies led 18-16 at the break. Taieri fullback Cameron Millar kept his side in the contest with some accurate goal-kicking, and prop Cameron McNeill barged over for a try.
Selby-Rickit made a big break to set up a try for Bob Martin.
But Green Island eased away with a second try to Manson and Dylan Nel bumped his way through from 15m out.
Green Island led 35-23 but Taieri replied through a Tom Hill try to set up a tense final five minutes.
Brodie Hume brought up his 100th game for the Eels, while former Otago halfback Kurt Hammer made an appearance off the bench for Taieri.
Green Island midfielder Ray Nu’u had another top performance and both wingers grabbed their opportunities, while Nel and Woody Kirkwood stood out in the pack.
Selby-Rickit, Brady Robertson and Millar were the best of the Taieri players.
Southern 74 Zingari-Richmond 15
A rampant Southern side exposed Zingari-Richmond’s midfield lapses to hand out a 12-try thrashing at Montecillo.
From the outset, the Southern backs were full of running and enterprise with centre Josh Buchan running in the first of his two tries inside the first two minutes. After a short-lived regrouping of the Zingari-Richmond defences, Buchan ran in his second, quickly followed by first five-eighth Riku Kitahara running in the first of his two tries following the restart.
Kitahara came into prominence on attack through good service from the forward pack and halfback Wilson Driver, while also being at the forefront of a solid defensive display from the Southern side well served by a dominant forward pack.
The young guns of the Southern pack stood tall in controlling the passage of play and gaining valuable ground at the breakdown and turning the ball over.
Hooker Manaaki Boyle Tiatia proved a powerhouse close in along with with prop Jay Tofaeono, while young lock Harry Taylor proved valuable with his ability to control the ball up front and run up in support play. His seven clean lineout takes also kept his side on the front foot.
A product of the successful Southland Boys’ High School First XV, Taylor’s influence grew as the game progressed with his two late tries while he also played a huge role in setting Kitahara up for the second of his two tries on the stroke of fulltime.
For Zingari-Richmond, front rowers Liam Sharples and Bailey Matoe, lock Chris Bell and midfield backs Keenan Masina and Chris McNoe all featured.
Alhambra-Union 29 Dunedin 27
Talk about raining on a parade. Dunedin was up 21-8 at halftime over Alhambra-Union and with its 150th celebrations going on in the background all looked good in the world.
The side then collectively decided to play its worst 40 minutes of the season and a fired-up visiting side destroyed illusions of grandeur.
Dunedin scored tries in the first spell to midfielder Kegan Christian Goss and flanker Josh Retter with a penalty try thrown in to lead 21-8 at the break and looked comfortable.
Alhambra-Union controlled the breakdown in the second spell and its backline exploited every opportunity as a lethargic Dunedin backline gave it too much space. Right winger Isaac Milne scored two late tries to send the large crowd into mass depression.
For the visiting team, prop Tristan Fuli was a standout in a hard-working pack, the inside-back combination of Noah Hotham and Levi Emery controlled the game well and fullback Ben McCarthy was exceptional.
For the Sharks, young lock Fabian Holland added to his burgeoning reputation.
- ODT rugby writers
