Students, eh? They turned up late and spoiled Taieri's party.
University A's convincing 31-15 win in the Dunedin premier club final at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday should not have come as much of a surprise.
University has been the form team during the past month. But midway through the season, the team looked like it might miss the playoffs. There was no crisis meeting as such. But the team did sit down and re evaluate, coach Rahul Das said.
''People wrote us off halfway through the season,'' Das said.
''But we knew if we played football, and got our full strength side back on the field, we would match up with the big boys.''
Taieri dictated terms early, though. The Eels crossed the line twice before a try was finally awarded and they dominated for the best part of 25 minutes.
But having spent so much time defending, University was able to grab two quick tries, which spun the game on its axis.
Impressive centre Matt Faddes nabbed the first, although midfield partner Shae Tucker did the grunt work. He bumped off a tackle and passed to Faddes, who had run a wonderful line and scored under the posts.
Shortly after that, Taieri opted for a quick lineout throw and lost possession. University lock Josh Dickson hit the ball up and Sione Teu featured in a masterful team try that was finished off by halfback Kaide Whiting.
Fletcher Smith drilled the conversion from in front to give his side a 17-10 lead at the break.
''I think, when we held Taieri out for the first 20 to 30 minutes, it just gave us such confidence. They are such a great side on attack as well,'' Das said.
''To be honest, we went into halftime feeling like they had ran out of gas. I told the boys at halftime, 'Just put the foot down and go for it'.''
University bombed an early second half opportunity to score when the ball was fumbled about 20m out. But the students kept pressing. Smith eventually danced across after a long build up in which Taieri had been pinned deep in its own half.
Smith knocked over the conversion to give his side a 24 10 lead with 15 minutes remaining.
Taieri captain and hard working No8 Charlie O'Connell kept trying. He forced a turnover and then scoreda consolation try when theball was swung back to the right.
O'Connell may have played his last premier game. He told the Otago Daily Times earlier in the year that this was ''pretty much it''.
There was no fairy tale finish for Josh Casey, either. The first five eighth had a tremendous season, scoring a record 300 points. He brought the milestone up with a conversion in the final.
His season tally is 40 more than the previous highest recorded total, which was achieved by Dunedin's Daniel Soper in 1997.
University A captain Sam Sturgess knows the pain of defeat. He was involved in last year's final when Taieri humbled University 51-6.
Redemption is a wonderful feeling.
''It is a hugely different feeling,'' Sturgess said.
''It feels surreal at the moment because I'm just so knackered. But you can see how happy the boys are.''
Kaikorai 48
Dunedin 39
First five eighth Matt Te Tana used his speed to score three of Kaikorai's seven tries when it beat Dunedin at the University Oval to become the first holder of the Gainsborough Shield.
Dunedin controlled the first half to lead 27-24 at the break.
Kaikorai turned that around in the second spell, taking control of the game when it scored three tries and 24 points in the first 27 minutes to lead 48-27.
Dunedin closed the gap to nine points with two tries in the last eight minutes. Powerful No8 Hame Toma scored the first to complete his hat trick.
Te Tana was backed by Kaikorai halfback Kadin Brocks and loose forwards Jared Goodson and Johnny Appleby.
Toma's explosive play was backed by Dunedin lock Richard Thompson, who dominated the lineout, midfield back Tim Tolovae and fullback Tyrone Davies.
Additional reporting by Alistair McMurran
Dunedin club rugby
Premier final
University A 31
Matt Faddes, Kaide Whiting, Fletcher Smith, Gavin Stark tries: Fletcher Smith 4 con, pen
Taieri 15
Michael Collins, Charlie O'Connell tries; Josh Casey con, pen
Halftime: University 17-10.
Crowd: About 3500.
Three stars
• Matt Faddes was a persistent threat and his pace and footwork presented Taieri with some defensive headaches. The slippery centre scored University A's opening try. He ran a beautiful angle to get on the shoulder of Shae Tucker, who had busted the defence.
• Lock Josh Dickson has been sidelined with a sternum complaint for most of the season but was part of a pack that took the game to Taieri. He also featured in Kaide Whiting's try, offloading in a tackle earlier on in the movement.
• First five eighth Fletcher Smith got one over his opposite and fellow Otago hopeful Josh Casey. Smith conducted the University backline with aplomb, landed most of his attempts at goal and scored a vital second half try.
