Southern scored three tries in the last 10 minutes to beat Harbour 29-14 at Watson Park in blustery conditions.
The Magpies put their big pack and the wind to good use in the first half.
Impressive hooker Joe Cairns-Thomson got on the shoulder of midfielder Tei Walden to collect a lovely offload and score a fine team try.
And winger Josh Buchan scored the first of two tries from a nice move from a 5m scrum.
Harbour went into the break trailing 14-3 but got back into the match thanks to a towering punt from Logan Allen.
Southern could not deal with it and winger Sala Halaleva was on hand to mop up the loose ball.
His try went unconverted but a couple of penalties from Toka Sopoaga levelled the score at 14-14 with about 15 minutes remaining.
But the last 10 minutes were all Southern.
Buchan scored a fortunate try from a quick tap. His pass was deflected by a defender straight back to the source and he scored.
Powerful No8 Mika Mafi came alive late and burst through a lineout to crash over in the corner.
And reserve winger Rema Smith provided the finish following a lovely sweeping move towards the left corner. Walden made a cracking pass in the movement and was instrumental in the midfield with his leadership.
University 32 Alhambra-Union 13
The scoreline sounds like a convincing win to the students but they did not have it all its own way.
Alhambra-Union was ahead 13-10 at Logan Park just after the break and Levi Emery had a couple of penalty attempts to further extend the lead. One long shot hit the crossbar as Alhambra-Union continued to press.
But University remained composed and hit back with a try to Sean Withy.
It then skipped away in the final quarter with three more tries on a day which was not great for goalkicking. Winger Tom Rance ran 70m to score an intercept try at the end.
Scott Gregory scored a try at the start of the game for University and was solid if not spectacular in his 80 minutes.
Best for University were loose forwards Henry Bell and Withy, while halfback Kieran McClea looked good and was lively when he went to fullback in the second half.
Big No8 Delaney Mackenzie worked hard for the Broncos, as did lock Utu Tapueluelu, while Legin Hotham found some gaps on attack.
Kaikorai 31 Green Island 5
Kaikorai capitalised on Green Island's ill-discipline to run away with a convincing four-try bonus point victory at Bishopscourt.
Playing into a strong breeze in the first half, Green Island appeared to be playing with confidence, dominating possession and showing a willingness to run the ball. But strong defence from Kaikorai held it at bay, restricting it to a solitary scoring move.
But perhaps the signs of what was to come were evident when the visiting team conceded three penalties in as many minutes.
Green Island regrouped and dominated the set pieces, turning the penalty count around to 7-4 in its favour at the break, despite losing the first of two players to a yellow card.
The wind was in Green Island's favour in the second half but its discipline dissolved. The penalty count against it mounted into double digits and it was forced to play 15 minutes of the second half with 14 men.
Kaikorai lock Grayson Knapp was powerful on the break and Ben Miller proved inspirational at first five-eighth. Lock Woody Kirkwood stood out for Green Island.
Dunedin 21 Taieri 16
The Taieri Eels started the game playing well into a stiff breeze at Kettle Park.
They dominated territory and possession but solid Dunedin defence kept them at bay.
For all their toil, they had only a solitary penalty in the first spell to first five-eighth Corey McKay to show for all their endeavour.
Dunedin slowly worked in to the game following two George Witana penalties.
Then late in the spell, off a slashing break by winger Freedom Vahaakolo, flanker and Highlander Tom Florence crashed over wide out for Dunedin to lead 11-3 at the break.
Dunedin started the second spell the way it finished the first and muscular flanker Angus Duckett crashed over after 12 minutes to extend the lead to 16-6.
But at the breakdown, Dunedin was getting on the wrong side of referee Caleb Nielson. He handed out a plethora of penalties, which enabled the Eels to get back into the game.
McKay kicked another penalty to cut the lead to seven.
Then eight minutes out from fulltime, Manaaki Selby-Rickit the lock went over after an extended period on attack and it was all square.
Dunedin was rudely awakened and stormed back into the game off a Florence break.
The game’s best player, Irish lock Jack Regan, crashed over to win the game with time up on the clock.
- ODT rugby writers