They won everything last year.
And by everything, we mean the Southern Schools Rugby Championship, the South Island Championship, the National Secondary School First XV Championship and the Moascar Cup.
That is a hard act to follow, but so far so good.
They dispatched Otago Boys’ 40-10 in Invercargill on Saturday to book a place in the Southern Schools Rugby Championship final.
They will play King’s, who held on to beat John McGlashan 27-22 at Johnnies in the other semifinal.
Southland Boys’ coach Jason Dermody said the game was closer than the score suggested.
The home team led 12-10 at the break but dominated the second half, scoring four converted tries and keeping their rivals scoreless.
"It was a true battle in the first half. Both teams tried to play with the ball, which was good to see", Dermody said.
"They scored an 80m try right on halftime ... but we got on top with a couple of early tries. Our boys played really well in the second half."
First five Mika Muliaina controlled the game with some sound tactical kicking and he drilled five of his six conversion attempts.
The two props also impressed. Tighthead Thomas Jennings and loosehead Presley McHugh did their bit in the scrum and carried strongly.
Jot down Jennings as a name to watch.
In the second-tier semifinals, Dunstan beat South Otago 41-17 in Balclutha, and Southland Boys’ 2nds drew 19-19 with Wakatipu in Invercargill. Southland Boys’ 2nds were the higher qualifiers, so they progress to the final and will host Dunstan.
Otago Boys’ 2nds beat King’s 2nds 31-21 and will host Waitaki Boys’ in the third division final. Waitaki beat rivals St Kevin’s 21-15 to secure a berth in the final.
Central Southland, who beat Mount Aspiring 20-17 in the semifinal, will host Cromwell in the fourth-tier final. Cromwell edged Māruawai-Menzies 27-25.
In the playoff for 17th and 18th, Taieri College beat John McGlashan 2nds 15-5.
