The accurate goal-kicking of Luke Reihana helped Alhambra-Union beat Dunedin in a tight game at Kettle Park.

He kicked five goals to score 14 of his side’s points in a game that was in the balance until the final whistle.

Alhambra-Union’s 9-7 lead at the break was against the run of play because Dunedin held all the territory and its strong front row of David Smart, Will Henry and Kelsey Miller got the better of Alhambra-Union.

But Dunedin missed goal-kicking opportunities and did not play to its strong midfield of Michael Walding and Simon Davey.

Dunedin’s first-half try came from a lucky bounce from a kick by halfback Robbie Smith that bounced into the hands of fullback Louis Tili, who passed to flanker Sam Green for the try.

Dunedin players ran into the collision area where they met a formidable resistance in Alhambra-Union loose forwards Matt Kissick and Wahari Waitohi.

Alhambra-Union had its best quarter after the break when it extended the lead to 19-10.

Lock Scott Stevens won good line-out ball and hooker Ben Pereira was having a tigerish game in the tight-loose.

Dunedin came back into the game when No 8 Joe Dobson scored, but it ran out of time to chase the win.

Alhambra-Union 19 (Ben Pereira try; Luke Reihana conversion, 4 penalty goals), Dunedin 17 (Joe Dobson, Sam Green tries; Louis Tili conversion, Shaan Davis conversion, penalty goal).

Halftime: Alhambra-Union 9-7.

Referee: Ross Barnett.

The Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Inc.)

as a playing member for 2010

“The Dunedin Rugby Club model should be used as a case study by clubs around the country”

Rugby News magazine, 6th August 2009

A very warm invitation is extended to you to join the Dunedin Rugby Club as a playing member for 2010.

The club …

In 2009 won the Premier 1 Grade Championship

Has 5 rugby grounds with 2 floodlit for training.

Won the Premier 2 Grade in five of the last seven years

 Pre-season trials for all grades, followed by ‘pig-on-the-spit barbecues’.

Colts Sundays for all Colts team members; players, coaches and management.

The Premier I Team has contested the finals of the club championship four times in the last five years for two victories; the only club in the competition with such a record. For three of these five years, the Premier II grade side won their grade.

• View slideshow

Dunedin won the Speight’s championship shield when it beat Southern 11-10 in a gripping final that was in the balance until the final whistle.

• Video: Dunedin wins club final

It was tense championship rugby and the Dunedin supporters in the crowd of 3000 stood as one and cheered their team when referee Ross Barnett blew for full-time.

The hero for Dunedin was No 8 and captain Scott McKee, who won his second championship banner.

McKee played a key role with his ability to break the advantage line by taking the ball up after the Dunedin scrum had been pushed backward.

He combined with Tim Fraser and Jon Crossan in a fiery loose forward trio that dominated the breakdown and kept the pressure on Southern.

Dunedin dominated possession in the first spell and looked to have the game under control when it led 11-0 at the break, though in the early exchanges, the powerful Southern scrum had pushed the Dunedin eight backwards and threatened to take charge.

The strong Dunedin line-out, headed by lock Michael Gurran, began to starve Southern of ball, which allowed Dunedin to take the upper hand.

Gurran had an outstanding game and won eight clean takes to give his side a three-to-one advantage in the line-outs.

He was also powerful on his marauding runs.

Dunedin nabbed two takes off Southern throws in the first spell, one of which, by Gurran after 23 minutes, led to the first try.

Winger Tumua Ioane and halfback Fraser Lau attacked down the short side and Gurran was up in support to toe the ball over the line for the try.

Lively counter-attacking fullback Robbie Smith added penalty goals after 30 and 35 minutes to give Dunedin an 11-0 advantage at the break.

A rejuvenated Southern team attacked from all quarters in the second spell, getting on the board through a penalty to halfback Joe Burford before closing the gap to just one point after centre Lucky Mulipola scored the best try of the game, on the 54-minute mark.

He beat four defenders on his 55m run to score under the bar.

McKee knew that the game was in the balance and called his team into a huddle while Burford added the extra points.

“I barked out a few orders,” McKee said.

“We had to dig deep on defence and be clinical. We couldn’t afford to miss tackles and give away penalties in our own territory.”

The Dunedin plan had been to move the targets wider with the pick-and-go and drive to keep the bigger Southern pack on the move.

While it executed the plan to perfection in the first spell, when its forwards were in control, it was unable to maintain the accuracy and intensity for the first 25 minutes of the second spell, when Southern took charge.

McKee knew Southern was capable of snatching a last-gasp win if it could gets its hands on the ball and launch an all-out attack in the last five minutes.

“We couldn’t afford to lose our cool or panic at that stage,” McKee said.

“We just had to hang on to the ball and keep it close with the pick-and-go as we worked our way downfield.”

McKee’s words had the desired effect on his team-mates, who defended desperately to deny Southern further opportunity to score.

Another key Dunedin player was Lau, who tested the opposition with his probing kicks over the top and his harassment around the fringes.

It will be a repeat of the 2007 final when Southern and Dunedin clash in the Dunedin Speight’s championship final at Carisbrook on Saturday.

Dunedin Captain Scott McKee will be playing in his fourth final in five years.

Dunedin won the banner in 2005 but has been the bridesmaid for the last two years.

Dunedin comfortably beat Pirates in the main semifinal at the University Oval, capitalising on every opportunity it had to score points.

The first try came after eight minutes when wing Tumua Ioane broke up the touchline deep into the Pirates 22m.

From the breakdown halfback Fraser Lau darted round the blindside to dot down.

Fullback Robbie Smith, besides being dangerous on the counter-attack, had his kicking boots on and landed four goals from his six attempts.

Dunedin was in complete control in the first spell and had shut Pirates out of the game.

Big lock Michael Gurran dominated the line-out and loose forwards Scott McKee, Tim Fraser and Jon Crossan were a devastating unit on attack and defence.

The first 30 minutes of the second spell was different with Pirates controlling play and making use of the wind at its back.

It camped inside the Dunedin 22m for long periods and kept hammering at the Dunedin line.

But the rugged Dunedin defence did not falter and flung back the repeated attacks.

Pirates’ only try came after 22 minutes when centre Marshall Suckling, the best back on the paddock, burst down the touchline and replacement wing Isaac Beach was in support to score.

It was Pirates’ tactics that stopped it from challenging Dunedin in the second spell.

In the first 15 minutes it turned down five easy shots at goal in a bid to score a try.

Dunedin took back control in the last 10 minutes of the game with its forwards camped inside the Pirates 22m.

It was rewarded with points when Gurran used his long arms to dive over the defence and score a try to make the game safe.

Dunedin 21 (Fraser Lau, Michael Gurran tries; Robbie Smith conversion, 3 penalty goals), Pirates 7 (Isaac Beach try; James Rosenberg conversion).

Half-time: Dunedin 16-0.

Referee: Ross Barnett.

DUNEDIN………………………………….29

HARBOUR…………………………………..3

Dunedin 29 (Josh Hamilton, Joe Bradley, Michael Gurran, Andrew Mackintosh tries; Shaan Davis 3 conversions, penalty goal), Harbour 3 (Jonnie Hughes penalty goal). Halftime: Dunedin 8-0.

Referee: Tim Baker.

The draw for next Saturday’s semi-finals is: Southern v Alhambra Union, and Pirates v Dunedin.

Both games will be played at the University Oval.

Dunedin 15 (Joe Bradley, Jon Crossan tries; Robbie Smith conversion, penalty goal), Taieri 3 (Michael Witt penalty goal). Halftime: Dunedin 10-3.

Referee: Dave Kennedy

Southern won the Gallaway Trophy competition on 47 points and are followed by University A 47, Harbour 46, , Dunedin 42, Alhambra-Union 41, Pirates 33, Kaikorai 27, Zingari-Richmond 19 , Green Island 15 and Taieri 12

The top six teams for the championship round have been decided. The draw for next week’s quarter-finals is: Southern v Pirates, University A v Alhambra-Union and Harbour v Dunedin. All games will be at home grounds.

It was supposed to be the game of the round but the delivery by the players did not meet the expectations and the winning try came in the 72nd minute when Folau crashed over after a series of attacks inside the Dunedin 22m.

There were 48 knock-ons and 12 forward passes that stopped the flow and rhythm of the game.

The goal licking was equally inept with Dunedin missing three easy shots at goal and Harbour two.

The Harbour kickers also had four dropped goal attempts in the second spell with one attempt going out in the corner.

The Harbour backline looked sharp in the first spell with the midfield of Doug Edwards and Corey Kara causing problems for the Dunedin defence.

With wing Kelly Kolberg they made some punishing tackles.

The Harbour loose trio were dominant with Eben Joubert having a strong game.

Harbour caught the dropsy virus in the second spell and was unable to put phases together.

The strongest feature for Dunedin was the play of its front row of Will Henry, Sam Anderson-Heather and Kelsey Miller that outplayed their more fancied opponents.

Lock Michael Gurran dominated the line-out.

Harbour 5 (Siaosi Folau try), Dunedin 0.

Half-time: 0-0.

Referee: Jeff Grubb.

A penalty by fullback Peter Breen gave Alhambra-Union a 3-0 lead at the break and it was extended to 13-5 when No 8 Mana Faraimo scored after 15 minutes in the second spell.

The margin was reduced to three points when Dunedin No 8 Scott McKee scored in the corner after the forwards drove after a line-out.

The solid back defence of Jone Paumau, Luke Reihana and Wayne Gibson stifled all the Dunedin attacking moves as Alhambra-Union hung on to its advantage.

The big difference in the game was the kicking of Breen, who landed three goals to score eight points.

Four Dunedin kickers missed a combined six attempts at goal.

The strong Dunedin pack dominated territory and possession in the first spell but too many mistakes and turnovers from its backline and the stubborn Alhambra-Union defence stopped it from scoring points.

Lock Michael Gurran dominated the line-out, McKee was lively in the loose and the front row of Kelsey Miller, Sam Anderson-Heather and Adam Duhig gave Dunedin the advantage in the scrum.

The best Alhambra-Union forward was openside flanker Wahari Waitohi, while halfback Matt George had a lively game with his sniping runs and harassing of the Dunedin backs around the fringes.

Alhambra-Union 13 (Mana Faraimo try; Peter Breen conversion, 2 penalty goals), Dunedin 10 (Scott McKee, Tumua Ioane tries).

Half-time: Alhambra-Union 3-0.

Referee: Scott Taylor.

Dunedin dominated the set pieces and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory in the opening 40min.

Robbie Smith played on the wing in the first half and ran powerfully, as did fellow outside back Joe Bradley, who scored two tries for his efforts.

Lock Michael Gurran ensured Dunedin had a good supply of ball with a dominant performance in the line-out.

Zingari-Richmond rallied in the second period but could not convert the pressure into points.

The backline was guilty of running across the field and making it too easy for the Dunedin defenders.

Dunedin 34 (Joe Bradley 2, Robbie Smith 2, Scott McKee tries; Smith 3 conversions, penalty goal), Zingari-Richmond 11 (Jeremy Burton try; Sam Remwick 2 penalty goals).

Half-time: 15-3.

Referee: Todd Pullar.