Accurate goal kicking by fullback Peter Breen helped Alhambra-Union beat Dunedin 13-10 in the feature match of Dunedin club rugby today.
The strong Dunedin pack dominated territory and possession in the first spell but too many mistakes and turnovers from its backline and the stubborn Alhambra-Union defence stopped it from scoring points.
The inside pairing of Matt George and Jone Paumau both had strong games for Alhambra-Union and the midfield defence of Luke Reihana and Wayne Gibson shut down the Dunedin attacks.
The game was close but in the end it was the poor goal kicking of the four Dunedin goal kickers who missed six kicks at goal that proved costly.
It is close at the top with Dunedin dropping down from second to fifth because of its loss.
Alhambra-Union and Southern share the second spot and Harbour moved up to fourth when it beat Taieri 20-10.
The key players for Southern in their 25-7 win over Green Island were No 8 Cam Goodhue and first five-eighth Julius Glasson.
Centre Marshall Suckling scored two tries to keep Pirates in the top six when they beat Zingari-Richmond 22-10. Glenn Dickson kicked five points to become the first player to reach 100 points this winter.
In the boilover of the round, Kaikorai edged University A 10-7.
But the students lead the Gallaway Trophy competition on 42 points and are followed by Southern 39, Alhambra-Union 39, Harbour 38, Dunedin 37, Pirates 28, Kaikorai 19, Green Island 15, Zingari-Richmond 15, and Taieri 12.
Glenn Dickson (Pirates) still leads the individual points scoring with 103 points and is followed by Chris Noakes (University A) 87, Peter Breen (Alhambra-Union) 87 and Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 80, Michael Witt (Taieri) 62, Jonnie Hughes (Harbour) 61.
Dynamic wing Karne Hesketh (Alhambra-Union) has scored the most tries with 11 and is followed by Siaosi Folau (Harbour), Tumua Ioane (Dunedin) eight, Wayne Gibson (Alhambra-Union) seven.
ALHAMBRA-UNION............................................13
DUNEDIN........................................................... 10
Alhambra-Union 13 (Mana Faraimo try; Peter Breen conversion, 2 penalty goals), Dunedin 10 (Scott McKee, Tumua Ioane tries). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 3-0.
Referee: Scott Taylor.
KAIKORAI...................................................................... 10
UNIVERSITY A............................................................. 7
Kaikorai 10 (Hamish Chrisp try; Cam Rutherford conversion, Willie Lawson penalty goal), University A 7 (Ben Hones try; Chris Noakes conversion). Halftime: Kaikorai 7-0.
Referee: Jeff Grubb.
SOUTHERN....................................................25
GREEN ISLAND..............................................7
Southern 25 (Julius Glasson, Jarid Bradley Jed Vercoe tries; Bradley, Hamish McKenzie conversions, Craig Sneddon penalty goal), Green Island 7 (Paul Butson try; Tini Elisara conversion). Halftime: Southern 11-0.
Referee: Adam Morrison
HARBOUR.....................................................20
TAIERI............................................................10
Harbour 20 (Mehaka Wickliffe, Trent Sutton, Ra Kahukiwa tries; Brenton Kramer conversion, penalty goal), Taieri 10 (Jared Campbell try; Ricky Stewart conversion, penalty goal). Halftime: Taieri 7-5.
Referee: Tim Baker..
PIRATES...............................................22
ZINGARI-RICHMOND..........................10
Pirates 22 (Marshall Suckling (2), Josh Clark tries; Glen Dickson 2 conversions, 1 penalty goal), Zingari Richmond 10 (Ben Kent try, Sam Renwick 1 conversion, 1 penalty goal). Halftime: 10-7 Pirates. Referee: Scott Taylor.
