The Dunedin Rugby Football Club (Inc)

2011 Dunedin Mako Colts Winners of the Division 1 Top 4 Competition

DUNEDIN MAKO’S 18          SOUTHERN MAGPIES 11

The Alliance

A very special alliance was formed in 1995 between the three provincial rugby unions south of the Waitaki River. This alliance was named the Otago Highlanders and it was formed in order to do battle in the new Super 12 competition. After five years in the competition, Otago was removed from the name, and from this time onwards the team has been known simply as the ‘Highlanders’…a name which fully acknowledge the power of the three unions.

The Name

There is more to the Highlander than heritage, tradition and living history. The name and image of the Highlander conjures up visions of fierce independence, pride in one’s roots, loyalty, strength, kinship, honesty and hard work. Highlanders are traditionally conservative and shaped by enduring values, balanced by action, flare and imagination. There is a unity borne from adversity; Highlanders work hard and play hard – a tight-knit bunch not to be challenged lightly.

The Insignia and Colours

The Highlanders insignia represents a strong and proud warrior battling on the craggy highlands of Scotland. He stands with his arms raised in defiance, in a rampant stance, proud and strong, ready for any challenge that should come his way. In one hand he brandishes a claymore; in the other hand a shield – attack and defence in perfect balance. Modern-day Highlanders play their rugby the same way – ferocious in attack, tenacious in defence. The colours of the emblem and jersey have direct links to the three provinces that make up the Highlanders franchise: gold for North Otago (formed in 1904); blue for Otago (formed in 1881); maroon for Southland (formed in 1886)

Our three unions have come together to form this strong southern alliance under the banner of ‘United We Stand’.

United we Stand

We are part of something special – we play for each other as a team, we play for our loyal and staunch supporters. Come rain, hail or shin our vocal supporters will be there willing our team to win. Being a Highlander means being prepared, being accountable, and being responsible. When our warriors pull on the jersey they represent a proud group of player, they represent all those who have worn the jersey before them, and all those who will proudly wear the jersey in time… they also represent family, bloodlines, this province, and the loyal fans.

All Highlanders be humble, be accessible, be proud in defence, be defiant in attack… be your best!

Taken from and courtesy of www.highlanders-rugby.co.nz .   Official home of the Highlanders    25^th July 2011

Liam Edwards had the chance to get Dunedin a bonus point but he missed his long-range penalty goal in the final minute and Taieri won 32-24 at Kettle Park. Edwards kicked five penalty goals and scored 14 of Dunedin’s points. But he will be reminded of that final missed chance to take Dunedin into the semifinals.

Dunedin had the better of the first half and Edwards added the extra points to give it a 16-5 lead at the break.

Dunedin flanker Hugh Blake was the best forward in the first half and he continued dominate the breakdown in the second spell. He was backed by lock Mark Grieve-Dunn and prop Will Henry.

But Dunedin’s backs let it down with a lot of fumbles and missed tackles. Dunedin missed 35 tackles in the second spell.

The Taieri pack matched Dunedin in the second spell with No 8 Charlie O’Connell having a bullocking game and lock Steve Green doing his bit. The Taieri backline ran strongly and caused problems for the Dunedin defence.

Key players in the backline were first five-eighth Ben Nowell and the midfield of Shannon Young and Kieran Moffat. Moffat scored two tries and set up two others in the second spell. Moffat made ground as he cut through what was virtually a non-existent defence.

- Taieri 32 (Kieran Moffat 2, Shannon Young, Ben Nowell, Charlie O’Connell tries; Kurt Schrader con, pen, Nowell con), Dunedin 24 (Louis Tili, Mark Grieve-Dunn tries; Liam Edwards con, 4 pen). Halftime: Dunedin 16-5. Referee: Jeff Grubb.

Pirates retained the Larry Salmon Memorial Trophy at Kettle Park.

Pirates led 18-0 with the wind at its back in the first spell and added 22 points when playing into the wind in the second spell. The Pirates pack dominated second-phase ball and gained 28 turnovers at the breakdown.

Pirates had a strong scrum and the front row of Daniel Johnson, Jake Maiono and Craig Miller dominated their opponents. Warren Kearney and Brad Ross were strong in the lineout and the loose trio of Solomon T-Pole, Shaun McCarroll and Josh Clark were dominant.

The best Pirates back was second five-eighth Opini To’Omalatai. The lack of tackling by Dunedin was epitomised by the try scored by prop Craig Miller in the final minute, when he broke through four tackles.

Pirates 40 (Hemi Davis, Isaac Beach, Solomon T-Pole, Warren Kearney, Craig Miller, Daniel Johnson, Paul Miller tries; Davis con, Andrew Bremner pen), Dunedin 11 (Sione Pulu try; Liam Edwards 2 pen). Halftime: 18-0. Referee: Todd Pullar.

A committed Kaikorai team shut Dunedin out of the game when  it gained an upset win at Bishopscourt. This was epitomised by a pack that went into the breakdown as a unit and dominated second-phase possession.

The key to the win was the loose trio of Blair Tweed, Mitchell Clarke and Jamie Williams, who did not give the Dunedin pack any leeway and made life difficult for the backline.   Prop Blair Laughton burst up field with the ball in hand, and lock Dave Simpson made his mark with strong tackling and bursting runs.   The lethal Dunedin backline was always on the back foot and was not able to unleash its attacking flair.   The Kaikorai backs showed they meant business after six minutes when centre Logan Moore burst 40m up the centre.   He made other strong runs that kept the Dunedin defence on its toes.   Diminutive halfback Jye Cormack had a lively game and winger Bryce Morgan played well in his first premier start.

Kaikorai stamped its seal on the game when playing into the strong wind in the first spell when winger Sam Cadogan scored      two tries in the corner after blindside moves.   Kaikorai led 10-3 at the break and used the wind effectively in the second spell by booting the ball deep into Dunedin      territory.    The wind and the cold rain made it difficult for Dunedin to fight back and it was virtually impossible when Cormack scored after 15 minutes to stretch the lead to 20-3.

The best players for Dunedin were flanker Simon Luke, who grabbed lineout ball at the front and was lively around the paddock, openside flanker Anthony Diack and lock Richard Thompson.

• Kaikorai 25 (Sam Cadogan 2, Jye Cormack, Clark McNab tries; Cam Rutherford con, pen), Dunedin 10 (Tumua Ioane try; Liam Edwards con, pen). Halftime: 10-3. Referee: Jeff Grubb.