University 54
Zingari-Richmond 26
A rampant University side playing sublime rugby fired a warning shot as championship contenders with a comprehensive victory over Zingari-Richmond in the Dunedin premier club clash at the University Oval.
The students withstood an early foray into their 22m and followed up with a midfield break that led to left-winger Finlay Hagan scoring in the corner.
Right-winger Aaron McMurray touched down for the first of his two tries soon after as the students began running the ball at will, though a lapse in defence allowed Zingari to score out wide through flanker Max Hicks.
University continued to open the game up, running at Zingari from all angles and exposing them out wide with two further tries in the closing minutes of the half. The second was a classic one-two from a quick lineout where hooker Oliver Hatch threw to prop Charles Engelbrecht, who then passed back to Hatch, who ran in the try from 20m out to bank a four-try bonus point and a 28-5 lead at the break.
University scored two further tries in quick succession in the early stages of the second half as they played with confidence and enterprise.
Heading into the final 10 minutes, Zingari began to pound away at the University line in a bruising exchange, but the students stood firm. McMurray intercepted just out from his own line and offloaded to Mac Harris at halfway, and Harris passed infield to No 8 Lanson Randell to score under the bar.
The Zingari forward pack controlled the final minutes with late tries to props Abraham Lauaki and Philip Taua-Ah Soon.
— Wayne Parsons
Southern 38
Taieri 10
Round seven worked out perfectly for Southern.
The defending champions posted a healthy bonus-point win over Taieri at Peter Johnstone Park, and two of their rivals suffered defeats.
Dunedin were upset by Harbour, and Zingari’s charmed run hit a road bump with the 54-26 loss to University.
Experienced Southern fullback Mackenzie Palmer crossed the line for three tries in an outstanding performance.
He had one of those games where everything he did came up golden. His tactical kicking game and passing game were superb, and when he ran the ball, he was a constant threat.
He made a try-saving tackle, too. Taieri grabbed an intercept and Palmer hared after his opponent and cut him down.
The Magpies were up by plenty but Palmer still had the willingness and the energy reserves for a long chase.
Southern hooker Rewi Pomare had a strong game and lock Thomas Brock put in an honest shift.
Southern’s discipline was not perfect, though. They gave up too many penalties, and impressive loose forward Konrad Toleafoa picked up a yellow card in the second half.
Taieri probably had the better of the possession battle but struggled to break Southern’s defence. They were rewarded for their determination with two tries in the final quarter.
It was a gutsy effort by the home team. Hooker Brady Robertson was busy and halfback Trey Russell put in a tidy performance.
— Adrian Seconi
Kaikorai 83
Alhambra-Union 0
Alhambra-Union spent a lot of time in a huddle under their own goal posts.
There was presumably plenty of stunned silence to go with the odd colourful and unprintable word uttered through clenched teeth.
Kaikorai powered to lopsided victory at Bishopscourt. They shelved at least three tries, so could have put 100 points on the struggling Broncos. No-one wants to see that.
The visitors were outplayed in every aspect. They were shunted off their scrum ball perhaps half a dozen times. Some lineout ball went astray as well.
But the biggest problems were out wide.
Experience winger Jordan McEntee-Walter sprinted in for four tries.
Veteran fullback Ben Miller knocked over nine conversions in a deadly goal-kicking display. He also grabbed two late tries to finish the match with 28 points.
The Kaikorai loose forward trio of Lucas Casey, Slade McDowall and Hayden Michaels nabbed four tries between them.
Troy Anstiss did not get on the scoresheet but he was a handful in the midfield. He slipped countless tackles and got off some cracking offloads.
Replacement back Charlie Breen made an impact when he came on. But everyone in a Kaikorai strip looked good.
— Adrian Seconi
Harbour 27
Dunedin 24
Dunedin never win at Port Chalmers and Saturday proved no different.
Harbour scored four tries, two from long range, in the first half as Dunedin turned over ball at will and the home side were good enough to capitalise.
Impressive winger Saimone Samate got a brace, one an 80m effort off a woeful Dunedin pass. But the pack took on Dunedin in the close quarters as well and scored two close-range tries after hammering away at the line, and Harbour were well worth their 20-point lead at the break.
The Hawks’ gutsy defence in the second spell won them the game.
Dunedin finally held on to the ball to reduce the gap to three with 15 minutes remaining, and it looked like Harbour’s day was done.
For the last 10 minutes, Dunedin battered away at the line. The Harbour tackle count grew exponentially as they repelled phase after phase of Dunedin attack. It finally told on Dunedin as they coughed up yet another knock-on. Harbour held on for their first victory of the season and the Sharks left the field with their fins between their legs.
The entire Harbour pack deserve the plaudits but they were well led by Solomon Pole, Taylor Dale and Toni Taufa. Samate was impressive out wide.
It was hard to pick out a player for Dunedin as they did not cover themselves in glory, but young lock Josh Tengblad showed immense strength to score a try in the second spell. Winger Kyan Rangitutia was their best out wide.
— Paul Dwyer
Round seven
The scores
University 54 (Aaron McMurray 2, Finlay Hagan, Jacob Waikari-Jones, Oliver Hatch, Mitchell Tinnock, Aaron Withy, Lanson Randell tries; Michael Williams 5 con, Waikari-Jones 2 con); Zingari-Richmond 26 (Max Hicks, Mika Mafi, Philip Taua-Ah Soon, Abraham Lauaki tries; Shaun Driver 3 con). Halftime: University 28-5.
Kaikorai 83 (Jordan McEntee-Walters 4, Lucas Casey 2, Ben Miller 2, Jacob Mika, Hayden Michaels, Slade McDowall, Nicolas Proffit, Charlie Breen tries; Miller 9 con); Alhambra-Union 0. Halftime: Kaikorai 40-0.
Southern 38 (Mackenzie Palmer 3, Konrad Toleafoa, Truman Cuff, Ned Pene tries; Palmer 2 con, Wyndham Patuawa 2 con); Taieri 10 (Samuel Pearce, Reuben Kerr tries). Halftime: Southern 19-0.
Harbour 27 (Saimone Samate 2, Mason James, Ben Pringle tries; James 2 con, pen); Dunedin 24 (Josh Augustine, Evan Blyth, Joe Cooke, Josh Tengblad tries; Ajay Faleafaga 2 con). Halftime: Harbour 24-5.
Standings
| P | W | L | D | F | A | Pts | |
| Green Island | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 233 | 80 | 29 |
| Zingari-Richmond | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 202 | 196 | 28 |
| Southern | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 259 | 99 | 27 |
| Kaikorai | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 251 | 38 | 23 |
| Dunedin | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 183 | 156 | 20 |
| University | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 270 | 126 | 19 |
| Taieri | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 148 | 250 | 7 |
| Harbour | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 191 | 370 | 6 |
| Alhambra Union | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 78 | 410 | 0 |
Points earned for the bye: GI 5, Zingari 4, Kaikorai 3, Southern 2, University 1.
