Northern close in on title with win
A 2-1 win over Mosgiel at the Caledonian Ground maintained their perfect record of nine wins from nine games, pushing them 11 points clear at the top of the table.
Mosgiel nearly took the lead in the opening two minutes when Morgan Day's goal-bound header was blocked on the line.
Northern took the lead in the sixth minute when Rory Hibbert rifled home from close range, scoring his 11th goal of the season.
On the hour mark Northern doubled their lead when Nick Treadwell pounced on a loose pass in the midfield and, seeing keeper Kobe Watt off his line, lofted the ball home from 40 yards out.
Harvey Stephens reduced the deficit with 14 minutes to go, when he swept home a fine cross from Jack Walecki. However, Northern held on to preserve their 100% record.
Queen's Park beat Otago University 4-3 after the students held a 3-2 halftime lead.
Queen's Park's win leaves five teams separated by only three points from second to sixth.
With Northern all but wrapping up the title, interest is at the bottom as to what team may be relegated.
Old Boys, from Invercargill, have dropped to the bottom of the table with a 3-1 loss at home to Dunedin City Royals.
Zachary Tull gave the home side a 20th-minute lead which they held until the first half stoppage time, when Samuel Hawke equalised.
Old Boys then conceded two penalties and George Barker scored both, in the 48th and 77th minute.
Timaru's Northern Hearts and Green Island drew 2-2.
The game was locked up 1-1 at the break, as Finley Kruger canceled out the home side's Bailey Chambers 29th-minute goal.
It looked like Hearts would drop to the bottom of the table when Kellan Crowe put Green Island ahead with nine minutes to go, however Hayden Teixeiras' 87th minute equaliser meant the home side earned a point keeping them one point ahead of Old Boys.
In the women's Southern Premiership Georgia Kennedy scored twice as the Dunedin City Royals beat top-of-the-table Otago University 2-1 at Culling Park.
Queen's Park beat Roslyn-Wakari 3-0, while Green Island were 6-0 victors over Northern.
— Neville Watson
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Otago Daily Times
2 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Northern close in on title with win
Northern have all but wrapped up the men's Southern Premiership title with a hard-fought win over the defending champions. A 2-1 win over Mosgiel at the Caledonian Ground maintained their perfect record of nine wins from nine games, pushing them 11 points clear at the top of the table. Mosgiel nearly took the lead in the opening two minutes when Morgan Day's goal-bound header was blocked on the line. Northern took the lead in the sixth minute when Rory Hibbert rifled home from close range, scoring his 11th goal of the season. On the hour mark Northern doubled their lead when Nick Treadwell pounced on a loose pass in the midfield and, seeing keeper Kobe Watt off his line, lofted the ball home from 40 yards out. Harvey Stephens reduced the deficit with 14 minutes to go, when he swept home a fine cross from Jack Walecki. However, Northern held on to preserve their 100% record. Queen's Park beat Otago University 4-3 after the students held a 3-2 halftime lead. Queen's Park's win leaves five teams separated by only three points from second to sixth. With Northern all but wrapping up the title, interest is at the bottom as to what team may be relegated. Old Boys, from Invercargill, have dropped to the bottom of the table with a 3-1 loss at home to Dunedin City Royals. Zachary Tull gave the home side a 20th-minute lead which they held until the first half stoppage time, when Samuel Hawke equalised. Old Boys then conceded two penalties and George Barker scored both, in the 48th and 77th minute. Timaru's Northern Hearts and Green Island drew 2-2. The game was locked up 1-1 at the break, as Finley Kruger canceled out the home side's Bailey Chambers 29th-minute goal. It looked like Hearts would drop to the bottom of the table when Kellan Crowe put Green Island ahead with nine minutes to go, however Hayden Teixeiras' 87th minute equaliser meant the home side earned a point keeping them one point ahead of Old Boys. In the women's Southern Premiership Georgia Kennedy scored twice as the Dunedin City Royals beat top-of-the-table Otago University 2-1 at Culling Park. Queen's Park beat Roslyn-Wakari 3-0, while Green Island were 6-0 victors over Northern. — Neville Watson
Otago Daily Times
06-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Valley claims place in final after last-gasp match-winning try
The Citizens Shield. Photo: Rugby In North Otago Valley snatched a dramatic last-second win to book their place in the Citizens Shield final. They trailed Old Boys 17-13 in the final minute of Saturday's semifinal. Old Boys had a lineout inside their own 22m but Valley pinched it, giving them one last roll of the dice. Their forwards rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Pick and go after pick and go got them closer and closer to the line until Nathan Maafu scored the match winner. The win sets up an Excelsior v Valley final for the third straight season. Earlier, Valley dominated the early stages of the match, scoring the first try on the opening five minutes. A lineout move brought Kippei Taninaka from the left wing all the way out to the right and created an overlap so when he gave it to right winger Jakob Cunningham, the young speedster had enough room and pace to cross over. Isaac Clunie knocked over a penalty to make it a 10-0 lead after 15 minutes. Old Boys finally got their hands on the ball in Valley territory and made it count. They won a scrum 5m out from the line in the dead centre of the field. Junior Fakatoufifita carried off the back and the big fellow would not be denied. Another Clunie penalty on the stroke of halftime gave Valley a six-point lead heading into the sheds. Both sides stood tall defensively in the second half. Muddy conditions made it difficult to play with any width or flair so each forward pack carried the brunt of carries. Eventually, the Valley defence cracked. Inoke Fislau found some space down the left wing and stepped past one defender before making his way to the try line. While he was brought down, Fisilau had enough momentum to carry himself over the line to score. Alex Wilson added the tough conversion to put Old Boys in front for the first time. The Old Boys goal kicker nailed a penalty not long after to make it a four-point game before the late game drama. It was an impressive display from Valley to fight right to the very end. Lock Anthony Docherty was a menace at lineout time, pinching multiple Old Boys throws. First five Clunie and fullback Ben Paton pulled all the right strings as well.
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Unbeaten Northern on target in bad weather
Northern overcame atrocious conditions to complete a 100% record in the Southern Premiership's first round. Nick Treadwell and Amasio Jutel scored to beat Queens Park 2-0 at Logan Park on Saturday, taking them eight points at the top of the table. Queens Park defensive pairing Tom Kent and Rodrigo Schmidt De Camargo were keeping Northern strike force Rory Hibbert and Treadwell quiet. For the opening period they looked the more likely side to break the deadlock. Northern came into the match midway through the first half and their first attempt on 20 minutes was a 25-yard effort from Nicholas Brett that went narrowly past the post. Northern were starting to gain ascendancy and four minutes later Kim Gorman got to the byline and saw his cross hit the crossbar. A minute later Northern took the lead through Treadwell. He was in the right spot to react to the loose ball to tap home from close range. Just before the halftime break Queens Park nearly equalised when a long-range free kick was sent into the penalty box and Zack Owen-Gear saw his header flash narrowly wide of the far post. Northern did hit the post in the opening seconds of the restart when Hibbert's shot came back off the post. Queens Park again threatened from a long free kick that saw Schmidt De Camargo's bicycle kick land on the roof of the net. However, Northern rode the storm and made the game safe in the 54th minute when the ball was played across field to Jutel in an advanced position on the left. He cut inside, beating his man and bending his shot into the top right-hand corner, giving goalkeeper Mitchell Fowler no chance. Otago University finished the round in second spot, beating Dunedin City Royals 4-1, also at Logan Park. The Royals started well but University took the lead with their first serious attack after a series of corners Warryk Hodson scored on 13 minutes. The students doubled their lead six minutes later when Josh Kotkamp combined with Sam Murray and Kotkamp bent his shot past keeper Jonathan Tucker. Tucker did extremely well early in the second half to deny Simba Muwunganirwa from point blank range clattering into the post as a result, but wasn't able to deny Ashton Hodson making it 3-0 after 54 minutes. Kantaro Nagata pulled one back for the Royals just after the hour mark, however the final scoring was Ashton Hodson's injury time penalty giving University the win. Green Island beat Old Boys in Invercargill 3-1 to pull away from the relegation zone. First-half goals to Ryan Walker and Phil Yeardley were added to by Harrison McClean's 50th minute strike, William Fleming scoring Old Boys consolation goal. In the men's South Island league, the Otago derby between Wānaka and Dunedin City Royals was washed out due to an unplayable field. The Dunedin City Royals women's South Island league team were able to get their match under way and had a comfortable routine 2-0 victory over NW United at Logan Park. Raegan Potter bagged her sixth goal of the campaign in the 20th minute and Hannah Mackay-Wright's 51st minute goal made sure the Royals 100% record remained intact after nine rounds. Yesterday, Georgia Nixon scored twice as Otago University drew 2-2 with Halswell United at Logan Park. Halswell took an early lead through Ella Hartel, before Nixon equalised in the 49th minute. Amelia Wilson edged the visitors ahead once more 10 minutes later, but Nixon drew level and secured a point for University from the spot in the 71st minute. By Neville Watson
