The inaugural Highlanders First XV competition is building to a nice finish, with a couple of key matches in the final round set to decide the top four.
The match that may decide the top place-getter takes place at Littlebourne today, with the competition-leading Waitaki Boys taking on Otago Boys in the traditional interschool match.
Waitaki Boys is on 43 points, and Otago Boys is second on 41 points. Otago Boys could go top of the table, albeit temporarily, if it wins today, but if the visitors win they will finish on top.
These teams have lost just one game each, both going down to South Otago.
In the other key game in the Zero Fees-sponsored competition, Southland Boys hosts Dunstan in Invercargill on Saturday. The teams lie fourth equal on 40 points, and the winner will go through to the top four.
South Otago takes on Central Southland in its final game of the round in Winton.
South Otago is third, on the same number of points as Otago Boys, but with a slightly lower points differential.
In other games this Saturday, Kings plays John McGlashan, and St Kevins takes on Gore.
Once the final round is played, the competition, which is also sponsored by the Otago Daily Times, splits into section play involving a top four, middle four and bottom four.
Teams will then play each other in their respective sections for another three weeks, before the final of the competition on August 22. They carry their points from the first round into section play.
The venue for the final is yet to be decided.
Three teams - Kings, Central Southland and Verdon - are fighting for two spots in the middle four.
Otago Rugby Football Union amateur rugby manager Justin Gardner said the interest in the competition had been overwhelming.
• Points (after 11 rounds): Waitaki Boys 43, Otago Boys 41, South Otago 41, Southland Boys 40, Dunstan 40, Gore 23, Verdon 15, Central Southland 15, Kings 14, Kavanagh 9, John McGlashan 7, St Kevins 7.
