It is the best team in the premier competition at the moment as witnessed by its 30-7 victory over Harbour.Taieri may have other ideas following its 34-12 win against Green Island.
Kaikorai beat Dunedin 29-14 to keep its playoff prospects alive, while Southern dispatched Zingari-Richmond 53-19.
Taieri 34
Green Island 12
Taieri has been just to the left of the spotlight with University and Harbour hogging the headlines.
But the Eels quietly put together another tidy performance to beat Green Island 34-12 at Miller Park.
Once again it wore its opposition down with some tenacious defence and battled hard for parity.
The Eels’ sting is in the tail. The team strikes late when fatigue has set in and the gaps start appearing. Last weekend Taieri fullback Josh Casey scored three tries and the little magician was at it again, grabbing another hat trick.
He shifted to first five-eighth with about 25 minutes remaining and had a huge impact.
Not long after switching position he accelerated through a gap from 20m out and scored under the posts.
The second came when he toed through a loose ball and out-sprinted the cover defence. Then, in the final moments of the game, he grabbed an intercept to complete the hat trick.
He blew open a game which had been evenly poised at halftime. Taieri led 10-9 and had to do its share of defending.
Sam Fischli, who is a loose forward by trade, played at lock and had a busy game in a mobile Taieri pack.
For Green Island, Josh Clark was superb at lineout time, as always. Halfback Devin Stapley provided solid service and centre Kane Pomare showed a good turn of pace.
Kaikorai 29
Dunedin 14
Kaikorai desperately needed to beat Dunedin to stay in touch with the top four and got the job done.
But the fixture was marred by two serious injuries. Dunedin centre Tumua Ioane dislocated his elbow during the opening exchanges and prop Teague McElroy broke his leg in a sickening accident with about 10 minutes remaining.
The tighthead had been playing some impressive rugby this season but had his leg badly twisted when a team mate collapsed on him.
The match had to be transferred to the top field, which was a blessing.
Kettle Park No 1 is no longer just by the beach, part of it is on the beach. The assistant referee had to use his imagination as part of the touchline had been gobbled up by the shifting sands.
But back to the rugby — Kaikorai blindside flanker Christian Lio-Willie had another strong game and opened the scoring when he busted through some featherweight tackling.
Openside Slade McDowall had a ranging game. He scored one try and helped set up another.
Fullback Matt Jones was impressive as well, and second five-eighth TJ Ane put his fend to good use.
Dunedin had its moments. Prop Donald Brighouse made a positive impact when he entered the match. The home side’s scrum was instantly transformed. Fullback Cam Hay had a solid game and looked dangerous when he ran the ball back at the defence.
University 30
Harbour 7
A try on full time by replacement hooker Adam Reid was the icing on the cake in University’s bonus point 30-7 victory over Harbour in the Challenge Shield match at Logan Park.
Reid, who played a key role in University’s win in the colts final last weekend, stepped up to the premiership making the most of his opportunity, complementing the work of fellow tight five members Kilipati Lea and Josh Hill, and high work rates of flankers Sam Dickson and Jack McHugh.
For McHugh it was another outstanding captain’s knock. After Harbour was fortuitously awarded a try early on, he led from the front, inspiring a solid midfield defence complimented by the high work rate of a roving Dickson.
McHugh opened University’s account, scoring a try from a rolling maul, and when Harbour was reduced to 13 men minutes later through two sin binnings, Dickson flat-footed two midfield defenders to run in a try from 30m out and secure an 18-7 lead at the break.
University maintained its pressure in the second half, and Harbour failed to offer any counter. First five-eighth Mike Williams scored from a piece of brilliance and quick-thinking from left wing Jackson Miller, to finish the game with 15 points.
Front-rowers, Aidan Spence, Chris Schaaf and Giorgio Bower proved tireless workers for Harbour.
Southern 53
Zinfgari-Richmond 19
Southern came home strongly to easily beat Zingari-Richmond at Montecillo.
The Magpies scored a try after two minutes of the game and it looked like it would be another long afternoon for the colours.
But the home team rolled up its sleeves and got stuck in.
It dominated for a large part of the first half. Skipper Tom Rowe scored a nice try, showing a swerve and speed to score under the posts. Zingari almost scored twice in the corner but was denied through some good scrambling Southern defence. It also needed a bit of the rub of the green from the officials.
The gaps opened up in Zingari defence in the second half and Southern attacked down its left hand side, scoring three tries in the final six minutes. Replacement winger Rema Smith picked up a hat trick, as he finished well. Mackenzie Haugh showed plenty of pace and also bagged three tries.
Southern’s scrum was in the ascendancy the whole game while captain Kyle Harris roamed wide all day from the openside flank.
Out the back, Haugh was tidy, as was second five-eighth Riku KitaharaRowe has a big game for his side and Karl Still, usually a hooker, but playing on the flank, got into his work.
Midfielder Keenan Masina broke the line a couple of times and Thomas Johnson was dangerous when he had space.
Round 12
The scores
Kaikorai 29 ( Christian Lio-Willie, TJ Ane, Jordan McEntee, Slade McDowall, Corey Miller tries; Ben Miller 2 con), Dunedin 14 (Liam Trainor, Heiko van Zwieten tries; Cormac Fox 2 con). Halftime: 12-0.
University 30 (Jack McHugh, Sam Dickson, Mike Williams, Adam Reid tries; Mike Williams 2 con, 2 pen), Harbour 7 (Solomon Pole try; Logan Allen con). Halftime: 18-7.
Taieri 34 (Josh Casey 3, Matt Whaanga tries; Casey 4 con, 2 pen), Green Island 12 (Ben Patston 4 pen). Halftime: 10-9.
Southern 53 (Rema Smith 3, Mackenzie Haugh 3, Villiame Mainawalala, Kyle Harris, Liam Howley tries; Haugh 4 con) Zingari-Richmond 19 (Jesse Muir, Karl Still, Tom Rowe tries; Thomas Johnson 2 con) Halftime: 19-7