It was a game effort by the Otago Boys' forwards but the speedy St Bedes backs took the game away from them in the match-up of the best two First XVs in the South Island yesterday.
St Bedes won 32-17 and will now be the South Island representative in the top four schools competition in Rotorua.
Otago Boys' dominated the first half and spent long periods inside the the Christchurch school's 22m.
But silly mistakes by the backs and strong tackling by St Bedes kept them out.
The best player on the paddock was St Bedes fullback Yoshikazu Fujita (17) from Japan.
He was dangerous on the counter-attack and was prepared to initiate attacks from any part of the paddock.
He followed up a clearing kick just before the break, grabbed the ball and sprinted 50m for the try.
His clever running from inside his own 22m led to St Bedes fourth try when lock Misimoa Lamositele crashed over.
Captain Michael Collins made one telling break when he scored a try after 20 minute to give Otago Boys' a slim hope.
Hooker Junior Pole and Lachlan Landels were strong in the front row and No 8 Brodie Hume and lock Mike McKee tackled their hearts out and made strong runs with the ball in hand. Josh Dickson won clean lineout ball when he came on in the second spell.
St Bedes 32 (Yoshikazu Fujita, Moses Faletolu, Jesse Bryant, Misimoa Lamositele, Jack Best tries; Hagen Schulte 2 con, dropped goal), Otago Boys' 17 (Michael Collins, Junior Pole tries; Sam Ellis 2 con, pen). Halftime: St Bedes 17-3.
Referee: Spencer Tait (Canterbury).