Duck-shooting means round spread over three days
Duck-shooting weekend brings its own challenges for local rugby competitions.
The Southern Region competition is spread over three days.
Two were being played last night, there is one tonight and the round finishes with a game tomorrow.
Friday night in Lawrence sees the home side hosting Clutha Valley with the Miller Cup on the line.
Lawrence have not had the best start to their season and are sitting bottom of the table after five rounds.
Clutha Valley are on a two-game winning streak after wins over Owaka and Heriot respectively.
Lawrence tend to excel under lights at home and will be a tricky prospect in this one.
Tomorrow features the annual "duck-shooting derby" between old foes Crescent and Clutha.
The Centennial Cup and the Speight's Jug are on the line as well as massive competition points.
Crescent are in third position, six points behind Clutha, who have maximum points after five bonus-point wins.
There is sure to be a huge crowd in attendance at the Landfill as two big boys of the competition go to war.
Last night, Owaka were hosting Heriot, and West Taieri were at home to Toko.
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Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Two views — one Topp Cup
Southern Region celebrate winning the Topp Cup last season. PHOTO: SUPPLIED Southern view One Topp Cup. Two perspectives. Correspondents Francis Parker (Southern Region) and Bob Howitt (Central Otago) go at it from different angles. The stage is set for another edition of Otago Country regional action, writes Parker. The annual Topp Cup kicks off at Molyneux Park in Alexandra this weekend when hosts Central Otago look to take the prized heirloom off the visiting Southern Region side. Both country competitions have been hard fought this season so far, resulting in numerous players being omitted from both sides due to injury. The Southern Region side has had to battle with injuries and suspensions heading into this match which has seen their depth tested also. Experienced campaigners Josh Turnbull and Ethan Hippolite lead a rugged forward pack that does have a smattering of fresh faces. Prop Mafi Demont has had a fantastic season for Clutha and deserves a crack at the next level. The backline will be marshalled by the Crescent duo of Joshua Cook and Harley McHardy. Clubmate and Otago Country leader Chase Owen is outside them. McHardy adds plenty of experience in a position that was a real head-scratcher for management. The back three of Jack Blair, Junior Meafua, and Jared Hayes boast over 25 tries this season for their respective sides. Southern won the 2024 edition of the clash in Milton last season and, since 2014, the tie has been split five wins each with a no-result in 2020 due to Covid. The Central and Southern Development sides will face off in a curtain-raiser with the future stars on show. Central view Central Otago are out to regain the much-cherished Topp Cup, writes Howitt. It is a trophy with a colourful history, dating from 1913, that gives the winning team significant bragging rights. Of the past 10 contests, five have been won by Central and five by Southern, who finished in front at Milton 12 months ago. "There's a terrific rivalry associated with the Topp Cup," Southern's coach Craig Hyslop said. "Retaining it is always a huge challenge." Midfielder Chase Owen made the winning speech for Southern last year but his rival Tyler Ford, in outstanding form for Alexandra this year, will be wanting to hand out the plaudits to his team this time. Hyslop claims it was his bench players who ultimately won the contest for his team 24-12 in windy conditions last season, super sub Kace Shaw scoring a memorable try to wrap things up late in the game. Ford, who will play centre, will have a major impact on proceedings and will appreciate having Ben Maxwell, now with Maniototo, running the backline from first-five. Loose forward Will Healey, in dynamic form for Alexandra after breaking his ankle last season, is another to watch. Stalwarts of the Central team include lock Dean Sinnamon, who has scored eight tries for Matakanui Combined so far this season, fullback Doug Smith, winger Jamie Natapu, midfielder Rube Peina and No 8 Jake Burtenshaw. Props Mike Phillips (Matakanui Combined) and William Holdom (Alexandra) will anchor the scrum. The Central Otago starting fifteen includes five players from Wakatipu, four from Alexandra and two each from Upper Clutha, Matakanui Combined and Maniototo. The Topp Cup contest will be preceded by a Development Squad clash between the Central and South Otago teams.
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Hat-trick key for Topp thriller
A hat-trick of tries from mobile lock Dean Sinnamon led Central Region to a thrilling 41-38 victory over Southern Region in a highly entertaining contest for the much-treasured Topp Cup at Molyneux Park on Saturday. Lock Sinnamon, already the leading try scorer in the Central Otago club competition this season, remarkable enough for a team that is bottom of the competition, romped away with the man of the match award, controlling the lineout as well as proving a champion finisher. He was one of three players who dominated the scoring. Central second five Rube Peina goal-kicked impeccably, converting all five of his team's tries and adding two penalty goals for a 16-point haul while Southern Region fullback Jared Hayes finished with 18 points from a try, five conversions and a penalty goal. Remarkably, only one kick at goal, an attempt by Peina from near halfway, missed. Southern, holders of the Topp Cup, led only once in the game, at 14-10, and appeared down and out when trailing 31-41 with 12 minutes remaining. But a daring 'hail Mary' pass from the Central backs, full of confidence as they sought another five-pointer, was intercepted by Southern winger Junior Meafua, who sprinted 80m for a try between the posts. Suddenly the game was wide open and when Southern surged back to the 22, it seemed they might steal an outrageous victory. But Central's defence was up to the challenge and the Topp Cup went to the team that, across 80 minutes, produced the classier rugby. Besides Sinnamon and Peina, Central's star performers were the Alexandra pair of lock Will Healey and halfback ''Chugga'' O'Neill, flanker Anton Huisman, centre and captain Tyler Ford and flying wingers Jamie Natapu and Conor Hamlin. Cromwell's Rhys Harrold, a late replacement for Ben Maxwell, ran the backline expertly from first-five. Southern fullback Hayes, a star of his team's victory in 2024, threatened to win the game on his own but found the challenge just too great. Halfback Sam Stratford contributed plenty and scored two tries while lock Damian Wilson ensured his team had ample ball to work with. But although there was only three points separating the sides at the final whistle, Central triumphed as the superior attacking team. In the curtainraisers, Central won the men's development contest 21-14 while the women's game went to Alhambra Union 26-21 over the Central Otago Does. — Bob Howitt
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Taieri too slow to catch swift Dunedin
Dunedin 38 Taieri 35 Dunedin came out of the blocks like Usain Bolt and in just over 20 minutes were up 33-0. Dunedin midfielder Tayne Harvey started the action with a colossal hit on fellow midfielder Matt Whaanga, the ball jolted free and ended up in the hands of flying winger Oscar Schmidt Uli and he cantered 70m for the try. Fullback Kyan Rangitutia found space on the blind to put winger Joe Parkinson away on an angled run for the touchdown. The Eels were forced into errors and flanker Jarius Losefa kicked through a charge down and won the race to the ball and Dunedin were 19-0. Dunedin scored the try of the game as they went 90m, and fly half Cam Burgess scampered the last 20m. Then after a Losefa break Schmidt Uli again had too much pace. Taieri finally started holding on to possession and flanker Tom Bolton found himself in space out wide and with a nifty chip and chase gave the Eels a much-needed try. He was back in the action soon after halftime when he made a break to put halfback Jac Morton over. But the killer blow came minutes later when Rangitutia found space to put Schmidt Uli over for his third to extend the lead to 38-14. Taieri's pack took control of the game when Dunedin lost some heavyweights, including 150 game man Hame Toma and lock Josh Tengblad, and the Eels took full advantage. They scored from a lineout drive. They pounded away at the Dunedin line and only resolute defence held them out. Whaanga finally took a quick tap from a penalty to put replacement Caleb Leef over and the lead was down to 10. Dunedin were reduced to 14 when Parkinson was binned for a high shot and Whaanga found a hole on the inside to put fullback Reef Newdick over and the lead was down to three. But with a couple of late lineout steals to big Reuben Palmer the Dunedin defence held and they won the Speight's Jug as the first round winners. For Dunedin Schmidt Uli was the best back, up front lock Palmer went the full 80 and was a tower of strength, won his lineout ball and crucially a few of theirs. For Taieri prop Cam Allan McNeill was their best up front and was powerful with ball in hand. In the backs Whaanga inspired the comeback with some telling breaks that got them oh so close to snatching it. — Paul Dwyer University 48 Harbour 46 The lead changed seven times in a thrilling high-scoring encounter between University and Harbour at the University Oval, in a match honouring the recent passing of All Black, Otago and University rugby player Tuppy Diack. Indeed it was a match Diack would have savoured given its free-flowing end-to-end nature. Diack's No 14 jersey was retired for the match. Right wing Aaron McMurray played in the No 22 and proved a standout, scoring two tries and always posing a threat with the ball in hand. University captain and No 8 Lanson Randell left nothing on the park. He scored twice as well and led a solid forward pack to the breakdown. Harbour's Nathan Hastie may have found a new calling at first five. The Highlanders halfback made the inside back spot his own, scoring a hat-trick of tries within his tally of 31 points for the match. His third try was nothing short of sensational. He burst up the guts from his own 10m line and broke through 10 tackles to score under the bar. He made some clever kicks in behind as well. Harbour led 20-14 at the break and extended that to a 32-14 lead 10min into the second half. But University scored five tries in 20 minutes to snatch a 45-32 lead. Then in the blink of an eye Harbour scored twice and headed into the final few minutes 46-45 up. Rico Muliaina kicked a late penalty to seal a thrilling 48-46 victory. — Wayne Parsons Southern 85 Alhambra-Union 12 Southern ran in 13 tries to destroy Alhambra-Union 85-12 at Bathgate Park. Outside backs Josh Buchan and Harrison Martin bagged three tries apiece in the one-sided romp. The Magpies led 40-7 at halftime. AU enjoyed their best patch during the opening quarter of the second half. The Thode twins William and Oliver scored on either side of the break. But the visitors faded badly. They lack fitness. They cannot seem to catch. They certainly cannot tackle and their offloads went to no-one or worse — the opposition. And they tend to go backwards when they have the ball. AU has conceded more than 500 points in eight games. There is no way to put a positive spin on that. Southern, however, looked a million bucks albeit against a feeble opponent. Mackenzie Palmer slotted into first five and created chaos. Second five Justin Malifa collected a couple of his kicks ahead to either score or set up a try. He proved elusive as did Buchan. The best of his three tries was a brilliant piece of skill. He put in a grubber, scooped it up and sprinted 50m to score. Replacement back Martin skinned Charles Alston twice to score two of his three tries. Openside Harry Taylor was everywhere again. He won a lot of lineout ball and led the forward effort. — Adrian Seconi Kaikorai 43 Zingari-Richmond 22 Kaikorai took some time to get rolling at Montecillo Park. Zingari-Richmond have some big ball runners and they put them to good use. But the Demons have Ben Miller and the veteran fullback scored three tries, including one on either side of halftime. That created some breathing space for the visitors. They had been under pressure. Powerhouse No 8 Tofatuimoana Solia barged over early and Jerome Buckley-Faatoia, who had a strong game, got across the line as well. But Miller scored just before the break to give Kaikorai a 19-12 lead and he dotted down again shortly after the resumption. Impressive loose forward Lucas Casey added another five-pointer midway through the second spell and Rico Fisher scored as well to settle the contest. The game got loose and the Colours scored a couple of tries in the final quarter of the game. Solia and Buckley-Faatoia were among their best performers. The Kaikorai front row put in an improved display this weekend. They were routed by Southern last week but made the adjustments, although hooker Ben Hellriegel got 10 minutes in the bin. Miller put in a consummate display. He missed a few conversions but his tactical kicking game was solid and he popped up where he was needed in the backline. Halfback Dylan Pledger made a big impact when he came off the bench. — Adrian Seconi Round 9 The scores Dunedin 38 (Oscar Schmidt Uli 3, Jarius Losefa, Joe Parkinson, Cam Burgess tries; Burgess 4 con) Taieri 35 (Tom Bolton 2, Jac Morton, Caleb Leef, Reef Newdick tries; Samuel Waitia 5 con). Halftime: Dunedin 33-7. Southern 85 (Josh Buchan 3, Harrison Martin 3, Justin Malifa 2, Lotu Solomona, Josh Timu, Harry Taylor, Wyndham Patuawa, Bede Dodd-Edgar tries; Patuawa 6 con, Mckenzie Palmer 4 con), Alhambra-Union 12 (William Thode, Oliver Thode tries; William Thode con). Halftime: 40-7. Kaikorai 43 (Ben Miller 3, Henry Cleaver, Lucas Casey, Rico Fisher, Tori Randell tries; Miller 4 con), Zingari-Richmond 22 (Tofatuimoana Solia, Jerome Buckley-Faatoia, Isaac Dolan, Flavius Roberts-Vili tries; Buckley-Faatoia con). Halftime: 19-12. University 48 (Lanson Randell 2, Aaron McMurray 2, Jake Evans, Rico Muliaina, Warren Loulanting; Muliaina 5 con, pen), Harbour 46 (Nathan Hastie 3, Toni Taufa, Ben Fakataha, Aleki Morris-Lorne; Nathan Hastie 5 con, 2 pen). Halftime: Harbour 20-14. Standings P W D L F A B Pts Dunedin 8 6 0 2 272 132 6 30 Taieri 8 5 0 3 270 174 8 28 Southern 8 5 0 3 323 173 8 28 Green Is 8 5 0 3 269 199 7 27 Harbour 8 5 0 3 235 255 6 26 Kaikorai 8 5 0 3 300 209 5 25 University 8 4 0 4 296 269 6 22 Z-Richmond 8 1 0 7 201 370 4 8 AU 8 0 0 8 126 511 1 1
