Positives for Dunedin, Kaikorai

Kaikorai first five Mitchell Taylor is caught by Harbour loosie Toni Taufa. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

Spare a thought for the vanquished.

Dunedin coach Tumua Ioane and Kaikorai coach Andy Hunter guided their respective teams through impressive premier grade campaigns this season.

Dunedin finished the round-robin in second place, but was missing some key personnel during the playoffs and was eventually eliminated 30-0 by Taieri in the semifinal last weekend.

Kaikorai stumbled early but hit some good form in time for the playoffs.

Taieri second five Brayden Laing tries to force his way through the tackle of Dunedin winger Oscar Schmidt-Uili. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

It had one boot in the final but Southern rallied from 30-11 down to win 36-33 in extra time at Bishopscourt.

It was a wrench to lose that way, but Hunter was optimistic for the future.

"Hopefully, we can hold on to a lot of the young players we’ve brought through," Hunter said.

"I think we’ve had something like 17 debutants this year. That is a lot of players appearing in their very first season of premier rugby, so I’m really pleased with the way they came through.

University prop Carlos Policarpio tries to evade the tackle of Southern prop Sunny Mulipola. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

"We were just a sniff way from making the final, so that is successful on all counts really."

Southern fans look away now. Hunter only really sees the final going one way.

"They [Taieri] have as much strike-power as any team but they are very organised and make very few errors. In finals footy, that definitely counts.

"They are not often behind, though. If you are able to get ahead on the scoreboard, it is not a position they have found themselves in very often and I just wonder, under a little more pressure, how they will go.

Taieri flanker Shannon Frizell punches through the Southern defence. PHOTO: GERARD O’BRIEN

"But they are the form team and have the more all-round game from what I’ve seen."

Ioane felt his side had played well this season but lost momentum through injuries, illness and unavailability.

"Everyone was dealing with Covid or illness and injury throughout the season and we weren’t any different ... But from the start of the season I was down 14 of my original squad going into that semifinal plus not having Colts players due to re-grading problems," he said.

"It was disappointing but we still had a lot of confidence going into those last two games.

Dunedin fullback Thorn Parkes scrambles for the ball against Taieri. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON

"We just weren’t good enough on the day," Ioane said.

"But it was really encouraging for us to qualify second for the playoffs. It is a good place to start building from."

Ioane felt Taieri would be favourite in the final, but Southern has some quality players. Fullback Mackenzie Haugh scored three tries the last time he played in a final, and the team has some big ball-carrying forwards.

"But if Taieri can dictate terms when it comes to the set piece they should get through. They like to keep you in your own half and force you into errors and put you under pressure there."