St Kevin's College shapes as the big improver in the Otago premier schools competition.
The team struggled last year but has made a fine start with back-to-back wins to lead pool A with a maximum 10 points.
It swept aside King’s High School Second XV 59-12 in Dunedin on Saturday and last weekend beat Taieri College 56-34 in Oamaru.
Taieri looks to have made some gains as well, although it was beaten 22-7 by Mt Aspiring College in Wanaka.
The visitor led 7-0 at halftime thanks to a break from halfback Sam Raudon. He scampered about 20m to score.
His team spent the best part of the last 10 minutes of the opening half camped in Mt Aspiring territory searching for a second try but the home team’s defence was up to the challenge and it was arguably a turning point in the match.
The momentum shifted and Mt Aspiring scored two quick tries after the break.
It had too much pace and size out wide and outflanked Taieri. But coach Jared Peacock was far from discouraged. He felt there was plenty to build on.
"They played really well in that second half and we just lacked in defence on the outside," he said.
"We definitely were competitive but ... we need to work on our ball carrying and our support play."
Peacock said his team tended to carry the ball into contact in an upright position or got isolated and lost possession.
Second five-eighth Jacob Walls was the pick of the Taieri players. He made some good runs. Loose forwards Lewis Dyer and Hunter Dale were impressive as well, and centre Ben Tansley defended well.
In the other games, John McGlashan College made two from two with a 17-7 win against South Otago High School in Balclutha.
Dunstan High School dispatched Kavanagh College 46-5 on home soil.In a battle between the Otago Boys’ High School teams, the First XV recorded a comfortable 47-5 win.
Earlier in the week King’s First XV beat Waitaki Boys’ First XV 16-15.