The Taieri Tuataras played spoilsport in front of a bumper crowd of University fans on Saturday. Taieri won the Dunedin premier men’s club title for a third straight year with a 2-0 win over a brave Whales side. The game was much the same as the ones the Whales played against Albany to get to the final, but this time they just could not hit the target with the chances they created. The underdogs battled early, and were forced to sit off for the majority of the first quarter as Taieri settled into possession with Thomas Meder, Jarrod Casey and Patrick Ward somewhat toying with them in the middle of the field. It took Taieri nine minutes to open the scoring, when Hugo Bogue clinically flicked it between the legs of Hugh Nixon with the Tuataras’ first penalty corner of the day. It was a deserved goal for Taieri, and they continued to toy with the Whales, though through a combination of good keeping from Hugh Nixon, and some fairly uninspiring final third play from Taieri, it remained 1-0. With the deficit just at one, the University fans believed, and they were in full voice as the third quarter wore on. University managed to force some penalty corners but they were inaccurate. Chances fell to Sam Gradwell and Kurt Ward, but where the Whales were so clinical on Wednesday, this time they put it just wide of the post, and they would ultimately live to rue their missed opportunities. Deep into the fourth quarter, Thomas Meder capped off a fine individual performance with a penalty corner deflection to seal the game. Meder was the best on show, with Ward and Casey not far behind, while Bogue turned in a fantastic display in the engine room. It was not to be for the Whales, who gave the best account of themselves they could have, but it was not enough. Despite his error for the opening goal, Nixon was excellent, while Hogan Ward was the best of the outfield players. In the end, the winning experience told, as the Tuataras reigned supreme for a third time in a row.
