Rugby: Southern pack outmuscles Dunedin

It was men against boys when Southern beat Dunedin to regain the Ron Reggett Memorial Trophy at Kettle Park.

The Southern pack was too big and strong and out-muscled the young Dunedin forwards.

The experienced front row of Warren Moffat, Ean Griffiths and former All Black Kees Meeuws pushed Dunedin back in the scrum and took two tight heads.

Southern also dominated the lineout through Sam Crompton and Sam Gavigan and starved Dunedin of ball.

The big hits by No 8 Andrew Stead and Crompton close to the breakdown made it difficult for Dunedin to break out.

Inside backs Robbie Smith and Julius Glasson controlled play with Glasson using his attacking skills to set up two tries. Joe Hill had pace on the wing.

It was difficult for the Dunedin backs to break through the solid Southern midfield defence spearheaded by Luke Herden.

Southern's first try, after 16 minutes, came from turnover ball by Dunedin that Glasson exploited to put wing Seb Hill into position to run in the try. Southern scored its four tries in the first spell to lead 31-5 at the break.

Dunedin tightened its defence in the second spell to keep Southern scoreless and halfback Brad Weber created the gap for wing Liam Edwards to score after 25 minutes.

Players to impress for Dunedin were loose forwards Gareth Evans and Hugh Blake, wing Ashton Tuck and Weber.

Southern 31 (Seb Hill 2, Joe Hill, Sam Gavigan tries; Robbie Smith 4 con, pen), Dunedin 12 (Liam Edwards, Tumua Ioane tries; Edwards con). Halftime: Southern 31-5.

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