It may not reach the intensity of the Ranfurly Shield defence but there will be another epic provincial clash next Saturday when Otago Boys' meets Southland Boys' in the final of the Highlanders First XV competition.
Southland Boys' retained its top spot and unbeaten record when it beat King's 52-3 at Invercargill on Saturday.
It gave Southland Boys' the right to host the final at Invercargill.
The teams have met twice this winter with the first game being drawn 16-16 in Dunedin and Southland Boys' winning 23-19 in Invercargill.
The team that wins the final will play Christchurch school St Bede's for the right to contest the national final.
St Bede's won the Crusaders competition on Saturday when it beat Christchurch Boys' High School 27-12.
Otago Boys' had a solid workout when it beat Gore High School 26-12 after leading 13-0 at the break.
Fullback Liam Edwards was named the player of the day after a skilled display that included a dropped goal to take his points tally for the competition to 209.
Otago Boys' had an exciting backline, with halfback Kurt Hammer supplying quick ball and captain Michael Collins directing play in the midfield.
Gore was competitive in the forwards but loose tackling by the backline proved costly.
Southland Boys' led 24-3 at the break on Saturday and in the second spell its strong pack shut King's out of the game.
John McGlashan continued its good form to beat Verdon College 33-7 and will host the middle four final, against Dunstan, at Dunedin.
The scores were 7-all at the break but the strong McGlashan pack took control in the second spell.
Players to stand out for McGlashan were openside flanker Paton Allen and lock Elliot Adamson in the forwards and the inside pairing of Braydon Pennycook and Alan Steel, and fullback Hamish Sutherland in the backs.
Dunstan won a one-sided game against Waitaki Boys' 33-8 at Alexandra with its strong pack controlling the set pieces.
The inside paring of Tom Dougherty and Sean Connor used the ball efficiently to give space to the speedy outside backs.
South Otago beat Central Southland College 18-12 and will play St Kevin's in the bottom four final at Oamaru.
It was an exciting game at Balclutha with the Southland team leading 12-10 at the break.
It was a hectic last 10 minutes with Central Southland College camped inside the South Otago 22m with the home team a point ahead.
South Otago made the game safe when it counter-attacked from its own line in the final minutes and wing Sylvester Reeves gained an intercept and scored wide out.
St Kevin's won its traditional derby when it beat Kavanagh College 25-15 in Dunedin.
At a glance
Section winners
Top four: Southland Boys' 13 points, Otago Boys' 11, Gore HS 5, King's 1.
Middle four: John McGlashan 14, Dunstan HS 9, Verdon College 4, Waitaki Boys' 1.
Bottom four: St Kevin's 11, South Otago HS 8, Kavanagh 6, Central Southland College 4.
