The Otago mixed touch team enjoyed a top performance at the national championships in Auckland over the weekend and it was down to some sensational siblings.
The team went right through to the final unbeaten and then just lost the final 10-9 to Auckland, a team packed with national representatives.
Half of the 16 players in the team are siblings, while all 16 of the players come from Otago.
Brothers and sisters Mackenzie and Taylor Haugh, Ty and Kiana Pelasio, James and Reece Te Pairi and Hanlin and Holly Johnstone have all come through the ranks of junior Otago teams and are performing together on the senior stage.
Skills learnt out the back of the family house have now brought them success in an Otago jersey.
Coach Damien Burdon said the side had a strong culture which helped it in tight situations, adding to the family bond which was a real asset, especially in defence.
Off the field, the homegrown nature of the team - and its tournament success - was a credit to the development work of the staff and volunteers involved with Touch Otago, Burden said.
''As a team we worked pretty hard on getting our defensive line shape working really well and our communication between players across the field was really strong,'' he said
Otago's trip to the final was a tricky one.
After first-day wins over in its first three games against: Counties-Manukau, Bay of Plenty and Canterbury, Otago then drew with Auckland.
The side then needed to win by at least a margin of six to be top qualifier for the finals, in the day's final game.
Otago blew Tasman off the park 17-2 and was the top round robin qualifier.
On Sunday, Otago made full use of that, beating Southland 8-6 in their first final game, securing the side a spot in the tournament's grand final.
Otago and Auckland then battled out an epic open mixed grade tournament final.
Eventually the home side would hold on by one point to secure gold, with Otago having to settle for silver.
Burdon said it was incredibly tight in the final and the side put on an outstanding performance.
All of the players were aged between 16 and 23, which boded well for the future of the sport in Otago.
The Otago under-21 mixed team finished sixth in its grade at the national tournament while the Otago over-40 men's team finished seventh in its division.
