Rugby: Otago Boys' too strong for King's

Otago Boys' High School players (from left) Paul-Eti Slater, Aleki Morris, Brodie Hume and Harry Schaumann celebrate Morris' try during their match against King's High School at Carisbrook last night. At right is King's player Tim Toloave. Photo by Craig Baxter.

Otago Boys' won 43-22 after leading 19-15 at the break but had to fight hard against a gallant King's side.

The winning side had all the ball in the second half and slowly squeezed King's out of the match as its big forwards were too strong and clinical, and King's never got near the tryline in the final quarter of the match.

Players to stand out for the winning side were captain and centre Michael Collins, who looked dangerous every time he got the ball. Halfback Josh Renton was tidy while lock Josh Dickson was strong in the lineout and fullback Sean Connor often threatened.

Best for King's was halfback Caleb Gray, openside flanker Ben Johnson, and hooker Ben McKinlay, while the scrum was solid throughout.

Otago Boys went ahead within five minutes of the opening whistle.

Collins got the ball about 30m out and sliced through the King's defence to score under the bar.

But King's did not get disheartened and, as the rain tumbled down, it went ahead with an enterprising try down the blindside.

Halfback Gray sped through a gap and found flanker Johnson who showed the speed of his namesake to slice through defenders on a fine 30m run.

King's went further ahead midway through the first half when, after some low driving by the forwards at the line, big prop Hayden Fleury barged over.

But Otago Boys' did not panic and got back into the game when flanker Harry Schaumann went over in the corner.

The Otago Boys' side then took the lead into the break when No 8 Brodie Hume got a nice pass from Collins who had again found his way past the King's first line of defence.

Hume repeated the effort within five minutes of the restart.

Johnson revived the King's hopes with another lightning run after eight minutes, shrugging off tackles to get King's within two points.

But that was as close as the side got as Otago Boys' took over to cement their leadership at the top of the Highlanders First XV competition.

OBHS v King's
The scores
Otago Boys ... 43
Brodie Hume 2, Michael Collins, Harry Schaumann, Aleki Morris, Troy Callander, Byron Dodge tries, Sam Ellis 4 con
King's ... 22
Ben Johnson 2, Hayden Fleury tries, Dan Fowler pen, 2 con
Halftime: 19-15.