The Highlanders First XV competition has lifted the standard of secondary school rugby in Otago.
This was demonstrated on Saturday when John McGlashan College beat Waitaki Boys' High School 36-12 in Oamaru.
It was the first time John McGlashan had beaten Waitaki Boys' in Oamaru since the competition started five years ago.
Waitaki Boys' used to send its Second XV to play John McGlashan's top team in interschool games.
John McGlashan is one of the form teams in the Highlanders First XV competition, its only loss being to Otago Boys' High School in its opening game.
It joins Southland Boys' High School, King's High School, South Otago High School and St Kevin's College with a record of four wins and one loss.
Otago Boys' High School is the only unbeaten team.
It was the third week in a row John McGlashan had not conceded a try. All Waitaki's points came from penalty goals kicked by Matt Munro.
Waitaki Boys' led 9-8 at the break but McGlashan put its foot down in the second half and added four more tries.
The tries to winger Reece Stackhouse and midfield back Josh Timu came from pre-planned moves from set play.
John McGlashan had a strong pack, with the best forwards being No8 Nemo Gent, flanker Rory Ferguson, lock Sam Jopp and prop Hamish Hendry.
Timu was the best back and winger Sean White kicked four conversions and a penalty goal.
Winger Rory van Vught scored two of South Otago High School's five tries when it beat Gore High School 34-5 in Gore.
It was a tough forward battle, with South Otago leading 17-5 at halftime. The speedy South Otago backline had the edge when the ball was moved wide.
The other key back was halfback Nic Shaw, whose speedy delivery gave space to his outsides. Centre Matt Whaanga kicked three conversions and a penalty goal.
Winger Luke Maker scored two tries for King's in its hard-fought 24-3 win over Menzies College at Wyndham.
King's led 12-3 at the break and its game came together in the second spell when it pounced on Menzies' mistakes.
King's had a strong pack, with the best players being lock Liam Taylor and hooker Joe Cairns-Thomson.
A rampant Otago Boys' team retained its unbeaten record when it scored 12 tries to beat St Peter's College 83-0 at Bishopscourt.
Prop Jonah Aoina was in devastating form, scoring three tries. Centre Hemaua Samasoni scored two.
Southland Boys' beat Dunstan High School 60-10, St Kevin's beat Mount Aspiring College 31-15 and James Hargest High School beat Central Southland College 20-0.
