Kaikorai 57
Green Island 15
Kaikorai piled on four tries late in the opening half to ease to a 57-15 win against Green Island at Bishopscourt on Saturday.
It was a withering assault which left the visitors contemplating a chunky 38-0 halftime deficit.
Former prop turned flanker Sidney Fidow provided the initial spark.
He made some ferocious tackles and barnstorming runs.
In one devastating charge up field, he threw a dummy, pulled out a side step and palmed off another. He even got the ball across the line to score, but the officials upgraded Kaikorai to a penalty try for an infringement.
Green Island rallied with three second half tries, but it showed all the signs of a dusty pre-season.
The club has been battling for numbers and the team played without cohesion.
Kaikorai first five Ben Miller produced an almost flawless kicking game. He drilled a penalty and nailed six conversions — it would have been seven but the post denied him.
Some late biffo saw three players sent to the bin — Kaikorai’s Harrison Morton and Green Island pair Benjamin Lopas and Jesse Va’afusuaga.
Otago loosie Oliver Haig was immense for Green Island and powerhouse No 8 Delaney Mckenzie had a decent match in a side which was well-beaten.
— Adrian Seconi
University 76
Alhambra-Union 8
University used its outside backs to great effect to overcome a spirited Alhambra-Union side in a free-flowing encounter at Logan Park.
For the majority of the first quarter Alhambra-Union kept University camped inside its own half, but despite launching wave after wave of attacks, it ran into a solid wall of defence. The only reward come by way of a penalty.
But when University decided to spin the ball wide the scoring floodgates opened for it. First five-eighth Jacob Waikari-Jones kick-starting University’s 12 try haul with a classic loop around in support that parted a gaping hole in the Alhambra-Union defence.
Winger Jeremiah Asi dotting down for four tries and unselfishly set up no fewer than four others with his ability to utilise support players.
Discipline will be a major work-on for Alhambra-Union with it reduced to 13 players at one stage.
Without doubt University outside backs were a potent force, while its loose-forward combination were quick to take advantage of lapses from the Alhambra-Union pack. Ty Pelasio the pick of the pack, while Chase Roberts was solid in midfield and Juan Bazan impressed in his debut game at halfback.
— Wayne Parsons
Dunedin 19
Southern 14
This was billed as the match of the round and it certainly lived up to expectations in terms of the contest, if not the execution. Southern constructed some nice phase play early on the back of its combative pack but the Dunedin defence held strong as it did for most of the game. Dunedin started to dominate territory and possession and from a botched line out on the Southern 22, halfback Tim Hogan ran blind and put in an adventurous cross kick into the in goal and blindside flanker Konrad Lotu-I’iga latched on to it and score. Dunedin were starting to take control but its high-risk off-loading game stuttered badly and they spilt a lot of ball and deflated momentum. It cost them when a no look pass went to nobody and Southern winger Josh Buchan pounced and scampered 40m to give them a slightly fortunate two point lead after 15 minutes.
Dunedin were held up over the line on a couple of occasions even if one of those looked like a try. But they squandered numerous chances and all they had to show for their endeavour was a solitary penalty to first five Ajay Faleafaga. It cost them as right at the end of the half, Southern were awarded a penalty drive from a lineout drive to go in to the break with a six point lead. Dunedin continued their high risk rugby in the second spell and flanker Jay Davis got them on the board when he showed great pace to get to a break down out wide to grab the loose ball and go over. The Dunedin back were reigning supreme at scrum time and forced a couple of handy penalties which Faleafaga nailed to give them the win.
— Paul Dwyer
Taieri 44
Zingari-Richmond 10
The Colours sniffed an upset at halftime.
And had it not been for some wonderful defence early in the second spell, perhaps the ending would have been different for Zingari-Richmond.
But after Taylor Fiddes ran down his opponent and snuffed out a would-be try, Taieri took charge at Peter Johnstone Park.
The Eels scored 36 unanswered points in the second half to record a comfortable 44-10 win.
The margin was arguably flattering as the visitors certainly had their moments.
But Cam Allan-McNeill and Brodie Hume went to work in the pack.
Highlanders loose James Lentjes stripped for Taieri and he made a difference as well, as did lock Josh Hill.
Rookie first five Samuel Waitoa had a solid debut, and centre Josh Whaanga scored late in the game to cap a strong debut.
They were both playing first XV rugby last season.
It was not all smooth sailing for Taieri. There were some ill-directed passes, some sloppy handling and poor decisions made. But nothing a game or two more will not sort out.
Zingari showed plenty as well. Hooker Aone Lolofie scored a nice try and looks promising.
No 8 Simon Pupualii made some tough carries and first five Anzac Tipene straightened the attack nicely, while fullback Shaun Driver put in a solid shift.
— Staff Reporter
