Dunedin was hamstrung by the removal of the scrum in its 20-22 loss to Taieri at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Sharks had dominated the game for 60 minutes and led 20-5 when a Taieri prop was injured and the referee ordered golden oldie scrums. Dunedin has the best tight forwards in the competition and its strong scrum is a launching pad for its attacks.
The Dunedin scrum was dominant and it stopped Taieri getting go-forward ball. Tighthead prop Kelsey Miller was having a blinder and he was backed by hooker Sam Anderson-Heather.
Dunedin also controlled the lineout, through the efforts of locks Sam Poole and Mitchell Zandstra and No 8 Gareth Evans.
A try to flanker Hugh Blake after 39 minutes gave Dunedin a comfortable 17-5 lead at the break, and it was extended early in the second spell by a penalty to Pera Gibbs.
With their confidence up, the Sharks turned down an easy three points from a penalty in front of the posts after 10 minutes in the second spell and went for the try. This proved to be a costly mistake.
Reserve hooker Henry Parker scored two second-half tries, and a Hayden Parker conversion from the sideline gave Taieri the narrow win.
The Taieri backline got into its rhythm and played with confidence in the last 20 minutes.
Wingers Kori Rupene and Shannon Young looked dangerous. Ben Nowell was able to cut through the midfield.
Taieri 22 (Henry Parker 2, Kori Rupene tries; Hayden Parker 2 con, pen), Dunedin 20 (Ashton Tuck, Hugh Blake tries; Pera Gibbs 2 con, 2 pen). Halftime: Dunedin 17-5.
