Southern needed a late penalty to beat Kaikorai 23-21. The win has lifted it into the top four.Green Island scored a try in the final moments to beat Harbour 30-23, and Alhambra-Union ran out a 38-0 winner against Zingari-Richmond.
Taieri 25
University 8
If anyone had any doubts about Taieri’s credentials this season then rest assured — the Eels are title contenders.
Their 25-8 win against University was built on tenacious defence and some sound decision making at a damp Peter Johnstone Park.
University looked every bit a champion side for the first 10 minutes.
First five-eighth Roman Blackman was cleverly plugging the corners and University was dominating territory.
Lock Josh Dickson was in commanding form and it seemed only a matter of time before the visiting team opened the scoring.
But it was Taieri winger Glen Beadle who struck first with a 60m solo try. He knocked over his opponent in a good tackle out wide, got to his feet quickly, nabbed the ball and dashed down the touchline. It was brilliant, really, and the first of several nice touches by the outside back.
University responded with a penalty but the turning point came late in the half when Taieri shunted University off its scrum ball.
The Eels rumbled the ball upfield and openside flanker Josh Brown scored from a lineout drive.
University, which had played all the rugby, found itself trailing 12-3. There was one more dose of pain left in the half. Blackman had played well but he had a pass intercepted by Josh Casey, who sprinted 55m to score right on halftime.
University scored a consolation try late in the match but its fate was sealed in the opening 40 minutes.
Alhambra-Union 38
Zingari-Richmond 0
Alhambra-Union is better known for its sparkling backline play but its pack took control in a commanding 38-0 win against Zingari-Richmond at the North Ground.
The front row of Tristan Fuli, Alex Frood and Witana Pratley set a wonderful platform for the home side in damp conditions. Locks Ben Webby and Hayden Fleury put enormous pressure on Zingari’s lineout and poached plenty of ball.
And the visiting side struggled with its discipline, giving up plenty of penalties. It played the last 10 minutes with 14 men after first five-eighth Thomas Johnson was sent to the bin for a shoulder charge.
Alhambra-Union fullback Brady Kingan took advantage of those indiscretions with four successful penalties. He also knocked over three conversions.
Zingari also fell into the trap of playing too much rugby by spinning it wide when a good boot up field might have been a better option.
Alhambra led 13-0 at the break thanks to a try to centre Brad Morgan and a couple of penalties. He had followed up a chip kick which was fumbled and scooped up the loose ball to score.
Alhambra improved its buffer midway through the second period when loose forward Ben Tuiomanufilli grabbed an intercept and sprinted the length of the field to dot down. He showed some great gas for a big man.
Alhambra added a couple more tries to clinch a bonus point.
Green Island 30
Harbour 23
Green Island claimed a second major scalp with a dramatic 30-23 win against Harbour.
Openside Brett Kingsbury completed the surprise win when he scampered 20m to score in the final moments to seal the win much to the delight of the Miller Park faithful.
The win means Green Island has beaten both finalists from last season and it also underlines how tight the competition is this winter.
Harbour led 10-9 after a scrappy opening 40 minutes. Both sides tried to played too much rugby on a wet day.
The Hawks had the stronger scrum and won a tighthead 5m from the Green Island line. No8 Solomon Pole picked the ball up and crashed over.
Harbour owned the first 20 minutes of the second half. First five-eighth Logan Allen had an impressive game and burst through some weak defence to score.
He drilled the conversion and added a penalty moments later. But arguably Harbour did not score enough points during a dominant period and Green Island rallied in the final quarter of the match.The pack barged its way forward to drive over for a try from a 25m lineout.
With the scores locked at 23-23, Green Island rumbled forward. The ball popped loose and Kingsbury swooped it up and set off for the try line.
Southern 23
Kaikorai 21
A sensational final three minutes resulted in Southern wrestling victory away from Kaikorai at Bishopscourt.
With both sides matching each other, it was not until the second quarter that Southern got the jump on the home side. The first act was a clever cross-kick from first-five-eighth Louis Tili, which was retrieved in full flight by right wing Mackenzie Haugh, who dived over in the corner for the try.
The Southern forward pack took inspiration from Haugh’s touch of genius and muscled its way upfield. Halfback Liam Howley finished off to give his side a 13-6 lead at the break.
Kaikorai replacement first five-eighth Ben Miller made an impact in the second spell.He skilfully directed play and kept the ball in front of the pack, rewarding the hard work of half back Josh Renton and No8 Christian Lio Willie.
After flanker Slade McDowall scored in the opening minutes of the half, it was the Lio Willie, Renton, Miller trio that combined to set up possible victory, when Lio Willie crashed over out wide for a try. Miller added the extras for a 21-13 lead with 12 minutes to play. But a defensive lapse down its left flank enabled Southern to come back within sight of victory through a Mitch Kelly try and a sideline conversion to Jono Hayes. With time up Hayes was the centre of attention again as he lined up a 45m penalty to steal a 23-21 win.
Round six
The scores
Taieri 25 (Glen Beadle, Josh Brown, Josh Casey tries; Casey 2 con, 2 pen), University 8 (Gus Williams try; Cam Gerlach pen). Halftime: 19-3.
Southern 23 (Mackenzie Haugh, Liam Howley, Mitch Kelly tries; Jono Hayes con, pen, Bryce Hosie pen), Kaikorai 21 (Slade McDowell, Christian Lio Willie tries; Ben Miller con, pen, Gus Gray 2 pen). Halftime: 13-6.
Green Island 30 (Jake-Lane Fowler, Brett Kingsbury, Cory Wheeler tries; Finn Hart-Strawbridge 3 con, 3 pen), Harbour 23 (Solomon Pole, Logan Allen tries; Allen 2 con, 3 pen). Halftime: Harbour 10-9.
Alhambra-Union 38 (Ben Webby, Sam Baker-Leota, Brad Morgan, Ben Tuiomanufilli tries; Brady Kingan 3 con, 4 pen), Zingari-Richmond 0. Halftime: 13-0.