Dynamic first five-eighth and prolific points scorer Chris Noakes scored 18 points to help University A keep its top spot in the Gallaway Trophy competition when it downed Pirates 23-14 at Hancock Park today.
The students lead the Gallaway Trophy competition on 40 points and are followed by Harbour 33, Southern 31, Dunedin 31, Alhambra-Union 30, Pirates 19, Green Island 15, Zingari-Richmond 15, Taieri 12 and Kaikorai 11.
The classy Noakes spearheaded the student backline and controlled the game in the difficult and cold wintery conditions.
Glenn Dickson (Pirates) kicked two conversions for Pirates and still leads the individual points scoring with 86 points and is followed by Chris Noakes (University A) 79, Peter Breen (Alhambra-Union) 74 and Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 70, Michael Witt (Taieri) 62, Jonnie Hughes (Harbour) 50.
Dunedin piled on the pressure and scored six tries and 34 points in the second spell to beat a hapless Green Island 41-0.
Flanker Jason Kelly scored two tries as Harbour beat last year's champions Alhambra-Union 20-0
A late penalty goal by wing Sam Renwick enabled Zingari-Richmond to draw 13-all with Taieri.
Southern ground out a hard fought 11-8 win against Kaikorai in muddy and bitterly cold conditions at Bishopscourt.
Dynamic wing Karne Hesketh (Alhambra-Union) has scored the most tries with nine and is followed by Harbour centre Siaosi Folau eight, Dunedin wing Tumua Ioane seven.
HARBOUR...............................20
ALHAMBRA-UNION..................0
Harbour 20 (Jason Kelly 2, Gareth McComb, Pieter van de Merwe tries), Alhambra-Union 0, Halftime: Harbour 10-0.
Referee: Doug Rodgers.
DUNEDIN...............................41
GREEN ISLAND.......................0
Dunedin (Nigel Graham, Joe Bradley 2, Fraser Lau, Joe Dobson, Sam Anderson-Heather, Adam Duhig tries; Robbie Smith 3 conversions), Green Island 0 . Halftime: Dunedin 7-0.
Referee: Scott Taylor.
TAIERI...................................13
ZINGARI-RICHMOND............13
Taieri 13 (Matt Sims try; Michael Witt conversion, 2 penalty goals), Zingari-Richmond 13 (Kurt Schrader try; Matt Gordon conversion, penalty goal, Sam Renwick penalty goal). Halftime: 10-10.
Referee: Jeff Grubb.
SOUTHERN...................................11
KAIKORAI........................................8
Southern 11 (Warren Moffat try; Joe Burford 2 penalty goals), Kaikorai 8 (Richard Cowley try; Bevan Passmore penalty goal). Halftime: Southern 5-3.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
UNIVERSITY....................................23
PIRATES...........................................14
University A 23 (Tom Dolezel, Chris Noakes tries; Noakes 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals), Pirates 14 (Warren Kearney, Josh Clark tries; Glenn Dickson 2 conversions). Halftime: University a 14-0.
Referee: Dave Kennedy.
