Four unanswered second-half tries have lifted the Southland Boys’ High School first XV to a commanding 34-7 victory over St Bede’s College in Christchurch on Saturday.
It made it four straight wins for the Southland school in the new South Island boys’ school competition.
It was a clunky start to the game from both teams before loosehead prop Mito Faalialia, who was returning after an injury layoff, crossed for Southland Boys’ High School at the 11-minute mark.
It was good reward for Faalialia after some strong defensive efforts early in the game.
Home team St Bede’s hit the lead after 19 minutes with its sole try of the game, making it 7-5. However, their stint in the lead was a brief one.
Southland Boys’ produced a scrum penalty and from that kicked the ball deep into the St Bede’s half and went to work with a lineout drive.
Hooker Simpson Stevenson was the benefactor, scoring from the drive and the Jack Brock extras made it 12-7 at halftime.
At that point, St Bede’s and its large group of supporters would have felt they were still well and truly in the contest before a 10-minute or so period soon after halftime broke them.
Southland Boys’ scored three tries in quick succession, the first to Year 11 left wing Jackson Timaloa.
That was followed by blindside flanker Cruz Swain crossing out wide, before second five-eighth Charlie Byrne latched onto an intercept and sprinted in to score Southland Boys’ fifth try, pushing it out to 27-7.
For good measure, the visitors added one final try through tight-head prop Elliot Wilson to increase the final score to 34-7.
Wilson has been one of the Southland Boys’ best to date in 2026, and that continued again on Saturday.
No 8 Hunter Newell also carried the ball strongly against St Bede’s while the Invercargill school’s most dangerous attacking threats continue to be centre Caleb Harvey and fullback Jack Brock.
Southland Boys’ also welcomed back halfback Charlie Walker from injury on Saturday.
Saturday’s game was part of the South Island competition’s “Magic Round” where the teams have all converged on Christchurch.
There will be another round of games on Monday with Southland Boys’ High School to take on Nelson College.
Meanwhile, in the Southern Schools qualifying competition this week, Central Southland College had a 31-18 loss to Wakatipu High School. Southland’s other representative in the competition, Hokonui Colleges, had the bye.
In the Southland senior boys competition, the Southern Harlequins kept its unbeaten run intact, recording a 15-12 victory over the SBHS Pups team.
The SBHS Cubs ran in seven tries in a 37-7 win against Verdon College, while the James Hargest College v SBHS Dogs of War clash was unfortunately cut short because of an injury.
The Dogs of War were leading 22-7 early in the game when the game was stopped at Rugby Park as they waited for an ambulance to arrive. The long delay meant the game was not restarted.
