A late try by All Black Adam Thomson sealed University A's 48th Speight's championship banner when it downed Alhambra-Union 14-3 in the Dunedin premier club rugby final at Carisbrook today.
It was a torrid final with neither pack giving any ground in a hard fought forward battle.
Two penalty goals by first five-eighth Tom Halse gave the students a 6-0 lead at the break and he extended the lead to nine points with his third penalty goal early in the second spell.
Alhambra-Union captain Luke Reihana closed the gap to six points with a penalty goal after 15 minutes.
The defence of both teams was outstanding and it was difficult for either backline to make any headway.
The students sealed the game when centre Ryan Grant penetrated the centre on a starter move 60m out, found the gap, and kept running on an angle toward the corner.
He was pulled down 15m out and the students won the battle at the breakdown and All Black Adam Thomson used his strength to crash over for the winning try with just six minutes left.
Lock Josh Townsend had an outstanding game for the students and dominated the lineout and Paul Grant impressed at No 8.
The best Alhambra-Union player was New Zealand Junior Liam Coltman who had an outstanding game at hooker.
