The report card would probably read ''must try harder'' but John McGlashan College has made a winning start to the Otago Premier Schools competition.
It produced a rusty display to beat Dunstan High School 40-22 in Alexandra on Saturday.
The defending champion scored four first-half tries to lead 28-5 at the break.
Fullback Hunter Cleland was a standout. He dotted down twice and drilled five conversions in a 20-point haul.
His first try came at the end of the chain and the second was a little fortunate. The ball was charged down and fell nicely for Cleland, who dropped down on it to score.
Prop Reon Lowery also had a good game and posted the game's opening try when he barged his way over.
First five-eighth Angus Simmers was another to have a tidy game, and lock Oliver Geddes played well.
It was fast-paced game but one which was also marred by a high error rate.
Dunstan showed character. It scrambled well on defence and outscored McGlashan 17-12 in the second spell. It can take a good measure of confidence from its first-up effort.
In a lopsided encounter, King's High School thrashed St Kevin's 106-5. Waitaki Boys' High School restored some pride for the Oamaru schools with a 36-12 win against Taieri College.
It led 12-0 at halftime and scored six tries to two.
It was a patchy performance but there were also some promising signs for last year's beaten finalist.
Otago Boys' High School 2nd XV thumped Kavanagh College 74-0 and South Otago High School beat Mt Aspiring College 36-10 in the other games.
