Taieri...... 15
Who needs wingers when you have props like Saula Ma’u?
The Highlanders front-rower, on the comeback from injury, helped set up Harbour’s 28-15 win over Taieri at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Thursday night.
The Hawks pushed the Eels around at scrum time.
No 8 Eti Helu dived on the ball to score from an early tighthead.
But the Hawks blew the restart and were forced on to the back foot.
Taieri pinned Harbour in their half for about 20 minutes but had nothing to show for it.
The Hawks unleashed another couple of mighty shoves to secure back-to-back tightheads and first five Rique Miln skipped over.
The pivot made a try-saving tackle early in the second half, but he went from hero to villain when he got himself yellow-carded.
Taieri took advantage. First five Archie Body got clear on the outside and scored in the corner, and blindside Thomas Bolton spun his way out of a tackle to score from close range.
Harbour were stung into action. Lock Taylor Dale stole the ball, jigged his way to the try line and carried the final defender across the chalk in a stunning individual effort.
Winger Joe Cockburn went over in the corner for Taieri to cut the lead to 21-15.
But the Eels fumbled in the midfield. The ball got toed through and Wiremu Brailey sealed the victory.
— Adrian Seconi
Green Island...... 50
Zingari-Richmond...... 19
Green Island had too much pace out wide for Zingari-Richmond and pulled away for a comfortable 50-19 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
But this was not the stroll in a rose garden many expected.
The Dragons had thorns.
They trailed 19-12 at the break and could have gone into the spell ahead had they got a couple of passes to stick.
Speedy Grizzlies left winger Sam Nemec-Vial scored the opener and set another up with his turn of pace.
But the opening 20 minutes were even.
The Colours threatened a lot and eventually delivered. They poached the ball deep in their own half and ran it out.
They kicked ahead and fullback Sailusi Temaka gathered and scored under the posts.
Classy hooker Aone Lolofie barged over from a lineout.
But the second half belonged to Green Island.
They dominated possession and ran in five tries.
Zingari struggled to keep up in patches. But loose forwards Rupeni Koroi and Maurice Mow shone. Lock Ratunui Latus had a strong game and scored a wonderful try in the second half, and they looked more organised in the midfield than last season.
With a bit more time together, the Colours will be a far more competitive side.
Green Island made more errors than they will be comfortable with but made up for that with X-factor.
— Adrian Seconi
Southern...... 32
Alhambra-Union...... 12
Southern scored a late try to post a flattering 32-12 win over Alhambra-Union at the North Ground.
This was no 20-point game.
The Broncos pack more bang for their buck this year.
But for a second week in a row, they have nothing to show for their endeavour.
No wins. No bonus points. Just a sense they are heading in the right direction.
Southern started well. They scored three tries in the opening 20 minutes. The best was a beauty from Jimmy Taylor, who shifted to his favoured spot at first five this week.
He got under a kick from 40m out. He had to leap high to grab it, then he hit the turbo, ghosting past half a dozen flailing arms and off-balance defenders.
Alhambra-Union may have waved the white flag in that situation last season.
But they rallied and scored tries through winger Franklin Barry, who showed some wonderful pace to beat several defenders, and halfback Oliver Thode.
Southern led 15-12 at the break. They scored early in the second half but had to battle for every inch.
Mackenzie Palmer produced some magic to score and create a bit more breathing space, and Kairi Hayama scored in the 81st minute, which inflated the deficit.
Magpies lock Corban Agar was the pick of the forwards. He is a hustler, that one.
Hooker Isileli Otunuku made some strong carries and Taylor showed some touches of real class.
For AU, blindside flanker Jacob Coghlan shone in his 50th game for the team. Centre Amaziah Mitchell defended stoutly and made some nice bursts, while fullback Levi
Emery communicated well and used all of his experience to be where he needed to be.
— Adrian Seconi
University...... 34
Kaikorai...... 31
It was too little, too late for defending champions Kaikorai as University retained the Challenge Shield with a 34-31 win at Logan Park.
Early pressure from Kaikorai helped them set up camp inside the University half, leading to the first of two tries to flanker Brock Reid and an early 7-0 lead for the boys from Bishopscourt.
University replied when second five Warren Loulanting ran an angled cutter to put the students on the board.
The clearing kick from the restart was charged down, resulting in Kaikorai fullback Charlie Breen scoring out wide.
But when lock Sydney Fidow was sin-binned soon after, the students pounced, scoring two tries to take a 17-12 lead into the break.
University stretched their lead to 27-12 in the early stages of the second half but lost structure when they injected players from the bench.
Kaikorai gained a second wind, with Fidow and Reid scoring to close the gap to 27-24.
A converted try soon after appeared to put the game safe for the students at 34-24. But Kaikorai had the final say, scoring through winger Mefi Tupou to seal a second bonus point.
University had a willing forward pack, both on attack and defence. They were a menace at the breakdown, with Mitchell Tinnock, Oliver Hatch and Steve Salelea leading the way in the pack, while Isaac Kramers was lively at halfback. Tupou, Fidow, Breen and centre Jake Fowler were key to keeping Kaikorai in the hunt.
— Wayne Parsons
- Coverage of Easter rugby from the country regions will appear in Monday’s Otago Daily Times.
