Dunstan High School slipped into the semifinals of the Otago premier schools tournament with a 33-22 win against Waitaki Boys’ High School in Alexandra on Saturday.
Coach Garry Marsh believes it is just the second time Dunstan has made it through to playoffs of the tournament.
The team will find it difficult to progress much further, though. It will play top seed Otago Boys’ High School, which continued its unbeaten run in the top six with a 29-3 win against rival King’s High School at Littlebourne.
John McGlashan College beat Mt Aspiring College 36-0 in the other top six game and will host King’s in the other semifinal.
Dunstan leapfrogged Waitaki to take the final spot. The home side was up 10-7 at the break but the lead seesawed in the second half.
Dunstan got back in front late in the game when powerful No8 Beau Amen punched through a tackle. Then player of the day lock Jack Arlington made a break and scored what proved to be the winner in the final moments.
Marsh said his team lifted its effort on defence and that was key factor in the win.
"We had to scramble at times but we were a lot more organised than we have been, probably," he said.
"We did a lot of work during the last 10 days during the build-up to get to where we are. We wanted to reduce the number of holes that were available for attacking sides to go through.
"Waitaki threw everything at us and scored some very nice tries on the outside.
"But we were able to defend well and kept putting pressure on at critical times.
"I think this is just the second Dunstan team that has made it to the semis ... so it is a big achievement."
Otago Boys’ beat Dunstan 78-17 two weeks ago, so Dunstan will be hoping to put on a better showing and "have nothing to lose".
"We go into this game with no pressure on us, really. We’ll cherish the opportunity and go down and do our very best."
In the bottom six, St Kevin’s College was too strong for Taieri College, winning 58-22. South Otago High School brushed aside Kavanagh College 71-3.
The match between Otago Boys’ 2nds and King’s 2nds will be played early this week.
