Dwyer: Wait makes GI’s title sweeter
It’s taken 46 years of torturous heartache, but Green Island finally got to the mountain top when they held on for dear life to deny the Dunedin Sharks access to their goal line and win the Banner.
Rugby Chat with Paul Dwyer
Dwyer: Absorbing final on the cards
Dwyer: Absorbing final on the cards
And then there were two. It started at the end of March with nine teams, and 14 rounds later we are down to two, with Dunedin and GI making the grand final tomorrow at the stadium at 3pm.
Dwyer: Business end of club season upon us
Dwyer: Business end of club season upon us
And then there were four. Top qualifiers GI were soundly beaten by dark horses Varsity at their beloved Toolbox at the weekend.
Dwyer: Otago taking on an Aussie? Is that fair dinkum?
Dwyer: Otago taking on an Aussie? Is that fair dinkum?
Green Island grabbed all the plaudits, all the trophies and the favourites tag when they demolished former high-flyers Dunedin at the Toolbox at the weekend.
Dwyer: Three sides still in trophy contention
Dwyer: Three sides still in trophy contention
In the penultimate week of round-robin play there were a couple of big upsets, with one throwing the top-of-the-table race into disarray.
Dwyer: The top 4: GI, Southern, Dunedin and Kaik
Dwyer: The top 4: GI, Southern, Dunedin and Kaik
GI have pretty much wrapped up the Gallaway Trophy and top spot in the top six with a win over second placed Southern at the weekend.
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Dwyer: GI in box seat with three rounds to go
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Dwyer: GI in box seat with three rounds to go
Kaik did enough to edge Varsity at the Oval and slide into third spot, but the "Bookies" were their own worst enemies again and should have possibly won the game.
Dwyer: Top six found, AU on board
Dwyer: Top six found, AU on board
The mythical six is done and dusted and will be Southern, GI, Zingari, Kaik, Dunedin and Varsity.
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Dwyer: Proof any top six team can beat any other
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Dwyer: Proof any top six team can beat any other
The Zingers boys couldn’t get it done for "Belly" in his 300th as GI just had a bit much class with Hurley out the back and their strong scrum up front. But remember it’s "only the game".
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Dwyer: Top six found, but finishing order TBA
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Dwyer: Top six found, but finishing order TBA
The Sharks kept the Eels scoreless at the weekend and the Taieri boys suffered more front row injuries.
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Dwyer: Varsity spring surprise
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Dwyer: Varsity spring surprise
Varsity wasn’t supposed to win, especially against unbeaten Zingari.
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Dwyer: Seven contenders for playoff spots
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Dwyer: Seven contenders for playoff spots
We can safely say we are down to seven play-off contenders, but Taieri is hanging by a thread and is seven points adrift of Varsity in sixth spot.
Dwyer: Varsity starting to show potential
Dwyer: Varsity starting to show potential
There is now a gap between the top six and the bottom three.
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Dwyer: Varsity starting to show potential
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Dwyer: Varsity starting to show potential
There is now a gap between the top six and the bottom three.
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Dwyer's take: Final shows game in good heart
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Dwyer's take: Final shows game in good heart
Who said rugby is dying? I estimate 4000 turned up at Bathgate on Saturday to witness the club final between Southern and Dunedin.
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Dwyer's take: Southern pack may hold key
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Dwyer's take: Southern pack may hold key
We started with nine and now we are two and it’s finals time at Bathgate Park, with defending champions Southern taking on near neighbours Dunedin for the Speight’s Championship Shield.
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Dwyer's take: Kaikorai, Taieri favoured in semis
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Dwyer's take: Kaikorai, Taieri favoured in semis
Two of the games went with the form horses but the third threw in the standard upset.
Taieri tipped to win Gallaway Trophy
Taieri tipped to win Gallaway Trophy
Southern did the business at home over an under strength GI outfit and is still well in sight of the six.
Surely time for shield to move on
Surely time for shield to move on
The wrap
Super rules not helping the game
Super rules not helping the game
Taieri did what it does best and escaped with a win with a last-gasp penalty to edge Varsity which performed well above this writer’s expectations, and with a truckload of players out to boot.