The Otago premier schools final was such a good game and we might get to see a rerun in a couple of weeks — here is how.
Otago Boys’ High School First XV scored deep in injury time to seal a dramatic 24-17 win against John McGlashan College First XV to claim the Otago Daily Times Cup.
That win means they will play Waitaki Boys’ High School in Dunedin in the regional semifinals of the national top four rugby tournament this weekend, while McGlashan will have to travel south to play Southland Boys’ High School in the other semi.
If both sides win they will meet again on August 25, but this time for the title of best secondary school team in the Highlanders’ catchment. The prize is a playoff match with the winner of the Crusaders’ tournament in Christchurch on September 1.
The winner of that game gets to represent the South Island in the national top four rugby finals.
Otago Boys’ shared the national title with Rotorua Boys’ High School in 1998.
The co-educational tournament follows the same format. South Otago High School will host Dunstan High School in a semifinal next week and St Kevin’s College will play Wakatipu High School in the other playoff match in Oamaru this week.
The winners will progress to the regional final on August 18. That game will be played at the home venue of the winner of the South Otago-Dunstan match.
The Otago co-ed champion will play the Southland co-ed champion in the Highlanders final on August 25. The winner will meet the Crusaders’ champion in the South Island final for a spot in the national top four finals.
The national top four finals are being hosted in Palmerston North on September 7 and 9.