After torrential rain and horrific conditions last year, the stage is set for a promising — and, fingers crossed, dry — First XV interschool between Waitaki Boys’ High School and St Kevin’s College in Oamaru today.
Waitaki Boys’ has taken the spoils in the cross-town clash the past two years, retaining the Leo O’Malley Trophy with a 12-5 win last year.
But St Kevin’s is sporting a more experienced team than its rival this year, making for an even match-up.
St Kevin’s coach Justin Fowler and Waitaki Boys’ coach Mark Wilson were both hopeful for better playing conditions today to enable their teams spin the ball wide to their backs and create a spectacle.
"Hopefully, it’ll be clearer overhead and it’ll be a wee bit wet underfoot still, but I think hopefully it’ll be nice and we can get some running rugby," Wilson said.
He expected a few nerves from his young pack, many of whom were starting in their first Blood Match, but they were gelling at the right time.
Waitaki Boys’ secured its first victory of the season over Dunstan last weekend through a tough defensive effort.
While the school was not packed with "superstars", Waitaki Boys’ was filled with hard-working players who worked for each other.
"We have to make our strength our teamwork and I think we’ve just been building nicely with that.
"That’s probably our biggest strength going forward from here on."
Lochie Mavor provides plenty of experience at No8 and Simione Toganivalu is electric in the backline.
Fowler said his players were looking forward to another good game.
St Kevin’s has produced some nice rugby this season, beating Dunstan and Taieri in the Otago Schools Rugby Championship, with talented backs running in some good tries.
"The forwards do the hard yards up the front and our backs are scoring some tries," Fowler said.
"Our backline’s pretty potent. We’ve got some weapons out there so we’re looking forward to seeing how that goes."
No8 Evo Ridley had a game to remember in last year’s interschool, and prop Toby Growcott is a weapon with his scrummaging and goal-kicking abilities.
Kick off is 1.30pm at Whitestone Contracting Stadium.
