Burnside started strongly, with Mikele Ravalawa scoring a try.
The try spurred South Otago into action and a few minutes later Max Homer scored try.
However, possession was retained mostly by Burnside.
South Otago’s tactics seemed to be to go wide, but the team failed to make good forward distance as players passed the ball too much.
The team also made handling errors when under pressure.
Despite this, South Otago had a strong defence, which held the Burnside team back.
In the last minute, South Otago’s Jordy McPhee-Hale broke through the Burnside defence and almost scored what could have been the match-winning try.
However, one foot crossed the sideline and the game was over.
Burnside High coach Murray Henderson said the game was pretty intense in the last few minutes.
South Otago could have won, he said.
"It was a good final."
South Otago coach Allan Hill was proud of the effort his team put in.
He said it was the best he had seen them play all year.
"At the end of the day, it came down to one little mistake."
He "never stopped believing" in the team.
Burnside 20 (Cam Russell, Mikele Ravalawa, Emerson McKee tries; Zion Smith 1 con, 1 pen), South Otago 14 (Max Homer try, Luc Thomson 3 pens).
Halftime: 9-8 (South Otago).