Dunedin premier rugby round nine wrap-up
University take on Harbour in the ninth round of the Dunedin premier men's club rugby competition at the University Oval today. Photo: Gerard O'Brien
Southern ran in 13 tries to destroy Alhambra-Union 85-12 at Bathgate Park this afternoon.
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.
Their fitness is lacking. They cannot seem to catch. They certainly cannot tackle and their offloads went to no-one or worst — the opposition. And they tend to go backwards when they have the ball.
The team has conceded more than 500 points in eight games.
The other three games were more evenly matched.
Dunedin held on to beat Taieri 38-35 at Peter Johnstone Park.
The win lifted them to the top of the standings and they collected the Speights Jug which is presented to the first round winner.
University kicked a late penalty to edge Harbour 48-46 in a thriller at the University Oval.
And Kaikorai recovered from a slowish start to beat Zingari-Richmond 43-22 at Montecillo Park.
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Otago Daily Times
15 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Teams jostle for a top-six spot
The wrap Last weekend proved we still have a genuine contest for the "mythical six" as Varsity routed Green Island at the Toolbox. The Bookworms flew out to a big lead which Green Island couldn't chase down in the second half. Predictably, Kaik put on a big score against AU on the high veldt but the Ponies showed some life of their own by running in four tries to snatch their second point of the season. In the game of the round at the Eelpit, Taieri got up with a last gasp penalty to beat Harbour. Harbour coach Pete McIntyre now has to take an oxygen tank and mask to games to keep his heart supplied. For the second week in a row they've lost the game in the last seconds to a mind-numbingly stupid penalty. Dunedin remain on top of the ladder and retained the Speight's Challenge Shield when they put away Zingari with comparative ease in blizzard-like conditions at Shark Park. The top seven teams are separated by seven points, and three teams — Southern, GI and Harbour — are on the same points. It'll take the full round robin to sort out the final six standing. This weekend is a debacle As I write this (Thursday afternoon) a lot of clubs are not sure if they can field teams this weekend. We have two Prem teams squaring off at Logan Park (No 6) tonight. I don't remember a Prem game being played on an outside ground on a Friday night for years. We have the insanity of the Prem Women having a semifinal being played tomorrow night at the same venue. Have you seen how bad the forecast is for the next couple of days? Well, imagine playing at night as well! Why, may you ask? Well Varsity exams are on this weekend and next week before that institution shuts down for four weeks. The university now seems to be scheduling more exams at night and on the weekends. While it is their right to schedule exams anytime they like, have they really considered the wellbeing of their sports-minded students? From memory, student numbers have fallen dramatically over the past few years, so it can't be the pressure of too many students. Isn't our current vice-chancellor a former minister of sport? If rugby is facing this crisis I assume netball, hockey and basketball will be having the same dilemmas. There must be a way to resolve this? How about this for a radical idea — perhaps the ORFU board may want to help us out? Could they not sit with Grant Robertson and his team to find a way forward? Surely we can educate our future leaders and let them play sport at the same time? I'm happy to chair the meeting. On a cold Friday night Speaking of cold Friday nights at Logan Park No 6, I was there last week supervising at a Junior Colts game between the Dunedin Tigers v Kaikorai Undertakers. Let me assure you, it was bloody freezing, so you can imagine my amazement when a sturdy streaker leapt out of the gloom at halftime and stormed towards halfway. The Tigers' diminutive replacement halfback "Jack" then chased him down in a stirring sprint and bowled him over in a pile of mud, much to the enjoyment of both teams and the hardy souls in the crowd. Sadly that was Jack's best tackle of the night as the Tigers were second-best. Down on the farm Well the Topp Cup has found a new home after Central got up in a cliffhanger over South Otago at Meads Birthday Weekend — great work, lads. One question though; why was there no rugby played in the North or the Deep South? They don't play much rugby now, so you'd think the players would want to take every opportunity to suit up. Can somebody explain? Women's semis Yes, you have read that correctly, the Women's semifinals are on this weekend. It is only a five-team comp and the four finalists have been found. Top seed Alhambra Union take on Big River Country in one semi. In the other second-seeded Dunedin take on Varsity. AU should be too strong for the South Otago girls and will make the final with ease. In the other semi both teams have beaten each other over the last few weeks. In a weird quirk Dunedin and Varsity played each other last weekend and will back up again tomorrow night. Dunedin won by eight last week, and with the bigger pack in the wet conditions may be too strong for Varsity. AU and Dunedin have met in the last three finals, so no surprises there! This weekend Destroyed Thorn Parkes last week and he finishes his run with a -15 differential, so sadly no real challenge. On to Llew Johnson also from the Volts who boasts a +20 differential — I can't believe that. My work is cut out for me. Tonight the Sharks and Kaik go to it at 6.30pm at Logan Park 6 (behind the Cale), so if you're passing call in. Both teams are in form, and Kaik won the first-round encounter, but I'm picking Dunedin (13+) with their bigger pack may just wear down Kaikorai in the heavy conditions. GI (13+) storm down to the Pony Pit on Saturday and will stampede through AU to grab the much-needed five points. In the closest game of the round, Varsity (13+) host Taieri and it's nearly too close to call. Varsity were good last week and the Eels do what they do, find a way to win. I need the points, so Varsity get up big late! In the last game, Zingers are at home to a rampant Southern (13+) and this only goes one way. I was too good for the South's favourite son Ernie Muir last week. Up against Otago great Wally Lees this week, and he got first pick so I'm really struggling — but you never know. Alex (13+) are at home to Arrowtown and could win comfortably, but I'm praying the Bulls just stay in the fight long enough. Wakatipu (12-) should be too strong for Matak in the Basin but the Omakau lads will be in the fight for some time. They won their last game so will give the big city boys a fright — get into them boys! Upper Clutha (13+) are the champions elect and should dispatch neighbours Cromwell with consummate ease.
Otago Daily Times
6 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
Otago Daily Times
29-05-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Rugby Chat with centurions Hame Toma and Aleki Morris
On ODT Rugby Chat this week, brought to you by Garador, we go old school and catch up with a couple of centurions. They are Hame Toma (the Bruise) from the Sharks, who played his 150th game against Taieri at the weekend, and Aleki Morris from Harbour, who brought up the ton against Taieri a few weeks ago. PD asks what has kept them in the game for so long and at one club? We talk through the highs and lows of their careers and how much longer they'll be in the game. We finish with how did Harbour lose the game to Varsity at the weekend? And how did Dunedin nearly squander a 33-point lead against the Eels?
