A lopsided draw has led to South Otago High School missing out in a place in the Highlanders First XV top-eight section, despite winning three more games than a team which made the cut.
South Otago had an aim of being the top co-educational school in the region but its hopes are now dashed, and it will have to play in the bottom six.
The competition was split into two pools of seven at the start of the season with the teams in one pool playing seven games against the sides in the other pool in the first round.
The top four teams in each pool went through to the top eight, regardless of the number of wins.
The pools were split on team ranking from last year's competition.
Defending champion Otago Boys' High School was selected, along with the third, fifth and seventh-placed teams and so on in its group.
Otago Boys won every game in the first round but the other teams in its pool struggled. Waitaki Boys was next best with four wins from seven games.
Also going through to the top eight from that pool are Menzies College, which won three games, and Mount Aspiring College which qualified having won two games.
In the other pool, King's, John McGlashan and Southland Boys all won six games, while St Kevin's College and South Otago High won five games. St Kevin's College went through to the top eight on points differential ahead of South Otago.
South Otago beat both Menzies and Mount Aspiring but through the draw has missed out on the top eight.
Highlanders First XV competition chairman Don McFarlane said no draw was perfect and they may look at tweaking it next year.
When Menzies and Mount Aspiring College were approached over whether they were prepared to take their place in the top eight, they indicated were keen to play, McFarlane said.
He said the competition was constantly evolving. One option for next year might be that the top three teams in each pool go through to the top eight, along with two next-best teams.
South Otago High School rugby co-ordinator Greg Heller said the school was very disappointed at the situation, although it had accepted it and was moving on.
''We are disappointed to finish fifth-equal on points, sixth on points differential, and have beaten two teams which are now in the top eight,'' Heller said.
''The team on nine points we have beaten. The team on 13 points we have beaten. You have not got the eight best teams in the top eight.''
Heller said the side had refocused its goals and wanted to win the bottom six.
''We wanted to be in the running for the top co-educational school in the region but that has been taken away from us.
"It is hard for the boys and we are struggling to explain what has happened to our rugby community.''
The bottom Otago and Southland schools will play off with challenging teams for a place in next year's competition at the end of the season.
Highlanders First XV
Standings
Top eight
Otago Boys 34 points, King's 30, John McGlashan 30, Southland Boys' 29, St Kevin's 24, Waitaki Boys' 19, Menzies 13, Mt Aspiring 9.
Bottom six
South Otago 24, St Peter's College 10, Gore 9, Dunstan 6, James Hargest 5, Central Sthld 0
