Promising fullback Matt Faddes was in superb touch and scored two late tries as University A came from behind to beat Dunedin 26-20 in premier rugby today.
Dunedin led 20-14 and was in control when Faddes turned the game around with two brilliant individual tries.
He shot through a hole midway through the second spell and then ran around the wing and fullback to score wide out and it became a one point game.
The clock had ticked full time when Faddes shot down the blindside and eluded the defence to win the game for the students.
Faddes, who was playing in the Highlanders First XV competition for South Otago High School last year, has been the find of the season and marked himself as a future All Black prospect.
University A won the Gallaway Trophy with 55 points and was followed by Alhambra-Union 44, Pirates 43, Kaikorai 42 and Taieri 38.
In next Saturday's semi-finals University A plays Kaikorai and Alhambra-Union face Pirates.
In the key games today Alhambra-Union held out a determined Taieri to win a closely fought game 16-12 before a crowd of 1500 at Peter Johnstone Park to claim second spot in the competition.
Southern and Pirates drew 34-all at Hancock Park with Pirates first five-eighth Glenn Dickson scoring 24 points. Both teams gained a bonus point and the three points by Pirates was enough to clinch a semi-finals berth.
Kaikorai gained a bonus point in the last few minutes to gain five competition points with a 32-14 win over Green Island at Bishopscourt.
All Black Ben Smith was in outstanding form at centre for Green Island with his covering tackling that saved a certain try. He also made two clean breaks.
Cam Rutherford, the first five-eighth, kicked 12 points for Kaikorai to pass 100 points for the season.
Harbour won the Bandy Scoles Memorial Trophy for the 34th time when it scored 11 tries to beat Zingari-Richmond 69-19 at Montecillo.
The leading points scorers are: Luke Reihana (Alhambra-Union) 145, Craig Sneddon (Harbour) 120, Chris Noakes (University A) 111, Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 111, Lewis Hancock (Southern) 110, Glenn Dickson (Pirates) 103, Andrew Reid (Taieri) 69, Paula Kinikinilau (Alhambra-Union) 60, Alex Davies (Green Island) 60, Kieran Fowler (Pirates) 55, Louis Tili (Dunedin) 54, Tom Davie (Taieri) 50, George Folau 50.
The final Gallaway Trophy points are: University A 59, Alhambra-Union 44, Pirates 43, Kaikorai 42, Taieri 38, Harbour 36, Dunedin 34, Southern 33, Green Island 14, Zingari-Richmond 0.
ALHAMBRA-UNION...............16
TAIERI..............................12
Alhambra-Union 16 (Tilitili Puloka try; Luke Reihana 3pen, con), Taieri 12 (Andrew Reid 4 pen). Halftime: Alhambra-Union 13-3.
Referee: Ross Barnett.
UNIVERSITY A............................26
DUNEDIN.............................20
University A 26 (Matt Faddes 2, David Thompson tries; Tom Halse 2 pen, Ryan Grant con), Dunedin 20 (Michael Walding, Tim Fraser, Anthony Diack tries; Robbie Smith conversion, penalty goal). Halftime: Dunedin 12-9.
Referee: Tim Baker.
SOUTHERN.........................34
PIRATES..............................34
Southern 34 (Luke Herden (2), Lewis Hancock, Greg Zampach, Carl Anderson tries; Lewis Hancock 1 pen, 3 con), Pirates 34 (Glenn Dickson (2), Josh Clark, Steve Mison tries; Dickson 2 pen, 4 con). Halftime: Southern 22-21.
Referee: Todd Pullar.
HARBOUR.................................69
ZINGARI-RICHMOND.............19
Harbour 69 (George Folau 2, Wayne Gibson 2, James White, Enoka Tauuafua 2, Eben Joubert 2, Pete Mirrielees, Jonnie Hughes tries; Craig Sneddon 7 con), Zingari-Richmond 19 (Steve Roberts, Chris Bell, Jeremy Bekhuis tries; Ben Bradley 2 con). Halftime: Harbour 43-19.
Referee: Liam Scanlon.
KAIKORAI.........................32
GREEN ISLAND.................14
Kaikorai 32 (Fetu'u Vainikolo, Tomasi Palu, Adam Hill, Rob Griffiths tries; Cam Rutherford 2 pen, 3 con), Green Island 14 (Sam Erepia, Jason Bint tries; Alex Davies 2 con). Halftime: Kaikorai 18-14.
Referee: Ben O'Keefe.
