The Mount Aspiring College boys 1st XV (MAC) scored a comfortable but unconvincing 26-7 win over Waitaki Boys High School in Oamaru on Saturday (29 August).

Playing into a stiff breeze in front of a boisterous home crowd MAC struggled for rhythm in the first half. 

Bereft of possession early in the match, MAC defended well and, once able to secure the ball, impressive MAC fullback Marcus Heatherington found space out wide to score in the corner.

Waitaki responded with a converted try before MAC’s Lachy Moore scored late in the half to give MAC a 12-7 halftime lead.

With the wind behind them and a few positional changes MAC was able to assert some dominance in the second half. Captain Ryan Schmack playing at second five scored an individual try when he beat his marker.

MAC continued to pressure the Waitaki line with unforced errors preventing the scoreboard from ticking over.

Lachy Moore made some explosive runs

Late in the game young first five Rory Read scooped up a loose ball to score under the posts and close the match out for MAC.

"We shut down everything they had and took our chances,” MAC head coach Carl Schmack said. “Waitaki were definitely up for it.”

For MAC Ryan Schmack led by example, defending gallantly and producing some telling runs. Explosive wing Lachy Moore produced another quality display.

MAC finishes the championship round on top of the table equal with John McGlashan College. The two sides missed playing each other due to COVID-19 cancelling a round of the competition. Both sides progress to the middle four semifinals this week where MAC will face St Kevin’s College in Oamaru and John McGlashan will play Otago Boys 2nd XV in Dunedin.

Points:

Tries: Marcus Hetherington, Lachy Moore, Ryan Schmack, Rory read.

Conversions: Ryan Jones (3).

Table:

PHOTOS: Supplied