This clipping is from the April 10 issue of The Otago Daily Times iPhone Edition.
Better late than never, or too late
Round 4
ODT - Monday 10th Apr, 2017 - Page 17
TAIERI left it late. Southern left it late. Harbour left it late.
Late or not, all three clinched dramatic wins in what was a very even round of premier rugby on Saturday.
Taieri pounced on a Green Island error to scorea converted try with a minute or so remaining.
Southern bulldozed its way up field to steal a 27-22 win against the luckless Alhambra-Union, and
Harbour’s forwards cranked into gear to nab two tries in the finals stages of their 28-23 win against
Kaikorai.
Zingari-Richmond left it too late, though. A belated try deep in the match only helped close the final margin
ofdefeat to Dunedin 25-21.
Harbour ............................... 28 Kaikorai............................... 23
Harbour played its get-out-of-jai lfree card in the final stagesto record afortuitous victoryat Watson Park.
For the most part, Kaikorai appeared in control o fthe match, with an error-plagued Harbour side unable to
secure any advantage.
Two early penalty goals to Ben Miller handed Kaikorai a6-0 lead after 10 minutes. Then just as it appeared
Harbour was rediscovering its mojo, Kaikorai openside flanker Johnny Appleby exploited a defensive lapse
by the inside backs, putting halfback Josh Renton into space for a try and a 13-6 lead at the break.
Kaikorai extended its lead when fullback Sean Conner displayed strength in the tackle for a try in the
corner. This began a tit-for-tat scoring spree, with Sala Halaleva replying with a five-pointer for Harbour,
George Hendry scoring for Kaikorai from a tighthead, then lock Chucky Koroi replying in kind for Harbour.
The game then settled into battle for territory and possession. But with five minutes to go, and trailing 18-2 ,
Harbour took advantage of a wary Kaikorai .
Its forwards began to exert dominance, scoring two tries in quick succession through No 8 James
Tomkinson and flanker Tim Medder to steal victory late in what was an enthralling encounter.
Harbour was well served once again by Koroi, who cleared alot of ball from the lineout and proved aforce
around the fringes.
For Kaikorai, the inside back pair of Ben Miller and Mitchell Purvis stood out.
Taieri ....................................... 27 Green Island.......................... 20
Taieri pounced on a Green Island error at the back to score in the final minutes of the match and seal a
dramatic 27-20 victory on club day at Peter Johnstone Park.
The Eels are rebuilding this season and will welcome the win despite the manner in which it was achieved.
Taieri’s handling was poor and it made far too many basic mistakes. A lack of discipline proved costly as
well, with Green Island slotting three penalties in the first 15 minutes after halftime to open up a useful 2013 lead.
Green Island first five-eighth Ben Patston knocked over five penalties in all.
Highlanders back-up lock Jackson Hemopo brushed aside plenty of tackles during the match, and rookie
hooker Brett Kingsbury scored a try shortly after coming on as a replacement and looks a promising player.
Taieri came alive when outside back Shannon Young came on midway through the second half.
He threw himself at the defensiveline and made a couple of brave runs which boosted the home team.
Winger Glen Beadle and first five-eighth Josh Casey followed suit with some elusive running as well. But it
was No 8Brodie Hume who got the much needed try from a quick tap close to the line.
But the game was decided by an error.
Green Island winger Brad Lee let the ball bounce then fluffed about while Christian Kelly stormed through,
scooped it up, ran a couple of metres and dived over for the winner.
Southern ............................. 27 Alhambra-Union .................. 22
Two contrasting styles of rugby were on display at the North Ground. Alhambra-Union played fast, exciting
helter skelter rugby while Southern remained methodical and won the game.
Alhambra-Union always looked dangerous but their skittery and 50-50 passing let Southern off the hook.
When Alhambra-Union led 22-20 in the final minutes, the Southern forwards grabbed the ball inside their
own 22m and bulldozed their way upfield with 10 phases.
When the ball came loose at the other end, Alhambra-Union carried the bouncing ball back and Southern
won the scrum.
Powerhouse forwards Mike Mata’afa, Cameron Keech and Mika Mafi drove at the line and Mafi scored the
winning try.
Alhambra-Union was dominant in the first spell but could not score tries. The Southern forwards attacked
late in the spell and adrive by prop Mata’afa gave Southern the first try and the lead 10- .
Hooker Keech crashed over after another forward drive early in the second spell and Southern led 17-6.
Alhambra-Union’s bestball runners were fullback Jona Nareki and No 8 Ty Pelasio. Both scored secondhalf tries.
Alhambra-Union locks Ben Webby and Hayden Fluery gained a three to one advantage in the lineout and
made three takes off Southern throws.
Halfback Josh Walden steadied the Southern backs and was backed by hard tackling Brett Harris in the
midfield. Josh Ioane kicked five goals from six attempts.
Dunedin............................... 25 Zingari-Richmond ................ 21
The Dunedin pack dominated the game from the outset through its scrum, lineout drive and its powerful
pick and go game.
After it scored its first try inside six minutes when halfback Angus Vincent spied a gap close to the ruck and
burrowed over, the game looked dead and buried.
But somebody forgot to give the home team the script. The colours defended its own line tigerishly for the
rest of the spell. Dunedin did not help itself by losing the ball over the line a couple of times.
Zingari only broke out of their half twice in the spell off Dunedin turnovers but scored two seven-pointers
when they did.
The first, off a slashing Thomas Johnston break, was capped off by midfielder Dwayne Corcoran galloping
over. He turned provider 15 minutes later when he set centre Taylor Fiddes free.
Dunedin got some respectability into the scoreboard when it finally held on to the ball and hooker Ayden
Lloyd crashed over from a lineout drive. But, unbelievably, after all the territory and possession, it was
down by two at the break.
Dunedin asserted its dominance at scrum time two minutes into the second spell with a pushover try to No
8 Jamie Mowat.
The second half played out like the first, with Dunedin deep in Zingari’s territory and Zingari defending
stoutly, snuffing out all the Dunedin forays.
The home team was helped by a ponderous and unimaginative performance by the Dunedin backline.
For all its effort, Dunedin was only rewarded with two George Witana penalties to give it a 12-point buffer.
Zingari was rewarded for its splendid defensive performance when replacement Irish winger Cieran
Gaffney sliced through out wide to reduce the margin to four and claim the bonus point.
For Dunedin, Lloyd was its best and Harry Dodds and Hame Toma were strong on the carry.
Dunedin wingers Zac Harrison Jones and Guy Woodhouse, with their limited opportunities, looked very
strong and pacy.
First five-eighth Johnson was a standout for the colours and was ably supported by Corcoran.
Up front, Eli Tonga was good at lineout time, and hooker Karl Still was industrious.
Copyright © 2017 The Otago Daily Times
Dunedin 25 (Angus Vincent, Jamie Mowat, Ayden Lloyd tries; Tim Cossens con, George Witana con, 2
pen), Zingari-Richmond 21 (Taylor Fiddes, Dwayne Corcoran, Ciaran Gaffney tries; Thomas Johnson 3
con). Halftime: Zingari-Richmond 14-12.
Taieri 27 (Christian Kelly 2, Brodie Hume tries; Josh Casey 3 con, 2 pen), Green Island 20 (Brett Kingsbury
try; Ben Patston 5 pen). Halftime: Taieri 13-11.
Southern 27 (Mika Mafi, Mike Mata’afa , Cameron Keech tries; Josh Ioane 3 con, 2 pen), Alhambra-Union
22 (Jona Nareki, Ty Pelasio tries; Zach Porter 4 pen). Halftime: Southern 10-6.
Harbour 28 (Sala Halaleva, Chucky Koroi, James Tomkinson, Tim Medder tries; Sio Tomkinson con, 2
pen), Kaikorai 23 (Josh Renton, Sean Conner, George Hendry tries; Ben Miller con, 2 pen). Halftime: 13-6
Kaikorai.
Copyright © 2017 The Otago Daily Times