The Mount Aspiring College (MAC) boys 1st XV suffered their third defeat in the Premiership division of the Otago Premier Schools rugby competition on Saturday (July 10), going down 53-12 to John McGlashan College in Dunedin.

John McGlashan scored three tries in the dying minutes of the match as MAC’s effort told. Up to that point MAC had shown good competitiveness, but a lack of substitutes due to injury saw John McGlashan take full advantage of a tiring MAC side.

MAC enjoyed a strong breeze at its back in the first half and used it well to secure good field position. However it was John McGlashan which opened the scoring, adapting to the conditions well with a short accurate passing game.

Shortly after, MAC was down to 14 players following a yellow card and John McGlashan extended its lead to 12-0. The match looked to be getting away from MAC when impressive wing Ben Simmers intercepted a wayward pass to score under the posts to bring MAC back into the match.

John McGlashan continued to pressure MAC while a man down and went into halftime 22-7 ahead and with the advantage of the breeze in the second half.

Against the wind it was always going to be difficult to hold out John McGlashan who, once in possession for a few phases, was able to stretch the MAC defence and find gaps. 

To its credit MAC defended well and John McGlashan had to work for its points, scoring twice more to lead 36-7 before MAC put some good phases together with strong pick-and-go work by the forwards. This set up a good platform for first five Rory Read to attack, slipping through defenders to score (36-12) before the flood gates opened late for John McGlashan to add three further tries.

“We took another step forward being competitive for the whole first half,” MAC coach Gareth Howley said. “Our own errors let us down and led to the score line getting away from us”.

MAC first five Rory Read had a strong game with Will Collins leading in defence.

The competition will take a break for the school holidays and return on Saturday July 24 when MAC will host South Otago High School in Wanaka. South Otago, the other side promoted to the premiership after the first round, beat MAC 23-19 in Balclutha earlier in the year. MAC will be looking to avenge that loss.

MAC scorers:

Tries: Ben Simmers, Rory Read

Conversions: Thomas Evans

Results

Table

PHOTO: Supplied