Otago Boys’ High School backed its defence and inflicted the first loss on King’s High School for the season.
The thought of suffering consecutive losses to King’s helped edge Otago Boys’ to a 13-8 win in the top section of the Otago Premier Schools competition on Saturday.
The defending champion registered a 28-16 loss to its rival early in the season but avenged that result to move into top spot in the premiership.
King’s had been moving smoothly through the competition and would have been confident going into the game against Otago Boys’.
But it was not to be as the visiting team held firm and did not let King’s get into its rhythm. King’s lacked continuity and made too many errors.
Otago Boys’ led 10-5 at the break. The teams traded penalties in the second spell but nether side could breach each other’s defence.
Otago Boys’ openside flanker Ronan Dynes was menacing at the breakdown and got through an impressive workload.
He was a standout in an effort coach Regan Turoa described as "dogged".
"And we matched them up front but the defensive effort was the key," he said.
"Young flanker Ronan Dynes was immense in that area during the last 15 to 20 minutes."
He snaffled some crucial turnovers as King’s went searching for the win.
Locks Levi Turoa and Caleb Hughes had busy games as well, while midfielder Jake Te Hiwi carried strongly and defended well.
The Otago Boys’ pack was smaller than its opponent but took the game to King’s.
In other premiership matches, Southland Boys’ cruised to a 56-10 win against Dunstan High School while St Kevin’s College beat Otago Boys’ High School second XV 34-19. In the championship, John McGlashan was too strong for the Combined Coeds, winning 88-7. South Otago beat Waitaki Boys’ 29-0 and Mt Aspiring edged Wakatipu 29-19.