Both teams were playing under a handicap because of defections to the Otago team that beat Mid-Canterbury 85-0. The students lost seven key players and Harbour four from its pack.
Leslie, the former Scottish captain, believes a structural change is needed to get an uninterrupted club window that fits in with representative rugby commitments.
He would like to see the Otago players involved in competitive games of consequence.
"If they were against each other it would make for a more competitive and better environment for everybody," he said.
"If we can merge that with an Otago team build-up it would be great. It would be marvellous if the initiative came from further up the food chain."
Leslie is coaching University A for the second year after being in charge of the club colts team for three years. His team has been badly affected in the championship round each year.
"Like all premier coaches I have put in a lot of effort from February," he said.
"It is pretty hard to stomach what has happened. But I won't cry about it because no-one wants to hear you cry."
Medder understands that changes will be made for next season if the Air New Zealand Cup competition is reduced to 10 teams.
"The intention was to do it this year, to give us another two weeks at the end of the club season," Medder said.
"But the New Zealand Rugby Union backed down on the Northland-Tasman issue and reverted back to the original 14 team Air New Zealand Cup competition."
Medder said it was not possible to start the club season any earlier because grounds were not available because of the demands of summer sports.
"Unless they stick to their guns this year and go back to a 10-team competition there is no way out of it," Medder said.
If the move did not come from the New Zealand Rugby Union, Medder said the solution would be to play the pre-season games midweek.
But that could bring other problems.
"The Otago coaches are not going to want their team members playing two games a week leading into the Air New Zealand Cup," Medder said.
Medder said all clubs knew at the start of the season that the Otago players would not be available for club rugby for the championship round.
"We accepted at the start that we were going to lose some players," Medder said.
"Unless you have great depth you can't counter it."
"It is depressing because the top three qualifying teams at the end of the round-robin all lost on Saturday."
It was ironic that University A finished second and Harbour third after the Gallaway Trophy round and next Saturday they would be playing off for fifth and sixth spot.
"It doesn't do much for the players' morale to know that they have battled hard all year and it is all going to be for nothing," Medder said.
"It is harder on the players because they are the ones out their battling for their clubs week after week. There is little reward for it at the end because of this."
Medder returned to coaching the Harbour premier team this winter after a gap of 16 years.
"It's the first time I've been involved with this system and it is pretty shattering. You wonder if it's worth standing out on the paddock at training in the frosty and cold winter weather when you get so little for it at the end."
However, the 73-year-old Medder is glad he made the effort. He understands that it is not easy in normal life to bridge the age gap and get close to younger people.
"It was a privilege for me to make contact with them this year and I'm pleased I did it."
