The Mount Aspiring College boys 1st XV (MAC) made it two wins from two matches in the Otago Secondary Schools 1st XV Championship on Saturday (8 August) with a convincing 33-5 win over South Otago High School.

Played in Cromwell in perfect conditions the match ebbed and flowed with MAC struggling to maintain good continuity throughout and it was only late in the match that they put the result beyond doubt.

MAC was on the board early when hooker Lachie Macdonald scored off a lineout drive. South Otago responded with their only try of the match before MAC asserted their dominance to lead 12-5 at the halftime break thanks to a second try to impressive prop Rhys Hughes.

The match came alive in the second half with the local crowd rewarded when the Cromwell College duo of Ryan Jones (No.8) and Kamryn Reddy (wing) combined for a length of the field try. Jones intercepted a pass and Reddy galloped 50m to score under the bar.

MAC No. 8 Ryan Jones on the charge

With confidence high MAC added two more tries. The first to fullback Marcus Heatherington who used his pace to run through a tiring defence, and the second to Lachie Macdonald to cap off a fine match for him.

Along with Macdonald fellow forward Rhys Hughes again gave his side forward momentum while Jono Watson and Otis Harry were excellent in the lineout.

MAC play the only other unbeaten side in the 1st XV championship this weekend when they take on John McGlashan College in Dunedin. MAC won an earlier encounter (25 July) with John McGlashan 40-33, so the city college will be out for revenge.

Points:

Tries: Lachie Macdonald (2), Rhys Hughes, Kamryn Reddy, Marcus Hetherington.

Conversions: Ryan Jones (4).

Scores:

Championship

Wakatipu HS 7 John McGlashan 37

Mt Aspiring 33 South Otago 5

Waitaki BHS 31 Otago Combined 24.

Premiership

Dunstan HS 27 St Kevin’s College 7

Kings HS 26 Southland BHS 7

Otago BHS 81 Otago BHS 2nd XV 0

Table:

PHOTO: Supplied