University 40
Green Island 29
University scored either side of the break to set up a 40-29 win in a top-of-the-table clash against Green Island at Logan Park on Saturday.
The students, who led 19-10 at the break, have started the season with five consecutive wins and they are the only unbeaten team in the competition.
The win let them overhaul the Grizzlies and move into pole position.
The game was evenly contested. Neither side was able to gain a significant advantage in the set pieces. But University were more effective around the ruck and breached the Green Island defence a little too easily at times.
University first five Rico Muliaina controlled play nicely and drilled five conversions, while fullback Stanley Solomon was threatening when he got half a gap.
Solomon, still waiting for his Highlanders debut, is an excellent communicator and plays a key role in marshalling their defence.
Both players orchestrated some effective counter-attacks for University.
Lock Jonty Townsend was a dominant presence in the lineout and a key figure in the pack.
Green Island loosehead Shane Fikken produced another quality shift. He switched to openside flanker late in the game, which is quite a transition.
Midfield pairing Jake Te Hiwi and Riley Lucas get mentioned every week and every week they deserve it. They were solid again.
Had it not been for some porous defence around the fringes of the ruck, Green Island may have taken the game deeper. — Adrian Seconi
Taieri 40
Southern 19
Taieri have emerged as a genuine contender.
The Eels posted a comfortable 40-19 win over Southern at Peter Johnstone Park.
They expanded a 19-7 halftime lead into a generous victory.
Centre Josh Whaanga scored two tries and helped set up older brother Matt for a late try.
They were formidable in the midfield. Josh ran through a lot of gaps. If he had a tad more pace, he would have nabbed a third try.
Taieri were impressive. They have a robust loose forward duo in Nick Henderson and Sam Fischli. Fischli stayed on the right side of the officials for a change, but Henderson picked up a yellow.
Discipline is something the Eels will need to work on this season.
The Eels front row of Jared Burns, Jared Ruwhiu-Bott and Cam McNeill set a solid platform. They picked up a crucial tighthead as well.
The lineout was a little hit and miss. But Eric Peita is improving with every outing.
Fullback Reef Newdick’s chip and chase try to open the scoring was a wonderful piece of skill.
They look the goods. Southern do not.
The Magpies were missing some heavy ball-carriers and made a lot of critical mistakes. They lack some pace out wide and have players out of position.
Southern fullback Mackenzie Palmer was dangerous late in the game once fatigue had started to set in, though. And veteran prop Mike Mata’afa added some punch around the ruck when he came on in the second half. — Adrian Seconi
Dunedin 43
Zingari-Richmond 17
The Sharks finally showed some teeth up front.
Dunedin have made a poor start to their campaign. But they registered a 43-17 win over Zingari-Richmond at Montecillo Park.
The Colours faded in the second half. They had trailed 24-12 at the break and had competed well.
But Dunedin’s tight five took over and the margin blew out.
Lock Matthew Attenborough crashed over for a brace of tries, and loose forward Louis Lepionka bagged a pair for himself as well.
The backs got into the action, with centre Joe Cooke and wingers Kyan Rangitutia and Max Morgan all crossing the line.
Dunedin front-rowers Jazaius Kalolo, Luka Salesa and Fatai Koloi put in a five-star performance and netted two tightheads.
Lepionka was everywhere, including diving over the line. Fellow loose forward Josh Cairns was every bit as busy.
Halfback Tim Hogan got his passing game going nicely. And most importantly, Dunedin played with some confidence.
Their challenge will be to maintain that moment when they host Kaikorai this weekend.
Zingari-Richmond’s report card read like most this season. They tried hard, but they just cannot seem to convert pressure into points.
First five Semisi Maasi is creative and caused some problems, while blindside Rupeni Koroi continues to shine and press his case for further honours.
Halfback Lachie Jephson enhanced his reputation with a solid outing. — Adrian Seconi
Kaikorai 66
Harbour 22
Kaikorai took full advantage of a hard and fast track to run Harbour ragged at Bishopscourt.
The defending champions ran in 10 spectacular tries in their 66-22 victory.
It was a special game for first five Ben Miller.
The Kaikorai pivot scored 21 points and eclipsed Mike Kenworthy’s club point-scoring record of 1050 points.
Miller has now scored 1060 points for the Demons.
Kaikorai took just 42 seconds to score their first try when openside flanker Gregor Rutledge dived over in the corner.
Miller was returning everything Harbour sent his way with interest. Halfback Henry Scott and centre Jake Fowler profited.
Kaikorai leapt out to a 28-0 lead and had secured a four-try bonus point inside the first quarter.
Harbour regrouped, but any enterprising play typically ended in error. Two late tries gave them something to ponder at the break.
The floodgates opened in the second half.
Fullback and captain Charlie Breen bagged a brace, Rutledge scored a second try and winger Jake Hill ran in a hat-trick of tries.
Harbour flanker and captain Lucas Govaerts, along with halfback Brad Campbell, featured strongly for the Hawks.
But the visitors could not contain Kaikorai’s expansive game.
Loose forwards Rutledge and Orlando Tuhega-Vaitupu created space for a rampant backline commanded by Miller. — Wayne Parsons
ROUND 6
The scores
University 40 (Joe Parkinson, Stanley Solomon, Oliver Hatch, Charles Engelbrecht, Aaron Withy, Kieran McClea tries; Rico Muliaina 5 con), Green Island 29 (Jake Te Hiwi 2, Shane Fikken, Alex Piebenga tries; Isaac McAuliffe 3 con, pen). Halftime: University 19-10.
Taieri 40 (Josh Whaanga 2, Roney Vanila, Matt Whaanga, Nick Henderson, Reef Newdick tries; Archie Body 5 con), Southern 19 (Justin Malifa, Jeremiah Asi, Mike Mata’afa tries; Mackenzie Palmer 2 con). Halftime: Taieri 19-7.
Dunedin 43 (Matthew Attenborough 2, Louis Lepionka 2, Max Morgan, Joe Cooke, Kyan Rangitutia tries; Brayden Dew 4 con), Zingari-Richmond 17 (Jordan Dale, Monty Sherriff, Sailusi Temaka tries; Semisi Maasi con). Halftime: Dunedin 24-12.
Kaikorai 66 (Jake Hill 3, Charlie Breen 2, Gregor Rutledge 2, Jake Fowler, Henry Scott, Ben Miller tries; Miller 8 con), Harbour 22 (Gabriel Francesconi, Benjamin Fakataha, Viliami Lea, Wiremu Brailey tries; Kyle Kloppers con). Halftime: Kaikorai 28-10.
STANDINGS
| P | W | D | L | F | A | B | Pts | |
| University | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 207 | 134 | 5 | 25 |
| Green Island | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 222 | 152 | 5 | 21 |
| Taieri | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 147 | 104 | 3 | 19 |
| Kaikorai | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 191 | 116 | 5 | 17 |
| Southern | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 169 | 185 | 5 | 17 |
| Harbour | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 141 | 167 | 4 | 16 |
| Dunedin | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 150 | 166 | 4 | 12 |
| Zingari-R | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 92 | 203 | 2 | 2 |
| Alhambra-U | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 90 | 182 | 1 | 1 |
