The Mount Aspiring College First Fifteen (MAC) came up against a well drilled Southland Boys High School on Saturday, going down 3-57.

The Invercargill match, played in good conditions, provided a reality check for the MAC side who are competing in the premier division of the Otago Schools 1st XV championship.

Southland put on a high quality performance, dominating most facets of the match with quick ball and relentless line speed on defence. Such was the pressure, MAC struggled to get into its patterns providing just a handful of encouraging offensive plays.

MAC started the match competing well at the breakdown and in the lineouts. A terrific break by impressive No. 8 Fergus Read saw him cut down just short of the Southland try line. MAC captain Ryan Schmack slotted a penalty from the resulting play which would be all the points MAC could muster.

MAC’s cause was made more difficult when a yellow card saw them a player down later in the half. Southland made great use of their one man advantage, scoring twice more to take a 26-3 lead into the half-time break.

MAC captain Ryan Schmack.

Southland added a further 31 unanswered points in the second spell as their game expanded and confidence grew. MAC defended valiantly and never wavered from their effort but Southland was just too good.

"We held in there until the team infringement yellow card,” MAC coach Carl Schmack said. 

“That swung the momentum and they were able to keep the scoreboard ticking over. In the second half they kept their momentum using their bench and we struggled to keep up.”

For MAC, No.8 Fergus Read ran and defended well. He was supported by fellow forwards Otis Harry and Jonno Watson.

MAC travels to Dunedin this Saturday to play the undefeated King’s High School.

Scores:

Premiership

Southland BHS 57 Mt Aspiring College 3

Otago BHS 16 King’s HS 28

Dunstan HS 22 John McGlashan College 21

Championship

Waitaki BHS 17 South Otago HS 17

Otago Combined Co-ed 3 Wakatipu 38

St Kevin’s College 12 Otago BHS 2nd XV 28

PHOTOS: Supplied