Rugby: Dunedin premier semifinalists found

Big lock Rob Verbakel was in aggressive form and scored two tries to put University A into next Saturday's semifinal of the Dunedin premier rugby competition.

The students had too much power and beat a gallant Kaikorai 25-17 at Bishopscourt today.

The other outstanding player for the students was No 8 Paul Grant.

The students finished fourth in the Gallaway Trophy and will play top-placed Taieri next week.

Taieri ruined Alhambra-Union's chances when they downed the Maroons 24-13 at Peter Johnstone Park.

The final Gallaway Trophy points are: Taieri 80, Dunedin 66, Southern 55, University A 53, Alhambra-Union 49, Kaikorai 41, Harbour 35, Green Island 29, Zingari-Richmond 26 and Pirates 21.

Midfield back Kai Daniel was the star of the Dunedin team that hung on to beat Harbour 32-27 at Kettle Park.

Dunedin led 32-3 before Harbour came back strongly in the last 20 minutes with second five-eighth Hadley May scoring three tries.

Dunedin will play Southern in the other semifinal next week.

Southern clinched third spot when they beat Pirates 21-13.

The Southern forward pack took control in the final 20 minutes to grind out a hard-fought victory over Pirates at Bathgate Park.

A last-minute try by prop Chris Preddy gave Zingari-Richmond a 29-26 win over Green Island at Montecillo.

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TAIERI...................................................... 24

ALHAMBRA-UNION..................................13

 

Taieri 24 (Kori Rupene, Willis Scott, Karl Bloxham tries; Hayden Parker 3 con, pen), Alhambra-Union 13 (Scott Manson try; Peter Breen con, 2 pen). Halftime: Taieri 14-3.

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UNIVERSITY A........................................25

KAIKORAI.............................................17

University A 25 (Rob Verbakel 2, Paul Grant tries; Stephen Fenemor 2 con, 2 pen), Kaikorai 17 (Tony Ensor 2 tries; Cam Rutherford 2 con, pen). Halftime: University 15-3.

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DUNEDIN......................................32

HARBOUR.....................................27

Dunedin 32 (Jesse Toto, Brad Weber, Hugh Blake, Tom Verdonk, Fraser Lau tries; Toto con, pen; Steph Masoe con), Harbour 27 (Ola Va'a, Hadley May 3 tries; Soren Moller con, pen; Johnny Legg con). Halftime: Dunedin 13-3.

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SOUTHERN............................................21

PIRATES................................................13

Southern 21 (Tom Franklin, Warren Moffat tries; Bryce Hosie 1 con, 3 pen), Pirates 13 (Jake Maiono, Craig Sneddon tries; Sneddon 1 pen). Halftime: 13-8 Southern.

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ZINGARI-RICHMOND......................29

GREEN ISLAND...............................26

Zingari-Richmond 29 (Christian Walker, Brady Carmichael, Jeremy Bekhuis, Andrew Melville, Jack Facer tries; Walker 2 con), Green Island 26 (Roma Saulieoge, Dean Moeahu, Andre Clarke tries; Joe Bartlett con, 3 pen). Halftime: Green Island 15-12.