Rugby: 107-year record broken by OBHS

Otago Boys' High School midfield back Aleki Morris scores the first of his two tries  at...
Otago Boys' High School midfield back Aleki Morris scores the first of his two tries at Littlebourne yesterday. The Southland Boys' defender is wing Hayden Pope. Otago Boys' won 59-7. Photo by Peter McIntosh
Hooker Sekonaia Pole was like a rubber ball. He kept bouncing up everywhere and played a key role in Otago Boys' nine try 59-7 romp over Southland Boys' in Dunedin yesterday.

It was a top-of-the-table clash and Otago Boys' remains unbeaten in the Highlanders First XV competition.

Pole scored the first try, ran at speed with the ball, was quick on the tackle and was also in position to catch the ball when Southland Boys' put in the chip kick.

He won the man of the match award for his aggressive performance.

It was a special day for coach Ryan Martin's Otago Boys' first XV because it was the biggest winning margin and the biggest score posted by Otago Boys' in the annual inter-school game.

The first-half display was one of the best given by a secondary school team in a major interschool game. Otago Boys' scored six first half tries and led 38-0 at the break.

"I told the team at halftime that they were on the verge of achieving something special," Martin said.

Otago Boys' added three tries and 21 points in the second spell.

The previous best score by Otago Boys' against Southland Boys' was 42-0, posted in 1905.

The team broke the 107-year record.

Otago Boys' did everything at speed and a feature of the display was the clean and quick delivery of second-phase ball, which gave the backline an extra few seconds to get into gaps.

The forwards ran at pace in support play to break through the Southland defence.

Lock Josh Dickson dominated the lineout and made eight clean takes. He was aggressive with the ball and made ground with his driving runs.

Blindside flanker Troy Callander was aggressive on the drive, a strong tackler and his support play was outstanding.

The best of the rest were tighthead prop Jermaine Ainsley and No 8 Alex Fitzgerald.

Halfback Josh Renton's long passes gave the backline space.

He was also skilled at putting kicks into the box to put pressure on the Southland defence.

Second five-eighth Aleki Morris had the ability to slip through gaps and then put his foot on the accelerator. He scored two tries and made another one.

Young Sio Tomkinson (15) was nervous at the start but displayed polish once he settled into his game.

The centre took over the goal kicking role late in the first spell, kicked six conversions and scored 17 of Otago Boys' points.

The best Southland Boys' player was No 8 and captain Jordan Stewart, who never stopped trying. He was hard to stop when he ran with the ball and his spot tackling was a nuisance to the Otago Boys' team.

Hooker Lochie Wood and substitute fullback Michael Molloy also came out of the game with credit.

Southland Boy's points were scored by fullback Henry Burns, when he made an intercept after 30 minutes in the second spell, ran 60m to score the try and converted it.

 


Otago Boys' 59 (Sio Tomkinson, Sekonaia Pole, Sean Conner (2), Josh Dickson, Aleki Morris (2), Alex Fitzgerald, Corey Miller tries; Sam Ellis con, Tomkinson 6 con), Southland Boys' 7 (Henry Burns try, con). Halftime: Otago Boys' 38-0.


Add a Comment

OUTSTREAM