Dunedin gave a clinical display of power and precision rugby to beat Southern 37-15 at Bathgate Park to win the Ron Reggett Memorial Trophy.
Dunedin took control from the start and stamped its mark on the game when it scored three first-half tries to lead 23-3 at the break.
Dunedin had an attacking flair in the first spell and took its chances and made Southern pay for its mistakes.
Southern sat in the Dunedin 22m for long periods in the second spell and this tested the Dunedin defence. But it was able to nullify the driving runs of flanker TJ Ioane and the pick and go of the forwards like prop Mike Mata'afa.
Dunedin's task was made easier because of the one dimensional nature of the Southern attack, with its reliance on the pick and go.
Dunedin controlled the lineout and took ball off Southern throws through the work of lock Richard Thompson and No 8 Gareth Evans, who jumped at two.
Halfback Brad Weber was the maestro in the Dunedin backline with his accurate passing, quick thinking and dashes down the short side.
It was a Weber kick into the box that broke the game open after 30 minutes in the first spell when wing Pera Gibbs was up quickly to score the try.
He broke Southern's stranglehold after 26 minutes in the second spell with a try after a solo run to stretch the lead to 30-8.
It was Weber who moved the ball quickly from the breakdown and kept the game moving at pace.
Southern's game was more pedestrian and it did not have many attacking ideas, except for the pick and go.
Dunedin 37 (Pera Gibbs, Brad Weber, Tom Verdonk, Will Henry, Kai Daniel tries; Liam Edwards con, pen; Gibbs 2 con, pen), Southern 15 (Harry Uffindell, Tom Franklin tries; Ben Patston con, pen). Halftime: 23-3.
