South Otago will move up to division 1, but it needed a leg-up from a rival to get there.
Otago Boys’ 2nds dispatched Taieri College 50-12 at the weekend to cement top spot in division 2 following the opening round in the Otago Schools Rugby Championship.
But following some soul-searching, the team has decided not to take up promotion and will remain in the second tier.
South Otago, which beat Mt Aspiring 24-12 at home on Saturday, was offered the spot instead and jumped at the opportunity.
It has been the form team in division 2, but dropped points with a shock 10-7 loss to Taieri College last month.
South Otago did beat Otago Boys’ 2nds 25-12 when the two teams met in round 3, and the Balclutha boys will replace Waitaki Boys’ in division 1.
Waitaki was soundly beaten 69-5 by Southland Boys’ in Oamaru.
It was it fifth straight loss this season and the team has been relegated to division 2.
Otago Secondary Schools Rugby Council chairman Greg Heller said Otago Boys’ 2nds declined promotion because it felt South Otago would be more competitive in the top grade.
The side was also happy to remain in the second division and give another school the opportunity to play in the top grade.
"That is the message we’ve received from them," Heller said.
"It was not something we had requested — it has come from the school."
Heller said it was no different from Dunstan electing not to play in division 1 at the start of the season and, instead, ceding its spot to Wakatipu.
"We’ve followed exactly the same protocols that we followed in that instance."
Dunstan made a good decision, too.
It lost its last game of the first round to St Kevin’s, 34-19 in Oamaru, and finished the fourth.
In division 1, Otago Boys’ completed a clean sweep of the first round.
It beat Wakatipu 21-5.
Southland Boys’ took second place with its big win, while King’s edged John McGlashan 33-22 at home.
The points table will be reset to zero for the second round, which starts this weekend.
