Defending champion Dunedin may struggle to gain a semifinal spot after slipping to a 34-32 loss to Kaikorai on Saturday.
Dunedin, which has lost four straight, has dropped out of the top four and has Kaikorai and Harbour biting at its heels, just two points back.
Alhambra-Union moved into fourth spot with its 24-7 win over Green Island. Next week's clash between Dunedin and Alhambra-Union will be decisive for both teams.
Taieri leads the Gallaway Trophy competition with 60 points, followed by Southern 52, University A 45, Alhambra-Union 41, Dunedin 39, Kaikorai and Harbour 37, Zingari-Richmond 23, Pirates 5, Green Island 1.
Taieri 31
Southern 5
An organised Taieri team gave a clinical display to outclass Southern and retain the Speight's Challenge Shield at Peter Johnstone Park.
Taieri was led from the front by No8 Charlie O'Connell with his driving play and his accurate defence. The other key forwards in the Taieri pack were prop Nick McLennan and lock Kurt Webster.
Taieri led 17-5 at the break and made a comeback difficult for Southern when centre Kieran Moffat scored a brilliant try early in the second half to stretch the lead to 24-5.
Busy halfback Kurt Hammer was the best of the Taieri backs and first five-eighth Hayden Parker gained large hunks of territory with raking line kicks.
The midfield of Michael Collins and Moffat provided a strong defensive wall and created gaps on attack.
The best back for Southern was centre Tei Walden. The best forwards were No8 Lafaele Faamoe and Mike Mata'afa and Ricky Riccitelli in the front row.
Taieri started with fire and led 17-0 after 25 minutes. Southern had its best period in the game when it controlled the last 15 minutes of the first spell and winger Nathan Cargo scored a try.
Taieri 31 (Dwayne Burrows, Kieran Moffat, Charlie O'Connell, Henry Parker tries; Henry Parker 4 con, pen), Southern 5 (Nathan Cargo try). Halftime: Taieri 17-5.
Kaikorai 34
Dunedin 32
Dunedin had 70% of the territory and possession and should have won in a canter. But the defending champion conceded 21 points from charge-downs, and Kaikorai produced a gutsy defensive effort.
Dunedin had all the early ball but only built a slim lead through a Tim Tolovae try and a Greg Dyer penalty.
Unbelievably, Kaikorai led at the break after a penalty to Cam Rutherford and a late converted try to lock Simon Grant off a Rutherford break.
Dunedin had dominated the spell with its rampaging loosies, led by Hugh Blake, and Kaituu Kaufana was irrepressible in the midfield, but the Sharks' error rate in the attacking 22m was to be their downfall.
Early in the second half, Kaikorai charged down yet another Dyer kick in the 22m for hooker Matt Cowie to score.
Dunedin finally strung the phases together and scored two tries in two minutes, one to Will Henry from a lineout and the other a length-of-the-field effort led by Kaufana and Blake for flanker Hame Toma to score. The one-point lead was short-lived as two more charge downs led to tries by halfback Matt Te Tana and Shane Calder to put Kaikorai in front by 13.
Dunedin attacked for the last 20 minutes but was denied by some heroic defence. Finally, replacement prop Brendan Eathorne crashed over under the posts.
Rutherford banged over a penalty to make the game safe for Kaikorai. Dunedin scored a try right on fulltime but it was too late.
Rutherford impressed for Kaikorai, setting up two tries and kicking 14 points. Nathan Hull and Simon Grant were outstanding defensively and Matt Te Tana was lively at halfback.
For Dunedin, Blake and Kaufana were enormous. Mark Grieve-Dunn and Will Henry were powerful up front, ensuring Dunedin had a glut of possession.
Kaikorai 34 (Matt Te Tana, Shane Calder, Simon Grant, Matt Cowie tries; Cam Rutherford 4 con, 2 pen), Dunedin 32 (Tim Tolovae, Greg Dyer, Brendan Eathorne, Will Henry, Hame Toma tries; Dyer 2 con, pen). Halftime: Kaikorai 10-8.
University A 25
Zingari-Richmond 17
University A regrouped and made good use of its bench to dominate the second half and overcome a spirited Zingari-Richmond side at Montecillo.
Outstanding defence from Zingari, particularly from fullback Christian Walker, had shut down promising moves from a dangerous University backline.
The students opened their account when first five-eighth Fletcher Smith used his mid-air balancing skills to regather the ball and put winger Sam McLachlan away for a try under the bar.
But constant infringing from the University forwards kept Zingari in the game with four long-range penalty goals.
As the University pack tried to stem the tide of penalties at the breakdown, Zingari flanker Steve Roberts dived over for a try after five phases of play near the University line to hand his side a 17-15 advantage at the break.
University lost halfback Nick Annear to the sin bin early in the second half but managed to keep Zingari starved of ball and pinned inside its own half.
The students finally broke through a resolute defensive screen in the final quarter to regain the lead through No8 Emeka Ilogu, before the University bench made its mark with a bonus-point try to Caleb Lingman.
The result was just reward for University A hooker and captain Sam Sturgess, who proved inspirational in giving his side the go-forward it needed.
University A 25 (Sam McLachlan, Gavin Stark, Emeka Ilogu, Caleb Lingman tries; Fletcher Smith con, pen), Zingari-Richmond 17 (Steve Roberts try; Christian Walker 4 pen). Halftime: Zingari-Richmond 17-15.
Harbour 39
Pirates 5
Harbour scored four tries either side of halftime to beat Pirates in soggy conditions at Watson Park.
Determined openside flanker Hadleigh May scored two tries in the last four minutes of the first half to give Harbour a 29-0 lead at the break.
Pacy winger Marckis Shaaf put his foot down to score two tries in the first six minutes of the second spell to stretch the lead 39-0.
But the rest of the game belonged to the Pirates forwards, who dominated the Harbour pack. They charged through the middle and made several 30m thrusts into Harbour territory.
The driving surges were led by No8 Solomon T-Pole and prop Hamish Clapp, backed by prop Hisa Sasagi and hooker Sekonaia T-Pole.
Harbour scored an early try after five minutes to lead 5-0 but the next 20 minutes belonged to the Pirates forwards as they spent long periods camped inside the Harbour 22m.
Some wayward kicking allowed Harbour back into the game, and experienced midfield back Seilala Mapusua marshalled the backs and first five-eighth Joe Collins directed play with some skilled tactical kicking.
During this period, the Harbour forwards were led by No8 Charles Elton, lock Hale T-Pole and hooker Pete Mirrielees. Lock Elioti Tonga was dominant in the lineout.
Harbour 39 (Marckis Shaaf 2, Hadleigh May 2, Seilala Mapusua, Joe Collins, Hale T-Pole tries; Collins 2 con), Pirates 5 (Joe Bolton try). Halftime: Harbour 29-0.
Alhambra-Union 24
Green Island 7
Green Island was beaten but not disgraced when it lost to Alhambra-Union at Miller Park.
Alhambra-Union came out of the blocks fast and scored three tries in the first 19 minutes to lead 17-0.
A big score looked possible, but a change came over the game when Green Island had two players sent to the sin bin in the last 10 minutes of the first half.
This generated a fighting spirit in the Green Island team. The drift defence shut down the Alhambra-Union backs, and the Green Island backs and forwards attacked with vigour from all parts of the paddock.
Alhambra-Union led 17-0 at halftime and gained its bonus-point try after 13 minutes in the second spell when prop Scott Manson drove over the line after a scrum.
The teams were level pegging in the second half when replacement tight forward Steven Bradley scored a try for Green Island and Hayden McBride converted from the sideline.
Alhambra-Union had the superior pack and dominated the set pieces. The best forward on the paddock was Manson with his driving play and the pick and go. He played a key role in Alhambra-Union's domination of the scrum.
The lineout was dominated by Alhambra-Union lock Mike Colville, who made 14 clean takes. Openside flanker Ben Johnson was lively in the loose and loose forward Brandon Olsen dominated the tackle count.
The best Alhambra-Union back was fullback Cory McFadzean.
Strong-running No8 Hamish Finnie was the best Green Island forward, and halfback Tala Fagasoaia, second five-eighth Fapene Popoali'i and fullback James Spooner the best of the backs.
Alhambra-Union 24 (Corey McFadzean, Zeb Laqekoro, Ben Johnson, Scott Manson tries; Tom Viggo 2 con), Green Island 7 (Steven Bradley try; Hayden McBride con). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 17-0.
