King's High School tipped up the defending champion but it took a late penalty to seal a 25-22 win against John McGlashan College.
The win means King’s is the only remaining unbeaten side in the Otago premier schools competition after seven rounds.
At halftime, it looked like King’s might be set for a comfortable win on its home turf. It led 19-8 at the break and had battled into the breeze. But McGlashan scored 14 unanswered points to take the lead 22-19.
"We played into a really strong breeze in the first half and had done really well," coach Ryan Bambry said.
"But we just gave away too many penalties early in the second half and just let them back into the game."
Winger Nathan Hastie, who scored a stunning individual try earlier in the match, knocked over a penalty with about eight minutes remaining to level the scores. And then, right on fulltime, he had to step up and slot another to secure the win.
"He is a very calm and collected young fellow. He’s only 15 but he has a really, really good temperament."
In the other key game in the round, Mount Aspiring College held on to beat St Kevin’s College 34-28 in Oamaru. Its win gives it the upper hand in the race for the final spot in the top six.
Prop and captain Kees Scott carried the ball strongly for Mount Aspiring, while halfback Lachie Weir and first five-eighth Gregor Findlay also shone.
Waitaki Boys’ High School scored 14 tries in a 90-0 romp against the beleaguered Kavanagh College in Oamaru. Halfback Ikenasio Taefu scored four tries, while Jacob Tuisani, Sione Alofi and Thomas Hutton grabbed two apiece.
And Taieri College was outclassed 63-10 by Otago Boys’ High School Second XV in Mosgiel.