Otago Boys' faces its toughest test of the season when it meets Southland Boys' at Littlebourne today.
Both teams are unbeaten after three rounds of the Highlanders First XV competition. Southland Boys' has beaten Mount Aspiring College 38-5, Menzies College 60-10 and Central Southland College 78-0.
Otago Boys' has had wins against John McGlashan 66-3, James Hargest 81-0 and Kings 60-7. They are the two best teams in the competition and it is always a close tussle when they meet.
Otago Boys' coach Ryan Martin's efforts have been recognised at national level by his appointment as coach of the New Zealand Barbarians team for matches against Australian and Fijian secondary school teams in Wellington in September.
He is the first Otago Boys' coach to gain a national appointment. Des Smith was manager of the New Zealand secondary schools team in the late 1980s and early 1990s and Neil Baker was a national schools selector.
Otago Boys', on its home ground, goes in favourite and will be looking to its big forward pack to do the job.
Highlanders First XV
Otago Boys' v Southland Boys'
Time: Today (1pm).
Venue: Littlebourne.
Southland Boys': Jack Lewis, George Karamaena, Blake Ryder, Taamati Harris, Tyler Hopa, Jahvis Wallace, Liam Howley, Josh Mackie, Sam de Vries, James Napier, Jack Capil, Ben Fotheringham, Suita Afa, Flynn Thomas, Shaun Stodart (captain).
Reserves: Ethan Burgess, Tama Reynolds, Samu Tavui, Tim Young, Mitchell Taylor, Shaun Henderson, Oliver Stirling.
Otago Boys': Reece Mau'u, Matt Jones, Hemaua Samasoni, Sio Tomkinson (co-captain), Chris McNoe, Sam Porter, Kadin Brocks, Jamie Mowat (co-captain), Slade McDowall, Matt Heffernan, Matt McNamara, Jarrell Pattison, Sione Asi, Alex Frood, Jonah Aoina.
Reserves: Kabe Calder, Ricki Jackson, Isimeli Tuivaga, Nick Scott, Tim Hogan, Josh Buchan, Mike McKay.
