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Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Narrow margins at pointy end of trophy
Man, it's tight at the top heading into the last round of the Gallaway Trophy. There are seven points over the top six teams, with GI leading the way on 27 (as far as they go, bye this week), with Kaikorai in sixth on 20 points. GI, with a hatful of Super players back in, prevailed in the "Battle of the Saddle" with Taieri. But as you'd expect there wasn't much in it. I said last week that Southern would need to monster Kaik up front to win and the Magpies' eight took that to heart and squeezed the Kaik "aorta" into near life-support levels at scrum time. Thus they definitively halted the Kaik run of wins. Harbour finally put some more points on the board for the "Rooster" against AU. AU showed some signs of life by putting up 27 points of their own — so is the tide turning? It's certainly ebbing for Zingers, who coughed up 70 against Dunedin at the Sandpit; their season looks done. They were competitive for 20 minutes, but the last 60 was a painful watch for their handful of supporters present. You could count them on one hand in the clubrooms post game. This is just mean spirited I discussed the "Maroon Peril" last week as Southland continue to loot and pillage club players out of Dunedin. But in the last week, they have gone too far! Zingers' best player over the last month — Aukustino Salanoa, their hooker — wasn't in their side on Saturday and was sorely missed. Apparently he signed with Southland and played for Star at the weekend. Now, I have no problem with them signing players out of club rugby in Dunedin if they aren't going to be picked up by Otago. But to drag them out of a struggling club mid-season is mean-spirited and, another nail for "grass roots" rugby. All unions spout "it's all about grass roots", but frankly this typifies why that is a load of nonsense. Why couldn't he have finished most of his season at Zingari, then moved down? That's already happening with a lot of other contracted players they have got their hands on. Now, I don't know if Zingers "assisted" Aukustino to come down to Dunners, but if so why not compensate them? Is it time for clubs to say enough is enough and take on unions head on? The honest battlers Hame (the Bruise) Toma laces up on Saturday for his 150th game for the Sharks, against the Eels. He played his first game for the Sharks in 2014. I'd shudder to think how many times he has run the ball up since then. Club players all round town will attest to how hard a runner with ball in hand he is. They tape and staple his body together week after week and he plays himself to a standstill. In his early days he was an outstanding openside and one of the great "jackals" over the ball before drifting to No8 in his latter years. Mate, to reach 150 games is a testament to your stamina, resilience, loyalty and ability. Good on ya, stunning performance. Congrats to prop Tafa Tafa for hitting 50 games against GI a couple of weeks ago. Workhorse lock Aron Einarsson also hit 50 last weekend and Taylor Dale from Harbour plays his 50th game, against Varsity this weekend. Well done, lads. Other grades Just thought I'd check in with the competition leaders in other grades. In Prem Women there are only three teams in it, with AU leading from Varsity and Dunedin. Big River make up the four with one win. Any of the top three could win it. In P2s, Taieri lead with a massive points differential of +337 — ridiculous. GI are only a point behind — these two teams will play the final. Dunedin are third, four points adrift, with Harbour a further six points back. In the open grade Taieri and Dunedin are unbeaten and destined to meet in the final. Pirates and Eastern should be in the semis. In Prem Colts Kaik and Dunedin are at the top of the table, with Varsity and Southern a few points back. This should be the top four, but no standout winner yet. In Junior Colts the Dunedin Hammerheads are the only unbeaten team, but the Kaik Undertakers are sniffing at their heels. West Taieri and Dunedin are tied for third, so this should be the top four. The Hammerheads should go all the way. Down on the farm The big result in the country was Matakanui destroying Arrowtown to record their first victory in two years, and on Dean Sinnamon's 100th game presentation. I hope there were no licensing bloodhounds in Omakau on Saturday night; the place would have been humming. Great work lads — perseverance is the key. In the deep south the Pirates Old Boys v Marist game was postponed after the Green & Blacks coach tragically died earlier in the week. Deepest condolences to the family and clubmates of Regan. In the South it's all about Clutha now that West Taieri was tipped over by the Crescent Coalminers at the weekend. In the North Excelsior and Valley rule the roost — well this week anyway! In Central, Upper Clutha lead Alex by a single point in Central, so too close to call. Comings and goings The Explore scoring system is working as well as ever — i.e, it's not. Don't panic — the ODT has come to the rescue. The draws for all grades are back in the paper on a Thursday and the ODT website ( is live-scoring all prem games every Saturday. If you thought you were a chance of getting the 27th and last contract for the Otago NPC team, think again. Word on the street is Liam Coltman has inked his signature on that! This weekend Unbelievably I lost to "Bilbo" from Speight's at the weekend for only my second loss of the round. Llew Johnson from the Otago Volts is still leading with a points differential of +20. So it's back to Mayor Jules this weekend, so thank God I just win! Both Varsity and Harbour are down on numbers this weekend, so this game could easily be a draw! Varsity have players away with NZU and Harbour are battling injuries. I'll take Varsity (12-) to win, as they are due, but with no real conviction. The Eels are at home to Dunedin and the winner of this game will win the Gallaway Trophy, so there is a lot riding on it. Rohan Wingham is playing for Dunedin and Josh Whaanga and Michael Loft for Taieri from the Landers. Dunedin (12-) have the best young lock in NZ in Josh Tengblad coming off the bench, so with that depth they win. Kaik (13+) take on Zingers at the Cemetery and bounce back with a convincing win over the Colours. Southern (13+) will make no race of the game with AU at Bog Bathgate — it only goes one way. Drew with Marty Hurring last week down south but am up against Clark (Yam Fingers) Frew, the mein host of the Speight's Ale in Wakatip, so victory is assured. In the closest game Alex (12-) do enough at home to upset Wakatip. Upper Clutha (13+) travel to Arrowtown and put the Arrow Bulls out in the back paddock. The Maggots (12-) are at home to Cromwell — and they won't get rolled there!
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin premier rugby round eight wrap-up
Harbour beat AU 48-27 today at Watson Park. Photo: Max Quinn Southern scrummed their way to a 31-15 win against Kaikorai in a Dunedin division 1 game at Bishopscourt today. The Magpies were utterly dominant and shoved the underpowered Kaikorai pack around. Prop Mike Mata'afa is worth two men in the scrum and hooker Isileli Otunuku shone as well. Hard-working locks Corban Agar and Aron Einarsson and openside flanker Harry Taylor leaned their weight to the scrum and got around the field. Centre Justin Malifa was threatening when he got the ball in space. Kaikorai started promisingly with a lovely team try. They swung it left, right, left, right before eventually busting through close to the ruck. They led 15-7 at halftime but they could not match Southern's power and the match drifted away. Kaikorai first five Ben Miller made some colossal clearances and loosies Slade McDowall and Lucas Casey impressed in a losing effort. Green Island made the most of their opportunities to beat Taieri in the "Battle of the Saddle" at Peter Johnstone Park. They led 26-10 at one stage but Taieri rallied with two late tries. All the Otago premier and division 1 teams observed a minute of silence for Otago rugby stalwart Tuppy Diack, who died in Dunedin yesterday morning. His grandson, Morgan Jones, scored for Taieri. Dunedin thumped Zingari-Richmond 75-7 at Kettle Park and Harbour dispatched Alhambra-Union 48-27 at Watson Park. AU did pick up a bonus point for four tries, which is their first points this season.
Otago Daily Times
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Dunedin club rugby round eight wrap-up
Harbour beat AU 48-27 today at Watson Park. Photo: Max Quinn Southern scrummed their way to a 31-15 win against Kaikorai in a Dunedin division 1 game at Bishopscourt today. The Magpies were utterly dominant and shoved the underpowered Kaikorai pack around. Prop Mike Mata'afa is worth two men in the scrum and hooker Isileli Otunuku shone as well. Hard-working locks Corban Agar and Aron Einarsson and openside flanker Harry Taylor leaned their weight to the scrum and got around the field. Centre Justin Malifa was threatening when he got the ball in space. Kaikorai started promisingly with a lovely team try. They swung it left, right, left, right before eventually busting through close to the ruck. They led 15-7 at halftime but they could not match Southern's power and the match drifted away. Kaikorai first five Ben Miller made some colossal clearances and loosies Slade McDowall and Lucas Casey impressed in a losing effort. Green Island made the most of their opportunities to beat Taieri in the "Battle of the Saddle" at Peter Johnstone Park. They led 26-10 at one stage but Taieri rallied with two late tries. All the Otago premier and division 1 teams observed a minute of silence for Otago rugby stalwart Tuppy Diack, who died in Dunedin yesterday morning. His grandson, Morgan Jones, scored for Taieri. Dunedin thumped Zingari-Richmond 75-7 at Kettle Park and Harbour dispatched Alhambra-Union 48-27 at Watson Park. AU did pick up a bonus point for four tries, which is their first points this season.
