If only Taieri College had another five minutes up its sleeve.
The team is still winless after nine attempts in the Otago premier schools competition but came very close to registering a breakthrough win over St Kevin's College in Oamaru.
Taieri trailed 24-7 at the break and by 34-7 early in the second spell. But the team which has been on the wrong side of some large scores this season refused to give it away.
The visiting side posted four tries to close to 34-31, before the valiant comeback was beaten by the clock.
''Another five minutes might have made it interesting,'' Taieri College coach David Hunter said.
''They probably ran out of a bit of puff, to be fair, in that second half. But we've been working pretty hard ... and we finished really strongly.
''We're really proud of the boys. It was probably our best performance of the season. It would be nice to roll it back and have another go at the first half, though.''
Taieri first five eighth Callum Smeaton was impressive, while loose forwards Jordan Bell and Cam Dyer also produced strong performances.
St Kevin's coach Justin Fowler said his side had faded in the second spell. An injury to a key player and some sickness in the camp meant his side struggled to match the pace it played the game with in the opening spell.
''We are not overly happy Taieri got so close to us in the end,'' Fowler said.
''But they played very well. I imagine they will be very happy, especially with the second half.''
St Kevin's fullback Josh Macaulay and winger Simon Lilicama scored two tries apiece.
South Otago High School completed a perfect round with a 21-10 win over Kavanagh College. John McGlashan College beat King's High School 27-10, Waitaki Boys' High School beat Mt Aspiring College 22-19, and the Otago Boys' High School Second XV pipped Dunstan High School 16-15.
The competition splits into two sections now with South Otago, John McGlashan, Otago Boys', Waitaki Boys', Dunstan and King's in the top six.
