Left winger Luke Jarvie sprinted 70m to score what proved to be the decisive try for John McGlashan College in its tense 11-5 win over the Otago Boys' High School Second XV on Saturday.
The Otago premier schools competition clash was seemingly always played in the 22m at one end or the other.
But with about 13 minutes remaining, openside flanker Rory Ferguson won a crucial turnover and McGlashan had the courage to run it out.
The ball was swung to impressive second five eighth Reece Stackhouse, who broke the line and offloaded to centre Josh Timu. He drew two defenders and put his winger away.
John McGlashan College team director Mike Idour felt Otago Boys' had the better of the tight exchanges. But some outstanding defence in the midfield by Stackhouse and Timu and tireless work in the loose proved the difference in an evenly contested fixture.
''They certainly retained possession for long periods and had the wood on us at scrum time and definitely at lineout time,'' Idour said.
Otago Boys' coach John Faulks was philosophical about his side's narrow defeat.
''It was one of those games which could have gone either way,'' he said.
''There was very good defence from both sides. They were probably stronger in the midfield and our forwards were probably stronger.
''But it was a great game and to me that is what this competition is about.''
Flanker Sam Dippie scored the only points for Otago Boys'.
In the other games, Waitaki Boys' High School beat Dunstan High School 51-36, King's High School beat Kavanagh College 44-16 and St Kevin's College beat Mt Aspiring College 45-15. South Otago High School thumped Taieri College 81-10 midweek.
