Rugby: Otago Boys' into South Island final

In a game worthy of a final, Otago Boys' High School beat Southland Boys' High School 32-20 at University Oval this afternoon to win the Highlanders region 1st XV title and advance to the South Island final.

After a tense opening period in which the scores were locked at 3-3 after 20 minutes, Otago Boys' flicked a switch. Their strong forward pack used their pick and go well, putting the defence on the back foot and creating a handful of opportunities which saw them take the score out to 20-6.

A further try straight after the break saw them extend that lead to 25-6 and it looked as though a big result was on the cards.

But Southland Boys' had other ideas, fighting back strongly and scoring two tries of their own to take the score to 25-20 with 20 minutes to play.

They could not complete the comeback though, as Otago Boys' held them out and managed to cross for another try of their own despite some brave defence from Southland Boys'.

Elsewhere in the south, South Otago High School beat Gore High School 45-5 to win the Highlanders co-ed title, while Southland Girls' High School were too good for Motueka High School in their match winning 60-5.

Other regions

The race for the national top four is now well and truly on, with plenty of big games being played around the country today.

Most significantly for Otago Boys', St Bede's College emerged as victors of the UC Championship, beating Shirley Boys' High School 32-13.

Otago Boys' will meet St Bede's next Saturday at Littlebourne to playoff for the South Island place in the top four.

Further north St Kentigern College defended their line bravely for the final 15 minutes of the Auckland 1A final to beat Auckland Grammar School by 17-15, avenging last year's defeat and claiming their fourth title in five years.

In the Hurricanes region semifinals, St Pats Town beat Hastings Boys' High School 20-13, while Scots College and Gisborne Boys' High School fought to a 33-33 draw, which Scots advance from by virtue of having scored one more try.

The Chiefs region semifinals saw New Plymouth Boys' High School beat Wesley College 20-15 and Rotorua Boys' High School beat Hamilton Boys' High School 30-23.

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