But they were pushed all the way by cross-town rival King’s.
Incredibly, two Dunedin schools made it through to the boys’ final of the national secondary school touch tournament staged in Tauranga.
Hamilton Boys’ and Rotorua Boys’ have dominated the tournament for the past decade or so, but the power of balance has shifted to the South Island, or more specifically, Dunedin.
Yesterday’s final was epic.
The teams were locked 5-5 apiece at the end of regulation time.
Otago Boys’ star player Jake Fowler threw a wonderful pass to winger Joseph Flutey, who levelled the score with under a minute remaining.
Under the extra-time format both teams dropped down to four players each and another two minutes was stuck on the clock.
Fowler came up with more heroics. He dived low to score and sealed a 6-5 win for Otago Boys’.
Touch Otago operations manager Jarrod Powell, who doubles up as the Otago Boys’ coach, said it was the first time a South Island team had won it for about 15 years.
"Otago schools did really well," Powell said.
"St Hilda’s ended up coming third and to make top four was pretty big. On day one Taieri College played in the mixed grade and topped their pool. St Hilda’s topped their pool. Columba topped their pool. King’s topped their pool and so did Otago Boys’.
"It was pretty special to have all the schools going so well."
John McGlashan also did really well. It prevailed 8-7 in a tense plate final against the home team Tauranga Boys’.
That game went into the second period of extra time and both sides were reduced to just three players.
It was exhausting stuff.
But it was Otago Boys’ whose light shone the brightest.
"It was pretty special for OBs because touch has not been a main sport. But in the last few years it has become more like an established sport there."
The team toured Australia in preparation for the nationals, which paid off.
Fowler was named tournament MVP.
Hamish Faulks and Will Challis were influential as well.
Promising cricketer Thomas O’Connor missed a Hawke Cup game for Otago Country and played every minute of every game for Otago Boys’ in what was a top effort.
