Kaikorai caused a major upset in Dunedin club rugby today when it outplayed Pirates 35-13 at Hancock Park.
It was only Pirates' third loss of the season. It still holds on to second spot, but the other teams are closing fast.
University A had a comfortable 39-14 win over Green Island and has stretched its lead in the Gallaway Trophy competition to 11 points.
But the field behind them is squeezing together with only nine points separating Pirates in second spot on 31 points and Harbour eighth on 22.
The return of Highlanders Alando Soakai and Fetu'u Vainikolo has injected confidence into a Kaikorai team that is now firing on full cylinders.
The other upset came when Taieri beat last year's champions Dunedin 30-22 with flying wing Tom Davie scoring two tries to take his tally for the season to eight.
The Gallaway Trophy points after nine rounds are: University A 42, Pirates 31, Alhambra-Union 29, Southern 28, Kaikorai 27, Taieri 26, Dunedin 26, Harbour 22, Green Island 8, Zingari-Richmond 0.
TAIERI............................................30
DUNEDIN...........................................22
Taieri 30 (Tom Davie 2, Ryan Shortland, Kurt Webster tries; Andrew Reid 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals), Dunedin 22 (Louis Tili, Shaan Davis, Will Henry tries; Tili 2 conversions, penalty goal). Halftime: Taieri 15-10.
Referee: Doug Rodgers.
SOUTHERN.................................................43
ZINGARI-RICHMOND...............................5
Southern 43 (Hamish Buick, Joe Hall, Greg Zampach 3, Sam Crompton, Ean Griffiths tries; Lewis Hancock 4 conversions), Zingari-Richmond 5 (Steven Bird try). Halftime: Southern 24-0.
Referee: Ben O'Keefe.
UNIVERSITY A...............................................39
GREEN ISLAND...........................................14
University A 39 (Matt Faddes 2, Andrew Parata, Hoani Matenga 2, Alby Herron tries; Tom Halse 3 conversions, penalty goal), Green Island 14 (Chris O'Neill, Josh Beer tries; Alex Davies 2 conversions), Halftime: University A 21-14.
Referee: Jeff Grubb.
KAIKORAI.............................................35
GREEN ISLAND.....................................14
Kaikorai 35 (Tomasi Palu, Richard Cowley, Alando Soakai, Jim Stevenson tries; Cam Rutherford 3 conversions, 3 penalty goals) Pirates 13 (Marshall Suckling try; Suckling conversion, Kieran Fowler 2 penalty goals). Halftime: Kaikorai 24-6.
Referee: Ross Barnett.
HaARBOUR................................................38
ALHAMBRA-UNION...................................38
Harbour 38 (George Folau, Ben Marshall, Johnny Legg, Sam Ready tries; Craig Sneddon 3 conversions, 4 penalty goals), Alhambra-Union 38 (Paula Kinikinilau 2, Jone Puamau, Mitch Ewen, Ben Pereira tries; Luke Reihana 5 conversions, penalty goal). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 28-21.
Referee: Tim Baker.
