Southern 50
Zingari Richmond 7
A rampant Southern side added to the club’s 140th jubilee celebrations with a 50-7 victory over Zingari-Richmond at Bathgate Park to retain the Eric Watson Memorial and Sportsmed Trophies.
With the carry-over champions replacing Zingari-Richmond at the top of the standings after last weekend’s matches, it was a game that offered plenty of anticipation in the build-up. But despite a strong wind at their back in the first half, the Dragons were unable to fire as the Magpies swooped to dominate territory and possession. Aided in part by a man-of-the match performance from No8 Konrad Toleafoa, who scored three tries and played a major role in support of a try to prop Tafa Tuputau Tafa Laulu.
As each side tested each other in a contest of force-backs in the opening minutes, a cruel wind gust assisted the bounce of the ball on the Zingari-Richmond 10m line, which fell into the arms of wing Lotu Solomona, who then sprinted in to open Southern’s account. With luck falling Southern’s way the wind died down to assist Wyndham Patuawa’s sideline conversion.
From that point Southern were able to keep Zingari-Richmond locked out of the game with robust forward excursions into space, often led into space by Toleafoa, and a confident backline ready to run the ball at pace.
With a four-try bonus point and a 24-0 lead at the break, Southern cleared their forward-dominated bench for the second half, which only gave the pack fresh legs as they continued their dominance and creation of space around the fringes.
For Zingari-Richmond halfback Fionn McKenna cleared well under pressure, while midfielders Keenan Masina and Tama Apineru remained constant threats with ball in hand.
— Wayne Parsons.
Kaikorai 29
Harbour 26
Kaikorai hung on to spoil Harbour’s 140th celebrations with a 29-26 win at Bishopscourt.
But it was the visitors who got the first use of the ball when Kaikorai were penalised three times in the opening five minutes and Opeti Samate scored out wide.
After 12 minutes Kaikorai scored when Nic Proffit charged down a kick and scampered away downfield.
Kaikorai found the line again through Troy Anstiss
Charlie Breen evaded several tacklers on a jinking run to the try line, was brought down short, but popped up a pass for Troy Anstiss to score in the corner.
Michael Strydom scored from Kaikorai’s lineout to give the home side a 19-5 lead at halftime.
Harbour’s ball handling in the first half was poor and that played into Kaikorai’s hands.
Anstiss kept the scoreboard ticking over when he scored early in the second.
Punishing hit-ups by Toni Taufa and Noaese Foaitua led to a Harbour penalty and Taylor Dale eventually scored and Harbour trailed 19-12.
Kaikorai had chances to extend their advantage but coughed up the ball, followed by some big carries from Harbour’s backs.
Samate intercepted the ball and ran 60m to score but Kaikorai hit back through Lucas Casey with some nice build-up.
Dale muscled over to score again and it was an anxious wait for Kaikorai to defend their advantage in the final minutes.
— Kayla Hodge
University 37
Alhambra-Union 25
University waited until the final quarter to really put the game to bed.
They beat Alhambra-Union 37-25 at the University Oval to cap off their 140th celebrations as well.
While they will be disappointed to have let University away late in the game, AU should walk away reasonably happy from that performance.
It was their best defensive effort of the season and they forced University to cough up some soft turnovers.
Rico Muliaina — a Southland Boys’ product — scored twice from fullback, as did second five Hugo Lynch.
Jacob Waikari-Jones got things under way for University and AU hit back with a penalty to trail 5-3.
Lynch scored his first of the day, jumping in the corner before AU also scored.
AU first five Anzac Tipene put in a beauty chip kick over University’s defence. It bounced up perfectly and found its way to winger Charles Alston to run away and score.
Varsity muscled up up front and eventually lock Ale Aho went over.
Muliaina then scored a lovely first try when he side-stepped his way down the field to open the space and ran in a 50m try.
AU hooker Petelo Amato went over right on halftime to level 20-20.
It was a mundane opening 15 minutes of the second half. Neither team could do anything and nearly all the game was played in University’s 22.
AU defended staunchly, but they were never able to really exit properly.
On the other hand, Varsity were guilty of the miracle ball and making too many unforced errors.
They finally scored through Lynch in the 56th minute and Muliaina scored three minutes later.
Winger Ratu Wragg scored in the corner and AU had the last say when replacement Charles Williams scored.
— Kayla Hodge
Green Island 29
Taieri 5
Green Island won this game battling into the breeze.
Taieri let it slip with the wind at their backs.
There was a good stiff wind at Miller Park and Taieri had first use of it.
But it was the home team which made the early play. They led 17-0 at the break thanks to some strong phase play.
They kept the ball in hand, whereas Taieri tried to use the wind to kick for territory and the result was some inaccurate and poor tactical kicking which just handed Green Island possession.
Green Island got up quickly on defence and must have charged down half a dozen kicks as well.
Grizzlies centre Zion Niha and halfback Daniel Smart crossed for tries and wingers Vilimone Bainibure and Levi Harmon scored early in the second half to effectively kill off the contest.
Taieri rallied in the final third of the game and were rewarded with a try to No 8 Eric Peita.
Green Island’s pack dominated the scrums. Hooker and captain Heath MacEwan led the way and was also available to crash the ball up.
Smart had an outstanding match. He steered the team around the park nicely and got on the score sheet with a five-pointer.
Second five Riley Lucas looked sharp until he left with an injury.
Peita put in a solid shift for Taieri and halfback Trey Russell enhanced his reputation.
— Adrian Seconi
Club rugby
The scores
Southern 50 (Konrad Toleafoa 3, Lotu Solomona, Justin Malifa, Tafa Tuputau Tafa Laulu, Harry Taylor, Wyndham Patuawa tries; Wyndham Patuawa 5 con).
Zingari Richmond 7 (Mika Mafi try; Shaun Driver con). Halftime: 24-0.
Kaikorai 29 (Troy Anstiss 2, Nicolas Proffit, Michael Strydom, Lucas Casey tries; Ben Miller con 2).
Harbour 26 (Taylor Dale 2, Opeti Samate 2 tries; Mone Samate 3 con) Halftime: Kaikorai 19-5.
University 37 (Hugo Lynch 2, Rico Muliaina 2, Jacob Waikari-Jones, Ale Aho, Ratu Wragg tries; Waikari Jones con).
Alhambra-Union 25 (Benjamin Latu, Charles Alston, Petelo Amato, Charles Williams tries; William Thode con, pen). Halftime: 20-20.
Green Island 29 (Zion Niha, Daniel Smart, Vilimone Bainibure, Levi Harmon tries; Nemec-Vial 3 con, pen).
Taieri 5 (Eric Peita try). Halftime: 17-0.
Standings
| P | W | L | D | BP | F | A | Pts | |
| Southern | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 419 | 140 | 42 |
| Green Island | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 306 | 128 | 39 |
| Zingari-Richmond | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 269 | 300 | 34 |
| Dunedin | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 246 | 166 | 29 |
| Kaikorai | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 283 | 71 | 28 |
| University | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 10 | 374 | 195 | 27 |
| Harbour | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 136 | 422 | 11 |
| Taieri | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 153 | 319 | 7 |
| Alhambra Union | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 110 | 528 | 1 |
Points earned for the bye: GI 5, Zingari 4, Kaikorai 3, Southern 2, University 1.
