John McGlashan College were too organised, too strong and too slick for Dunstan High School in their Otago Secondary Schools First XV match at John McGlashan today.
The 58-12 win saw John McGlashan retain their unbeaten record and cement themselves as firm favourites to claim their second title in as many years.
Their structure was, for the most part, immaculate and their support play superb as they tore through the Dunstan defence to touch down for 10 tries. Six of those came in the first half, as McGlashan's ability to threaten at the line and slick ball-handling made them too much to contain.
The visitors had no answer, struggling to obtain possession and often finding themselves under pressure when they did.
When Dunstan were able to contain the attack, John McGlashan kept their structure. They would use several phases of forward runners and obtained quick ball to execute well and work the ball into space. But all too often the defence was flimsy. That allowed the athletic John McGlashan forward runners to make breaks through the midfield after hitting the ball flat from the dangerous inside backs.
When they went wide, John McGlashan's support play and ability to offload often saw the ball go through five or six sets of hands. It was here that they looked the most threatening and put Dunstan into positions they couldn't recover from.
It was unsurprising to see No 8 Rory Ferguson, a budding league star, excel in this area, although he must have passed on a few tips.
Most of the team seemed capable of playing in this manner, with the offload out of the back of the hand used on several occasions. While a few handling errors crept into their game, it was for the most part a clinic from a very well-drilled and highly skilled team.
Ferguson himself was a stand out, running strongly with ball in hand to find his way to the line and give his team go-forward, while showing his ability to distribute and offload.
John McGlashan dominated the first half, scoring three early tries up the right side of the park. Dunstan were able to absorb some pressure to delay a fourth, although it eventually came, before they were able to hit back with a try of their own out wide. Another two tries saw the hosts take a 34-7 lead at the break.
Any chance of a comeback was quelled as John McGlashan piled on three quick tries to start the second half. Dunstan showed some fight from there, depriving John McGlashan of the ball and playing with width to attack the John McGlashan line. They were able to cross for a try, before John McGlashan hit back with a late one of their own.
The loss sees Dunstan slump to seventh on the table after a promising start to the season.
In other games St Kevin's College beat Kavanagh College 27-21, while Otago Boys' High School 2nd XV edged King's High School 13-12. Waitaki Boys' High School proved too strong for Mount Aspiring College, claiming a 59-0 win.
