But it has a rival in University which, with its trio of Highlanders, routed Alhambra-Union 47-0.
Taieri had too much class out wide for Dunedin, recording a 29-18 win.
In the other game, Kaikorai dispatched Zingari-Richmond 59-6.
Harbour 59
Southern 10
Ouch. How long has it been since Southern was dealt to like that at Bathgate Park?Harbour has been in tremendous form recently but it ran in 11 tries to record a 59-10 against the defending champion.
In Southern’s defence — and the Magpies could use some help in that department — the team was significantly under-strength.
Form winger Josh Gordon, fullback Bryce Hosie, lock Pari Pari Pakinson, props Hisa Sasagi and Simon Knight were unavailable for the game. From the run-on 15 from last year’s final, Southern fielded just two players.
It is also clear what a big impact Mika Mafi’s recent departure has had on the club. The powerful No8 is one of the harder men to stop in the competition but he is now playing his rugby in Oamaru.
Harbour ran the ball from everywhere and just about everybody was rewarded with a try.
Highlanders utility back Sio Tomkinson showed his class, while everyone with the last name Pole — there are three of them — had a strong game, particularly Solomon. He had a storming game at No8.
Loose forward Kyle Harris kept plugging away for Southern and centre Paul Tupai tackled everything in sight.
The win has lifted Harbour into the top four.
Taieri 29
Dunedin 18
Josh Casey certainly has a wonderful sense of timing. The Taieri fullback scored three tries and set up another in his 50th game for the Eels.
He also knocked over a couple of conversions to post 19 points in his side’s 29-18 win against Dunedin at Peter Johnstone Park.
Taieri climbs one spot to second on the competition standings, while Dunedin slips to fifth place.
Both sides spent time in reverse gear while the packs jostled for dominance. Neither team was able to claim the honours in that battle.
The Sharks, though, led 11-5 at the break, after two late penalties.
But as fatigue set in and the game opened up, Taieri’s outside backs began to shine.
Casey kept popping up at the right place and got across early in the second half from a scrum move. He ran a nice line and cantered through a gap from about 10m out for his second try.
He was on hand again about 10 minutes later to finish off a move which he helped start 80m back down the field. Then he helped seal the victory when he spotted space behind the defensive line and put through a lovely grubber.
Replacement winger Glen Beadle miraculously reeled it in and flicked a pass inside to Kori Rupene before tumbling into touch. Rupene just had to dive over.
University 47
Alhambra-Union 0
Poor old Alhambra-Union. You do not want to play University the week the Highlanders decide to leave Josh Dickson, Matt Faddes and Fletcher Smith out of the game day squad.
The trio were instrumental in the 47-0 win at the University of Otago Oval. Faddes scored three tries. Dickson dominated the lineout and was a tiger in close exchanges, and Smith did a tidy job of directing the play.
By halftime University led 21-0 and Alhambra was in damage control. But the visitors actually started pretty well. The first 10 minutes was competitive and arguably Alhambra should have opened the scoring.
It was attacking the line but Dickson broke away with the ball.
Once in striking distance, Smith put in a nice chip kick which was gathered in by University and Faddes was there to take the inside pass and score.
Alhambra kept trying but was just outclassed. It also lost the services of lock Ben Webby to a first-half yellow card. He picked up a second card about 15 minutes into the second spell, leaving his side a man down for the rest of the game.
Hooker Alex Frood switched to loosehead and had a strong game for Alhambra. Openside flanker Jacob Coghlan also impressed in a losing effort, as well.
Kaikorai 59
Zingari-Richmond 6
Standout performances from Kaikorai’s flanking duo of Christian Lio-Willie and Slade McDowall, along with hooker Sam Wyber, saw them score eight of the team’s nine tries in a 59-6 victory over Zingari-Richmond at Bishopscourt.
Wyber displayed a ton of gas when he burst on to an offload 30m out from the line, to open Kaikorai’s account after 2min. Lio-Willie scored the first of his bag of three minutes later, but it was his second, following a 60m breakout by Ben Miller, that left Zingari-Richmond flat-footed and searching for answers to stem the tide, as the home side ran in 19 points inside the first 15min. But this was all it was to score until early in the second half, as Kaikorai succumbed to over confidence in trying to play an expansive game.
Zingari-Richmond’s ability to stem the Kaikorai scoring tide to just a 19-6 lead at halftime, was testament to some outstanding work around the park by locks Mathew McCormick and Tom Rowe and hooker Jesse Muir. Five-eighths Thomas Johnson and Keenan Masina also stood out.
But the floodgates opened in the second half. McDowall bagged the first of his three tries in the opening minutes, and contributions came from Lio-Willie, in completing his hat-trick, and Wyber, a brace.
Kaikorai was once again well served by Ben Miller in the backline.
Round 11
The scores
Taieri 29 (Josh Casey 3, Kori Rupene, Josh Larsen tries; Casey 2 con), Dunedin 18 (Sam Anderson-Heather, Hame Toma tries; Cormac Fox con 2 pen). Halftime: Dunedin 11-5.
Harbour 59 (Sam Porter 2, Abraham Pole, Sekonaia Pole, Sione Misoloi, Piliu Tavake, Sio Tomkinson, Hemaua Samasoni, Ewan Brumwell, Jinho Mun, Ratu Bishop tries; Logan Allen 2 con), Southern 10 (Kyle Harris try; Mackenzie Haugh con, pen). Halftime: 27-3.
University 47 (Matt Faddes 3, Dale Jarden 2, Jack McHugh, Josh Dickson tries; Mike Williams 6 con), Alhambra-Union 0. Halftime: 21-0.
Kaikorai 59 (Christian Lio-Willie 3, Slade McDowall 3, Sam Wyber 2, Tee Jay Ane tries; Ben Miller 7 con), Zingari-Richmond 6 (Thomas Johnson 2 pen). Halftime: 19-6 Kaikorai.