A pep talk by Otago cricket great Craig Cumming inspired Kavanagh College to its first win of the season when it thrashed James Hargest College 48-17 at Kettle Park on Saturday.
Cumming gave confidence to the team. It started in style and led 31-5 at the break.
Hooker and captain Joe Weatherall was in dynamic form around the paddock and scored two of his team's eight tries.
He was backed by a mobile pack, with No 8 Nathan O'Brien and prop Oliver de Groot having strong games.
First five-eighth Ben Wilhelmsen, who has been out of action for most of the season with a shoulder injury, directed play well and kicked four conversions.
St Kevin's College gained its fourth win of the season when it beat Dunstan High School 10-8 in a closely fought game at Alexandra.
First five-eighth Tim O'Malley kicked the winning penalty goal in the last act of the game. He also kicked a first-half conversion. No 8 Ash Miller scored St Kevin's try.
The key players for St Kevin's were halfback Brodie Flannery, fullback Hamish Slater and prop Sionne Palaa.
Dunstan led 8-7 at the break and camped inside St Kevin's territory for most of the second spell until a St Kevin's break-out led to the penalty goal.
Dunstan dominated possession but was not able to turn this advantage to points because of the rugged St Kevin's defence.
Lock Nathan Smith scored Dunstan's try and centre Callan Clark kicked the penalty goal.
Flanker Ben Johnson scored two of Kings High School's six tries when Gore High School was beaten 35-20 at Dunedin.
Points-scoring machine Mackenzie Haugh added a try, conversion and a penalty goal.
The Kings loose forwards were dominant at the breakdown and No 8 David Taua had a strong game. Centre Robert Peseta ran powerfully in the midfield.
It took time for Kings to break down the strong Gore defence and it led only 12-8 at the break.
Gore's three tries were scored by halfback Jahvis Wallace, midfield back Hayden Stephen and wing Joe Kelso.
John McGlashan gained its third win of the season when it beat Menzies College 18-8 and Southland Boys' beat South Otago 29-3 at Invercargill.
Otago Boys' beat Waitaki Boys' 55-16 in a mid-week game.
Otago Boys' remains unbeaten and leads the Highlanders First XV competition with 45 points, followed by King's 35, Southland Boys' 35, Waitaki Boys' 34, Gore 26, South Otago 21, St Kevin's 18, Dunstan 14, John McGlashan 14, Menzies College 11, Kavanagh College 6 and James Hargest 3.
