Anthony Wetere-Sweet was the bucking bronco who caused panic in the King's High School ranks when he ran with the ball and tacklers bounced off him.
The Waitaki Boys' High School midfield back tested the King's defensive line in the Highlanders First XV match at the Kings High School headquarters yesterday.
Waitaki Boys' came back from a halftime deficit of 19-12 to beat King's 24-19 and maintain its unbeaten record after four rounds of the competition.
King's played with the strong southerly wind at its back in the first spell and led 19-5 after 32 minutes. Wing Aranui Crofts scored after 30 seconds, when Waitaki muffed the kick-off and the ball bounced back into King's hands.
Flying wing Stephen Butler brought Waitaki Boys' back into the game just before halftime when he burst up the right flank and Dean Fenwick scored under the bar and the gap was reduced to seven points.
Waitaki made good use of the strong wind in the second spell and banged the ball into the northern corner.
The two second-half tries came from forays within the King's 22m that were difficult to stop, ith big forwards like prop Tui Kaota and lock Don Lolo, and Wetere-Sweet running at the line.
The winning try came with only 10 minutes left when Waitaki Boys' fed the scrum and first five-eighth Kane McLauchlan side-stepped to the left and then to the right, to score under the bar. His long punting gained ground and forced King's back into the red zone.
The other standout player for Waitaki was blindside flanker Jason McGimpsey, who tackled his heart out throughout the game.
Waitaki Boys' had the superior scrum but King's dominated the lineout through the efforts of lock Ben Williams who made seven clean takes and also used his strength to score a first-half try.
David Taua, who was aggressive at No 8, and speedy fullback Mackenzie Haugh, with his long punting, were the other King's players to enhance their reputations.
Otago Boys' will play Southland Boys' in a Highlanders First XV match at Littlebourne at 12.45pm today. Both teams are unbeaten this winter.
Waitaki Boys' 24 (Don Lolo, Dean Fenwick, Kane McLauchlan, Anthony Wetere-Sweet tries; Marc Fox 2 con), Kings 19 (Ben Williams, David van der Byl, Aranui Crofts tries; Mackenzie Haugh 2 con). Halftime: Kings 19-12.
Waitaki Boys' 24
King's 19
