Rugby: Southern only unbeaten side

Taieri first five-eighth Josh Casey is tackled by Southern counterpart Bryce Hosie (right)  with...
Taieri first five-eighth Josh Casey is tackled by Southern counterpart Bryce Hosie (right) with centre Nathan Cargo in support. Photo by Gregor Richardson.
Southern remains the only unbeaten side following its 22-11 win over Taieri at Bathgate Park on Saturday.

Midfield back Tei Walden grabbed a crucial intercept which swung the game Southern's way in an otherwise even encounter.

Dunedin was left lamenting a disallowed try in its 22-18 loss to the much-improved Kaikorai. The better team, though, got the bulk of the competition points.

Zingari-Richmond never gave up hope in its cliffhanger against University A. It lost 33-32 but a late try from Taylor Fiddes kept the game alive, and Marty Banks had an opportunity to win the game for the Colours but missed a penalty with the final act of the game.

Harbour took some time to break down Pirates' tough forward pack. But the game opened up in the second half and the Hawks cruised to a comprehensive 47-8 victory.

Alhambra-Union beat the winless Green Island 18-6 in a dour encounter at the North Ground.

Southern - 22
Taieri - 11

The old rugby ball can bounce in seemingly any direction but luckily for Southern winger Jono Hayes, it sprang his way.

He passed to centre Nathan Cargo, who dotted down just before the halftime break to give his side a 13-5 lead against defending champion Taieri.

Bryce Hosie converted but captain Tei Walden deserves the bulk of the credit. He intercepted a loose pass from Josh Casey and made a smart offload to Hayes, who booted it upfield and chased hard.

It was the turning point in a very competitive fixture at Bathgate Park.

Casey fumbled shortly after the break, which gave Southern the opportunity to sweep on to attack. Taieri infringed and Hosie kicked the first of three second-half penalties - five in total - which helped keep his side in front.

Earlier, it appeared as if Taieri might pick up the win. It scored in the opening minute when fullback Ben Miller spotted prop Warren Moffat defending on the outside and ran around him to score in the corner.

The Eels also finished the game strongly. They pinned Southern in its own half for most of the final 10 minutes and went searching for a second try. Only some resolute defence prevented a second try being scored.

Kaikorai - 22
Dunedin - 18

This was a game of absolute tedium for 75 minutes. Dunedin was leading, six penalty kicks to four, from Greg Dyer and Tony Ensor respectively. Kaikorai finally went more than a couple of phases and scored two quick tries, to winger Matt Jones and midfielder Danny Vandervort, to take the lead.

Dunedin, stunned out of its stupour, stormed back on to attack and looked to have scored the match-winner through winger Henry Scott out wide, but the try was disallowed. Dunedin had a five-man overlap but inextricably decided to throw a cutout pass to the winger to give the sole defender a sporting chance. It would have been an injustice, however, if Dunedin had snatched the win.

For Kaikorai, openside and captain Johnny Appleby was outstanding and completely dominated the loose with numerous breakdown turnovers. He was ably supported by a tigerish performance from hooker Lachlan Landels, while Rob Jordan looked dangerous out wide.

Dunedin lurched from mistake to mistake, and again struggled in the lineout. The Sharks' inside backs were ponderous and indecisive, but the forwards were strong on the pick and go, with Donald Brighouse and Mark Grieve-Dunn to the fore. Fullback Sam Weber looked best out wide.

Kettle Park spectaors were able to watch the Makos and Otago Boys' going at it hammer and tongs on the next ground. In an enthralling colts encounter, the Makos won 34-24.

University A - 33
Zingari-Richmond - 31

Marty Banks had a cracking game for Zingari-Richmond. He was particularly influential during the final quarter, but all anybody will remember is that the Highlanders first five-eighth missed a late penalty which would have sealed a dramatic victory for his side.

The referee's whistle followed his missed penalty attempt and it was University A which got to celebrate.

Both sides scored a four-try bonus point in an open and entertaining game at the University Oval, but there was also some ill-discipline with three sin-binnings.

University scored two quick tries and led 22-17 at the break. Stephen Fenemor looked to have put the game out of Zingari's reach when he drilled two penalties to give his side a 33-24 lead.

But Zingari, as it had done all game, kept attacking and midfield back Taylor Fiddes crossed for a late try. Thomas Johnson knocked over the conversion to set up a dramatic finish.

Johnson did all the goal-kicking but, with the match in the balance, Zingari decided to give Banks the opportunity to nail a difficult penalty. It was about 15m from the sideline and 43m from the posts. He pushed it to the right.

Harbour - 47
Pirates - 8

Harbour scored five second-half tries to sweep aside Pirates at Watson Park.

The win has lifted the Hawks into second place on the competition table and their round-nine clash against Southern in two weeks shapes as a cracker.

While the victory was eventually comprehensive, the Pirates forwards were not easily dispatched. They never buckled in the scrum, but did have some difficulty in the lineout, where Harbour locks Hale T-Pole and Elioti Tonga featured strongly.

Pirates struggled out wide. Harbour halfback Tali Fagasoaia probed with several darting runs and his swift passing created pressure.

Midfield backs Aleki Morris and Joe Collins appeared to have forever to plan the various assaults, and only some desperate defence from Pirates prevented a more lopsided final score.

Harbour led 14-3 at halftime but the game opened up in the second spell. Winger Marckis Schaaf bagged two tries, Morris and Collins also scored, and T-Pole barged over for a second.

Fullback Logan Allen was perhaps the standout. He knocked over six conversions, most of which were from wide angles. He was safe under the high ball and his touch-finders helped keep Pirates pinned in its own half.

Alhambra-Union18Green Island6It is said that it is ''not how, but by how many''. That would certainly apply to Alhambra-Union's win at the North Ground.

Other words of wisdom lacking in this borefest were the ''three Ps'' - possession, position and pace. Instead, this game coughed up the ''three Is'' - injury, indecision and indiscretion.

In a game of endless breakdowns, no fewer than 36 penalties and a final quarter of uncontested scrums, supporters from each side may well have preferred to have watched reruns of the Kadashians.

Green Island had plenty of possession and territory but lacked ball retention, and all too often, players were sluggish in support. Flanker Jackson Hemopo and hooker Sam Smith were the pick of the forwards, while Tino Elisara was the best of the backs.

A positive to come out of the game for Alhambra-Union was its defence, which at times withstood tremendous pressure. Witana Petley, Lance Barbarich and Mike Colville were standouts in the forwards, and Peni Qauqau-Dodds was solid in midfield. Injury forced fullback Noah Cooper into first five-eighth and he handled the role well.

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