Prop David Smart gave an aggressive display and played a key role in Dunedin’s 44-17 win over Green Island at Miller Park.
He made ground with the pick and go, was skilled at the clean out and gained a lot of turnover ball.
He was backed up in the strong Dunedin front row by hooker Finnbar Boyle with his accurate tackling and his ability to carry the ball forward.
The other key player in the Dunedin pack was flanker Hugh Blake with his support play and his ability to help the continuity of the attacks.
Louis Tili controlled play efficiently and had his best game of the season at first five-eighth. He grabbed an intercept midway through the second spell and dashed 65m for a try. He also kicked six goals and scored 19 points.
Green Island played a bustling game and forced turnover ball and it took 20 minutes for Dunedin to settle into its rhythm.
The drought was broken when Dunedin gained turnover ball and fullback Ashton Tuck ran 65m for the try.
Dunedin scored two first-half tries to lead 20-7 at the break.
It kept spinning the ball wide and added four more tries in the second spell.
Dunedin 44 (Ashton Tuck, Sione Pulu, Tumua Ioane, Louis Tili, Fraser Lau, Mark Atkins tries; Tili 4 con, 2 pens), Green Island 17 (Jesse Toto, James Spooner 2 tries; Toto con). Halftime: Dunedin 20-7. Referee: Adam Morrison.
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Southern lead the Gallaway Trophy competition with 55 points and is followed by Taieri 42, Pirates 40, Alhambra-Union 31, Dunedin 31, Green Island 28, University A 23, Harbour 21, Kaikorai 19, Zingari-Richmond 0.
Alhambra-Union, Dunedin, Green Island and University A will be attempting to grab the fourth spot in the final six rounds of Dunedin premier rugby.
The leading points scorers are: Liam Edwards (Dunedin) 142, Glenn Dickson (Pirates) 137, Peter Breen (Alhambra-Union) 120, Andrew Reid (Taieri) 113, Tony Fenner (Southern) 106, Cam Rutherford (Kaikorai) 105, Tom Halse (University A) 95.
The leading try scorers are Liam Edwards (Pirates) and Tom Davie (Taieri), Matt Faddes (University A) 9, Andrew Stead (Southern) 8, Ben Pereira (Alhambra-Union) , Jayden Spence (Kaikorai), Roma Sauileoge (Green Island) 7.
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Replacement flanker Eben Joubert scored a controversial late try to give Harbour an upset 31-29 win over Dunedin at Kettle Park.
It was close to full time and Dunedin led 29-24 when Harbour mounted a concerted attack. Joubert went down the blindside and stretched out for the line.
The Dunedin players claimed he had been held up over the line but the touch judge ruled that he had scored the try in the corner.
First five-eighth Lance Taylor landed the difficult conversion and Harbour won by two points. Dunedin looked to have the game safely tucked away when wing Ashton Tuck scored his second try and the lead was 29-17. But Joubert, the new Otago captain, came on with 25 minutes left and put grunt into the Harbour forwards. He made turn-overs and helped the pack to win five rucks in a row. Lively Harbour No 8 Brad Griffiths scored his second try with five minutes left to reduce the gap to five points.
Dunedin had control in the first half and scored three tries to lead 17-7 at the break. The lead should have been bigger but knock-ons, dropped passes and turn-over ball was costly for Dunedin. Lock Mark Grieve-Dunn was dominant in the lineout and Mark Atkins and Gareth Evans were lively loose forwards.
It was a game Dunedin should have won but basic mistakes proved costly.
- Harbour 31 (Eben Joubert, Pete Mirrielees, Brad Griffiths 2, Craig Sneddon tries; Lance Taylor 3 con), Dunedin 29 (Sione Pulu 2, Ashton Tuck, Fraser Lau 2 tries; Sam Giddens, Louis Tili cons). Halftime: Dunedin 17-7. Referee: Ben O’Keefe.
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No 8 Andrew Stead was in dominant form and scored two of the six tries when Southern beat Dunedin 36-17 at Bathgate Park.
Dunedin had its opportunities in the first 30 minutes and led 7-0 when flanker Gareth Evans burst into the Southern 22m and unloaded to wing Ashton Tuck, who scored the try. Dunedin had other scoring opportunities but turned over ball at crucial times It also missed three penalties.
Southern had better ball retention and was rewarded with points when Stead crashed over after a 5m scrum after 30 minutes. He added another try 10 minutes later and Southern led 12-7 at the break. Stead broke the defensive line again early in the second spell and centre Nick Jones scored the first of his two tries. But Southern led only 17-10 and Dunedin remained in contention.
It turned down two easy penalty goals in an attempt to score tries and had its chance when it camped close to the Southern line. But turnover ball again proved costly and it broke the spirit of the Dunedin forwards. Southern capitalised on its opportunities and scored three more tries to lead 36-10. One went to lock Sam Gavigan and Jones scored his second.
Stead was the kingpin with his safe hands. He broke the line again for Gavigan’s second try. Halfback Fraser Lau scored a late consolation try in his 50th premier game for Dunedin when he charged down a kick and dashed 85m.
- Southern 36 (Nick Jones 2, Andrew Stead 2, Sam Gavigan, Sam Gibson tries; Hamish Buick 3 con), Dunedin 17 (Ashton Tuck, Fraser Lau tries; Louis Tili con, pen, Liam Edwards con). Halftime: Southern 12-7. Referee: Todd Pullar.
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