Top and bottom have already been decided in the ODT Southern Premiership but local bragging rights were still on the line on Saturday.
The Dunedin City Royals leaped over Roslyn-Wakari with a 4-1 over the home side at Ellis Park.
The Royals came out firing with their wide men running riot on both sides, and it took only seven minutes for the visitors to open the scoring.
Roslyn failed to clear a cross and Max Stanley fired it into the bottom right-hand corner.
Roslyn could not settle as the Royals dictated the midfield battle and won the second phase, but they were a different side in the opening period of the second half.
The equaliser came when Oscar Black latched on to a long throw from Josh Marshall after 53 minutes, and Roslyn nearly took the lead with both Nathan Wilkie and Shay Thom going close.
The Royals scored against the run of play with 24 minutes remaining when Lucas Townend got the faintest of touches after his run to the near post, the ball rolling on to the far post and in despite Tom Stevens’ best efforts.
Late in the game, Roslyn pushed forward looking for another equaliser, and the Royals took advantage, Townend scoring two more in added time to complete his hat-trick.
Northern had a chance to overtake the Royals with their last game against Queens Park not being played until late yesterday, and Northern could finish third should University not beat Queenstown next week in their final catch-up game.
The students made sure they remained in the reckoning for third place with a 2-1 win over Northern Hearts.
Sam Murray opened the scoring after 26 minutes, Bailey Chambers equalised for Hearts three minutes before halftime, and substitute Riley McLean scored right on halftime to give University the lead, and there was no further scoring in the second half.
Wānaka secured second place, their best effort in the premiership, with an emphatic 6-2 victory at home over Green Island.
The damage was done in a devastating seven-minute spell in the first half. Big centre back Jake Thompson scored two goals then Stephen Sprowson made it 3-0 after 30 minutes.
Sprowson’s brother, Anthony, scored in the sixth minute of first-half stoppage to give Wanaka a 4-0 lead at the break.
Green Island reduced the deficit with goals to Finley Kruger and Harry McLean with 30 minutes to go, but Wānaka substitutes Ethan Arriata and Allan Carmichael scored clinical goals in the 89th and 90th minutes to seal the victory.
Queenstown were unable to travel to Mosgiel, and both teams are looking into options to get this game played midweek before the season finishes.
— Neville Watson
