Waitaki Boys' High School has made a move in the Otago premier school rugby tournament.
The Oamaru school beat South Otago High School 40-20 at the Balclutha Showgrounds on Saturday and has leapfrogged its rival into second place.
John McGlashan College is still the frontrunner, after pummelling the winless Mt Aspiring College 101-0 and has won all seven games this season.
But while McGlashan shapes as the team to beat, Waitaki shapes as its main threat.
Waitaki led 21-13 at the break after trailing early.
South Otago opened the scoring and the visitor was quick to respond. It piled on the pressure through the forwards and eventually loose forward Sailosi Vea crashed over close to the ruck.
Powerful No 8 Maka Mafileo was next to score, when he burst through under the posts, after his side had been battering away. And not to be outdone, the other loosie, Josh Hayward, joined them with a try of his own.
The backs took over in the second spell, as fullback Brayden Skinner bagged a double, and centre Funaki Lavemai finished off a good team try.
Coach Wayne Kinzett was thrilled with his team's effort.
"We're building but I still don't think we've played a complete game," he said.
"Our aim is to improve and I think we're doing that. This game was a gauge for us and we're reasonably happy that we're on the right track."
In the other games, Dunstan High School beat Kavanagh College 44-20, Otago Boys' High School 2nd XV smashed Taieri College 51-12 and King's High School beat St Kevin's College 32-21.
