Young players step up for Tuataras
A young Taieri Tuataras side eased to an 8-1 win over the University Panthers in the Dunedin premier men's clash on Saturday, keeping a firm grip on the Challenge Shield.
With some of the more experienced Tuas players set to be unavailable over the back half of the season, coach Jarrod Casey took the chance to field several youngsters from the in-form division two table-toppers, the Taieri Geckos, attempting to build some depth for the future.
As a result, Taieri were a little slow to get going, though first-half goals to James Nicolson, Zeke Buschl, Solomon Baldock and Alex McDonald meant they were never in any danger of losing the contest.
To the Panthers' credit, they were more resolute defensively than they have been so far this season and continued to work hard with limited counter-attacking opportunities.
Nicolson added his second goal midway through the third quarter, but there was some reward for University when Tom Foster duffed a shot, which totally deceived the Taieri goalkeeper, and the ball dribbled into the back of the net.
Taieri responded by speeding up play through the centre of the field. A second goal to Baldock followed, before debutant James Broderick got on the scoresheet. Hugo Maitland rounded out the scoring with a well-taken stroke.
Best for the Tuas on the day were the Meder brothers, Baxter and Thomas, in the defensive midfield area, both proving to be absolute workhorses. Buschl was also classy as always.
At the same time, the Albany Alligators were showing zero mercy to the Southland Barbarians, chalking up a 15-0 win.
From a competition perspective, it was a highly disappointing outcome, and a real step back for the Southlanders, who nearly tipped up the University Whales a week earlier.
Jack Cotton scored five goals, while Nick Parata, Josh Stevens and Hamish Davenport all walked away with doubles to their name.
In the other men's game, defence was deemed optional in the first half, as Charles Darling slotted home a dragflick midway through the second quarter for his Kings United Cobras side, making it 3-2 at that juncture.
Earlier, the University Whales had managed to take the lead, but that was as good as it got as they succumbed to a 5-3 defeat, keeping the Cobras in touch with the Tuas and Alligators.
In the premier women's competition, the University Huskies were the big winners, picking up a shootout win over Momona.
In the driving rain, the Huskies really wanted it, and they were deserving of the extra point, which sees them close the gap on Momona in third.
Elsewhere, both the Kings United Cobras and City Highlanders picked up big 7-0 wins over the University Stingrays and the Taieri Tigers respectively.
— Nicholas Friedlander
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