Southland Boys’ and Otago Boys’ will again go head to head in the Otago Schools Rugby Championship final for the Otago Daily Times Cup this weekend.
Southland Boys’ had a resounding 34-19 win over King’s to secure their spot on Saturday, while rivals Otago Boys’ dispatched defending champions John McGlashan 51-21.
The win will have added plenty of confidence to the Otago Boys’ pack, getting revenge after falling 9-7 to John McGlashan the week before.
Prop Taitelea Tasi-Cordtz scored two tries in the first eight minutes to get them off on the right foot and first five William Thode was accurate with the boot, slotting six conversions.
Meanwhile, Southland Boys’ will be looking to go one better than last year.
They were beaten 36-27 in last year’s final when John McGlashan came back to score three late tries.
"We’re rapt to make the final again — third time lucky, hopefully," Southland Boys’ coach Jason Dermody said.
His side came out firing, putting the pressure on King’s from the outset.
They lead 29-5 at halftime, pleasing their coaches after aiming to get on the scoreboard early.
"We were just pretty clinical for 50 minutes," Dermody said.
"We put them away before halftime which was really good. We didn’t want it to be close.
"The boys played really well."
In the other semifinals, Dunstan thumped Taieri 57-0, Otago Boys’ Second XV beat South Otago 36-21, St Kevin’s beat Mt Aspiring 36-22, and Wakatipu beat Waitaki Boys’ 24-17.
It means Otago Boys’ Seconds will play Wakatipu in the middle four final, and Dunstan will play St Kevin’s in the bottom-four final.
