Taieri moved into fifth place in the Gallaway Trophy competition when it took charge in the second spell to beat Southern 31-18.
Solid defence was the key to Pirates' 17-9 win over Dunedin. It lifted the Larry Salmon trophy and cemented its third spot in the competition.
Harbour narrowly beat an improving Green Island 23-20. Ben Smith was watched by All Black assistant coach Wayne Smith when he scored two tries for Green Island.
A late penalty goal by first five-eighth Tom Halse gave University A a 21-18 win over Kaikorai.
University A leads the competition with 50 points and is followed by Alhambra-Union 39, Pirates 37 and Kaikorai 33. Only 11 points separate second-placed Alhambra-Union and eighth-placed Dunedin.
• Young fullback Matt Faddes showed his quality as University A survived a stern challenge to eventually overcome Kaikorai at Bishopscourt.
Faddes scored one of the students' three tries, and helped set up another, in a game in which the outcome was in doubt almost until the end.
University A trailed 15-5 at halftime, and 18-10 midway through the second half until Faddes levelled the scores.
Eight minutes from the end, Tom Halse kicked a penalty to put the students in front for the first time.
Faddes was the star of the University A backline but hard-running winger Dave Thompson scored two good tries and Ryan Grant was solid in midfield.
No 8 Paul Grant was the outstanding forward, while flanker Brad Cameron was a tireless worker and prop Sam Hibbard was a powerful scrummager.
Kaikorai's Cameron Rutherford was sound at first five-eighth, Blair Tweed was a solid worker at lock and Jim Stevenson and Rob Griffiths worked well in the front row.
University A 21 (Matt Faddes, David Thompson 2 tries; Tom Halse 2 pen), Kaikorai 18 (Fetu'u Vainikolo, Rob Griffiths tries; Cam Rutherford 2 pen, con). Halftime: Kaikorai 15-5. Referee: Liam Scanlon.
• The Harbour pack took control in the second spell to pave the way for a narrow win over Green Island at Miller Park.
The Harbour forwards had been sluggish in the first spell and allowed Green Island to apply pressure to lead 13-3 at the break.
Ben Smith spearheaded the Green Island attack from second five-eighth and scored the first of his two tries midway through the spell.
Harbour kept the ball tight in the first 25 minutes of the second spell with captain Pete Mirrielees aggressive with the pick and go as the pack drove up the centre. He scored a try to level the scores after eight minutes.
Flanker Eben Joubert was aggressive with the ball in hand and lock Graham Cashmore was dominant in the lineout.
Harbour had a strong midfield defence with Ben Marshall and George Folau. Folau scored a brilliant individual try from halfway and Harbour led 23-13 after 15 minutes.
Harbour 23 (George Folau, Pete Mirrielees tries; Craig Sneddon 3 pen, 2 con), Green Island 20 (Ben Smith 2 tries; Alex Davies 2 pen, 2 con). Halftime: Green Island 13-6.
• Midfield back Quintin Edwards was strong on attack and defence and played a key role in Pirates' 17-9 win over Dunedin at Hancock Park.
His two line breaks were crucial to Pirates in a tight game in which it was difficult to break the advantage line.
Pirates led 7-3 at the break after first five-eighth Glenn Dickson hoisted an up-and-under taken by dynamic flanker Josh Clark who ran in the try.
Fullback Louis Tili added two more penalty goals early in the second spell and Dunedin led 9-7.
Edwards turned the game Pirates' way midway through the spell when he broke the midfield defence to give centre Marshall Suckling the gap to score his ninth try of the season.
The Dunedin pack dominated the set pieces. The front row of Kelsey Miller, Will Henry and David Smart pushed Pirates back in the scrum.
But the Dunedin backs ran too laterally and the Pirates defence pushed them out over the touchline. Dunedin opted to forgo some kickable penalties in the second spell as it attempted to crash over for tries.
Pirates 17 (Marshall Suckling, Josh Clark tries; Glenn Dickson pen, 2 con), Dunedin 9 (Louis Tili 3 pen). Halftime: Pirates 7-3. Referee: Doug Rodgers.
• Centre Paula Kinikinilau scored three of Alhambra-Union's seven tries when Zingari-Richmond's forgettable season continued at the North Ground.
No 8 and captain Chris Bell led by example as Zingari restricted Alhambra-Union to two first-half tries and the lead to 12-0.
But holes appeared in the defence in the second spell as Alhambra-Union added five more tries.
The tight forwards set the platform with aggressive pick and go while loose forwards Matthew Kissick and Wahari Waitohi were intelligent link men.
The Alhambra-Union backs attacked from all parts of the ground and their pace was too much for the Zingari defence in the second spell. Wing Tiltili Puloka used his speed to score two tries.
Alhambra-Union 47 (Paula Kinikinilau 3, Tiltili Puloka 2, Peter Breen, Tim Bryson tries; Luke Reihana 6 con), Zingari-Richmond 5 (Troy England try). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 12-0. Referee: Ben O'Keefe.
• Shannon Young played a major role in Taieri's win at Peter Johnstone Park.
Young's midfield defence and his combination with centre Ryan Shortland contributed to shutting down the dangers posed by the Southern backline, in particular his opposite, Luke Herden.
With Shortland scoring the first of Taieri's four tries and Young the third, Southern spread its defences only to open up a try-scoring opportunity for Charlie O'Connell to get the bonus-point fourth try.
O'Connell was impressive in all facets of play once again as too was flanker Jeremy Corliss. The two combined to hand Taieri a large percentage of ball with which to play.
Halfback Carne Parata gave another flawless display as too did lock Kurt Webster. For Southern, Simon Knight and Uili Koloofai dominated at the lineout and Warren Moffat inn broken play.
Taieri 31 (Ryan Shortland 2, Shannon Young, Charlie O'Connell tries; Andrew Reid pen, 4 con), Southern 18 (Joe Hill, Luke Herden tries; Lewis Hancock 2 pen, con). Halftime: Southern 15-14. Referee: Todd Pullar.
