Harbour caused a major upset in Dunedin premier club rugby today when they beat University A 29-23 to lift the Speight's Challenge Shield.
Otago representative Aaron Bancroft set the game alight by making the break to set up two early tries to give Harbour a 15-3 lead after 10 minutes.
The students came back into the game when centre Brett Mather scored a brilliant individual try when he ran 70m through the defence.
A key to the win was the play of the Harbour front row with Ben Nolan and Pete Mirrielees having strong games. Flankers Jason Kelly and Eben Joubert also played impressively.
A 20 point haul by first five-eighth Cam Rutherford was not enough for Kaikorai that went down to Zingari-Richmond 22-20.
Dunedin put its game together in the second spell to score four tries and 30 points to beat Pirates 37-9.
Midfield back Luke Herden was in top form and scored three tries to help Southern outclass Taieri 46-19.
Dynamic wing Karne Hesketh came back to top form to score two tries as Alhambra-Union beat Green Island 33-12.
University A leads the Gallaway Trophy competition with 27 points and are followed by Southern and Dunedin 22, Alhambra-Union 21, Harbour 19, Pirates 14, Zingari-Richmond 13, Green Island 11, Kaikorai 10 and Taieri 9.
HARBOUR.................................29
UNIVERSITY A...........................23
Harbour 29 (Johnny Hughes, Siaosi Folau, Gareth McComb tries; Hughes penalty goal, Dan Snee conversion, 3 penalty goals), University A 23 (Ben Hones, Brett Mather tries; Chris Noakes 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals). Halftime: Harbour 21-16.
Referee: Dave McKelvie (Southland).
SOUTHERN.................................46
TAIERI.........................................19
Southern 46 (Apelu Apalati, Luke Herden 3, Jed Vercoe tries; Herden conversions, dropped goal, Joe Burford 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals, Hamish McKenzie penalty goal, dropped goal), Taieri 19 ( Jeremy Corliss try; Michael Witt conversion, 4 penalty goals). Halftime: Southern 16-13.
Referee: Ross Barnett.
DUNEDIN..........................37
PIRATES.............................9
Dunedin 37 (Josh Hamilton, Tumua Ioane, Scott McKee, Kelsey Miller, Will Henry tries; Ioane 3 conversions, 2 penalty goals), Pirates 9 (Glenn Dickson 3 penalty goals). Halftime: Pirates 9-7.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
ZINGARI RICHMOND...............................22
KAIKORAI................................................20
Zingari Richmond 22 (Matt Gordon, Jonny Noakes, Ben Kent tries; Noakes 2 conversions, penalty goal), Kaikorai 20 (Cam Rutherford 2 tries; 2 conversions, 2 penalty goals). Halftime: Zingari 22-7.
Referee: Jeff Grubb.
ALHAMBRA-UNION........................33
GREEN ISLAND..............................12
Alhambra-Union 33 (Karne Hesketh (2), Wayne Gibson (2), Matt George tries; Peter Breen 2 penalty goals: Jone Paumau 1 conversion), Green Island 12 (Shannon Young, Sam Collins tries; Tino Elisara conversion). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 16-nil.
Referee: Dave Kennedy.
