Southern beat Taieri 44-42, while Kaikorai beat Green Island 31-30. Harbour pulled away from Alhambra-Union in the second half and University scored 63 points against Dunedin.
Kaikorai 31
Green Island 30
Kaikorai beat Green Island by the width of the post.
The actual score was 31-30 but all that was standing between victory and defeat was the upright at Bishopscourt — and the ball hit the outside of it.
Green Island first five-eighth Ben Patston’s last minute dropped goal attempt was about 5cm too far to the right. But considering he had to lean forward, scoop up a bouncing pass and was off balance when he let fly, it was cracking attempt.
The win has kept Kaikorai in touch with the top four. Ben Miller was a standout for the home side. The first five-eighth scored a try, drilled all four conversions and knocked over a penalty from 45m in a topsy-turvy encounter.Highlanders and Green Island front rower Kalolo Tuiloma casts a large shadow and made an even bigger impact with two tries.
The first was from a simple "Willie Away’’ move from a 5m lineout. Josh Clark climbed high to make the take and passed straight to Tuiloma, who was unstoppable.
He also barged over late in the game to give Green Island a 30-24 lead.
But then Kaikorai winger Jordan McEntee produced some dazzling dribbling skills from about 5m out, toeing the ball through to score.
Miller nailed the difficult conversion to snatch the lead and ultimately the win.
Southern 44
Taieri 42
Southern’s McKenzie Haugh scored three tries — adding to three last week — to win the game at Bathgate Park.
In a very entertaining encounter, Haugh’s try was the difference in the match against Taieri which ebbed and flowed right through the 80 minutes.
There was some classy attacking play in the match and Taieri threw the ball around and used its forwards to get over the advantage line.
Southern started well and led 17-14 at the break.
But Taieri fullback Josh Casey led the comebackfrom Taieri. Every timehe touched the ball he made something happen, setting up some thrilling play for his side.
A 50m run from centre Matt Whaanga set up a try for Highlander James Lentjes, who played the second half.
That try put Taieri out to a 42-32 lead with just over 10 minutes left.
But Southern did not give up and after replacement Louis Tili went over, Haugh finished off after a nice run from skipper Kyle Harris with two minutes left.
Casey and Whaanga were strong for Taieri as were hooker Tom Hardy and lock Vinnie O’Connell up front.
Harris and fellow loose forward Axel Hohneck were busy for Southern and Jono Hayes worked hard at first five-eighth. Highlander Josh Ioane came on for Southern in the later stages.
Harbour 29
Alhambra-Union 17
In a match which had plenty of ill-discipline, Harbour was too strong in the end for a gallant Alhambra-Union.
Alhambra-Union pulled the score back to 17-all about midway through the second half but Harbour pulled away to win and also pick up a valuable bonus point.
Harbour did not start well, with loose forward Naulia Dawai yellow-carded after 15 seconds for a high shot.
Other players to spend time on the sidelines for indiscretions were Harbour midfield back Sio Tomkinson, for a shoulder charge, and Alhambra-Union lock Hayden Fleury for dangerous play.
Harbour’s big ball-carriers were a constant menace for Alhambra-Union and Dawai ran hard all day while lock Alan Burling also played his part.
First five-eighth Logan Allen helped himself to 19 points and his two tries broke the back of any Alhambra-Union resistance.
Allen has grown this season and he kept his side in the right part of the field when it mattered.
Alhambra-Union did not throw in the towel and its lineout had a field day, constantly pilfering ball.
Forwards Ben Tuimanufili, Ben Webby and skipper Jacob Coughlan did plenty of work around the traps.
University 63
Dunedin 10
University showed why it is the leading team in the competition and it would be a major surprise if it does not win it all.
It totally outclassed a frankly embarrassing Dunedin outfit which conceded nine tries and is staring at a bottom four finish.
University scored three tries in the first spell as the Dunedin backline thought it was playing touch rugby.
Midfielder Emeka Ilogu ran strongly and set up centre Kelvin Vari for the first of his two tries.
The game’s best player, fullback Taylor Haugh, by some distance set up the second from 90m out. He started the counterattack and some devastating offloads left centre Vari jogging in for his second.
First five-eighth Mike Williams scored the third when he just ran out from the scrum to crash over, which summed up the Dunedin defensive effort.
The second spell was all University. It ran in tries from all over the park, with the "Energiser bunny" Haugh scoring two himself and setting up all but one of the others. The forward pack gave it plenty of ball from the lineout, especially as Dunedin only won three for the game. Blindside flanker Sam Dickson was prominent at lineout time and was lively around the paddock. Hooker Kilipati Lea was efficient up front and very strong on the carry. Halfback Connor McLeod and Williams controlled play well and gave the pacy outsides plenty of space and Haugh and winger Cam Gerlach had plenty of that.
Nobody stood out for Dunedin but it has serious work-ons in terms of its dysfunctional lineout, non-existent tackling and its aimless wide passing in the backline. If it does not, it will be lucky to chalk up any more wins this season.
Round 13
The scores
Southern 44 (McKenzie Haugh 3, Liam Howley 2, Sam Pene, Louis Tili tries; Haugh 3 con, Josh Ioane pen) Taieri 42 (Matt Whaanga 2, Ryan Hammer, Kori Rupene, James Lentjes, Josh Casey tries; Casey 6 con) Halftime: Southern 17-14
Harbour 29 (Logan Allen 2, Joketani Koroi, Alan Burling tries, Allen 3 con, pen) Alhambra-Union 17 (Hayden Fleury, Elim Liko tries, Brady Kingan 2 con, pen) Halftime: Harbour 17-10
Kaikorai 31 (Sam Wyber, Christian Lio-Willie, Jordan McEntee, Ben Miller tries; Miller 4 con, pen) Green Island 30 (Kalolo Tuiloma 2, Delaney McKenzie tries; Ben Patston 3 con, 3 pen). Halftime: Green Island 16-14.
University 63 (Kelvin Vari 2, Mike Williams, Taylor Haugh 2, Cam Gerlach, Sam Dickson, Gavin Stark, Kieran McLea, tries; Williams 7 con, Roman Blackman 2 con) Dunedin 10 (Josh Thom try; Connor Fox con, pen). Halftime: University 21-3