Kaikorai eight clear after classy win

Kaikorai  40

Southern  23

The Demons clipped the Magpies’ wings to assert their dominance at the top.

Kaikorai secured a 40-23 victory against Southern at Bishopscourt to go eight points ahead of second-placed Taieri on the table.

The Demons were classy, first five Ben Miller directing play and their lively forward pack brutal at scrum time.

The Magpies did themselves no favours — especially in the second half — taking poor options and making silly errors.

The home side showed its intent early when Michael Strydom banged over from a rolling maul within the first five minutes.

Magpies fullback Mackenzie Haugh slotted a penalty to get his team on the board.

But the Demons hit back when winger Nico Bowering finised off a nice buildup to lead 12-3.

The Magpies stuck with Kaikorai for the first half, putting it under plenty of pressure and centre James Simpson-Te Pairi slipped through to trail by two.

Demons flanker Lucas Casey scored a stunning try, after spotting a defensive hole and going on a blistering 45m run to dot down.

Southern replacement flanker Konrad Toleafoa scored in the corner before the break to trail 19-15.

It came out of the break strong, Haugh slotting another penalty to move within one.

But from there out the Demons were ruthless, shutting down any Southern scoring opportunities and running in three tries of their own. Haugh scored a late try for Southern.

— Kayla Hodge

Harbour  47

Alhambra-Union  12

Harbour mastered the heavy ground conditions against a fleet-footed Alhambra-Union side to help cement a place in the playoff stages later this month with a 47-12 victory at Watson Park.

Bolstered by Commonwealth Games sevens gold medallist Vilimoni Koroi at first five, Alhambra-Union ran the ball at Harbour from all directions in the opening stages, only to meet a road broke of defenders.

But once the Harbour forward pack got its hands on the ball late in the first quarter, its mobility and drive began a four-try scoring spree that ensured it had banked a valuable bonus point before the break.

Straight from the restart, Harbour wasted little time in asserting itself on the game, scoring a sensational try through centre Aleki Morris-Lome who carved up the midfield from 40m out to score under the cross bar.

Forward drives deep inside the Alhambra-Union 22m led to front rowers Hagan Free and Tane Vatuvei adding two further tries to put Harbour in sight of 50 points with 20min remaining.

But to its credit, Alhambra-Union stayed in the fight while stretching the Harbour defence. The Broncos particularly dangerous when making use of its outside backs out wide.

Harbour were well served up front from No8 Taylor Dale and lock Joseph Aldrich-Williams. Both featuring in close and on the drive while offering good service from the lineout.

Alhambra-Union was well served by its forward pack as a whole, while Koroi hungered for work throughout.

— Wayne Parsons

Green Island  71

Zingari-Richmond  5

Green Island wore pink jerseys at Miller Park on Saturday but it made no difference to its opponent — Zingari-Richmond could still not see them for much of the game.

The home side tore out of the blocks and did not put its foot off the pedal as it ran away with a comfortable 71-5 victory. It led 33-0 at the break.

Wearing the jerseys to reflect a women’s rugby day at the club, Green Island was too classy and a step ahead of its opponent.

It did the basics well. It was strong at the set pieces and at the breakdown, and its backs made the most of the room they were able to get.

Fullback Finn Hurley scored three tries and looked good, and Jake Te Hiwi made a successful return from injury.

One wonders, though, how a romp like this helps the development of promising players.

Up front props Shane Fikken and Ben Lopas were physical, while lock Ronan Dynes got round the field.

No8 Delaney McKenzie scored two tries, and one was a beauty from a lineout although the throw was more crooked than an Italian concreting contractor.

It was a familiar story for the visiting side. The effort was there but a lack of fitness, which has been a plague all season, held it back. It made too many errors at the wrong time and paid for them in seven-pointers.

The team just needs a couple of classy players around the paddock and it could be better.

Young fullback Sam Nemec- Vial was rewarded for a nice display of skills with a try.

Front rowers Israel Otunuku and Ene Junior and Lam Cheung never gave up.

— Steve Hepburn

Dunedin  21

Taieri  18

This game was all about defence and there was a real finals feel to the encounter.

Both sides spilled early ball, especially at lineout time.

Dunedin was the first to settle and get its phases to stick and was rewarded with a try to centre Josh Dent from a charge down.

Taieri finally got into the game in the second period of the first half and dominated territory and possession for the rest of the spell.

After Taieri first five and Dunedin winger Ryan Watterson traded penalties, the Eels set up camp in the Dunedin 22 for an extended period and pounded away, but the defence held.

Just when it looked like Dunedin had held out, a loose pass fell to winger Josh Whaanga and unbelievably he strolled 30m for the game-equalling try.

Dunedin looked the better side in the second stanza and its strong scrum took complete charge — so did the penalties.

Watterston banged over a couple of penalties to give it a six-point lead after 20 minutes.

But Dunedin leaked a couple of turnovers and Taieri pounced with a converted try off a Bob Martin break. Midfielder Kori Rupene went over and that was followed up with a Joe Cockburn penalty to give them a four-point lead.

But the Dunedin scrum went into overdrive and forced penalty after penalty deep in Taieri’s 22.

The Eels defence held firm. But in the 85th minute Dunedin finally breached as fullback Kyran Rangitutia crashed over out wide for the converted try.

Dunedin wrenched the Speights Shield out of Taieri’s grasp with the win. Taieri had held it since 2021.

Dunedin props Rohan Wingham and Kees Scott terrorised the Taieri pack.

Halfback Martin was far and away Taieri’s best, while loosies Jesse Hutton and Brodie Hume were a defensive menace.

— Paul Dwyer

Round 13

The scores 

Kaikorai  40  (Nico Bowering 2, Michael Strydom, Lucas Casey, Nic Proffit, Semisi Ta'eiloa tries; Ben Miller 5 con). 

Southern  23  (Mackenzie Haugh, James Simpson-Te Pairi, Konrad Toleafoa tries; Haugh 1 con, 2 pen). 

Halftime:  19-15

Green Island  71  (Finn Hurley 3, Delaney Mckenzie 2, Yuichiro Wada, Ronan Dynes, Ryusei Koike, Benjamin Lopas, Nelson Yorston, Shane Fikken tries; Hurley 7 con, Fikken 1 con). 

Zingari-Richmond  5  (Samuel Nemec-Vial try).

Halftime:  38-0

Dunedin  21  (Josh Dent, Kyan Rangitutia tries; Ryan Watterston 1 con, 3 pen).

Taieri  18  (Josh Whaanga, Te-korohi Rupene tries; Joe Cockburn 1 con, 1 pen, Caleb Leef 1 pen). 

Halftime:  8-8

Harbour  47  (Taylor Dale, Nathan Hastie, Max Brown, Angus Hewitt, Aleki Morris-Lome, Hagan Free, Tane Vatuvei tries; Mason James 6 con). 

Alhambra-Union  12  (Norman Dennison, Arnold Dinh tries; Oscar Anderson con).

Halftime:  26-7

Standings

Points earned for the round 1 bye: Kaikorai 5, Southern 4, Harbour 3, ZR 2, AU 1.