This was the best Southland Boys’ team we had seen in years - big, aggressive, structured and skilled. Pre-season they put away King’s College from Auckland, then Christchurch Boy’s High School. We were on notice.

In our first encounter in 2021, an interschool in Invercargill, they stormed to a 20-point lead before our boys knew what had hit them. Led by an incredible effort from our pack, OBs clawed back to a three-point margin in the final few minutes, but the calls didn’t go our way and a nicely-taken dropped goal by Southland’s first five, Kaea Nikora-Balloch, sealed a six-point win for the home team.

As the final whistle blew, we knew our work was cut for us to win the competition this year. But mahi is what this team is all about.

The second encounter, the 150th anniversary match for the Otago Boys’ High School Rugby Club - was a one-point win for OBHS at Littlebourne. We were the physically dominant team on the day, with a nicely worked try to Hopo and our forwards parked on the SBHS line for long spells. But, as always, Southland refused to buckle, defending grittily to slow our momentum and earn penalties, shadowing us on the scoreboard in increments of three. We got there in the end by a single point - 13-12. But we’ll take one point against SBHS any day of the week.

Having played them twice for one win each, we knew the final was going to be very close. But, honestly, wow…

We’re familiar with finals footy so the boys knew to stay relaxed and calm ahead of kick-off, then flick the switch on the field. And did they ever.

A lot of (deserved) attention has been paid to a certain three pointer at the end of the game, but this was a team performance built on defence, accuracy, patience and courage. The opportunity to win the game in those final moments was in large part due to the explosive effort from our pack in the first half. This was a 70 minute thriller.

In the lead-up to the first try, Finn Hurley put a long, low kick into the SBHS 22, turning their fullback and pressuring him to kick. Finn meanwhile darted to the side-line to wait for the return, which he gathered then dropped onto his boot, chipping to turn the fullback round again, trapping him behind the line and earning a five-metre scrum for OBs. After winning the scrum, the pack stayed patient, working through multiple phases before Reuben Bouman darted over by the right hand post.

The second try was an absolute belter; the pack driving from the back of a line-out on the SBHS 22, an all in maul as Reuben directed the backs to pile in, surging 20 metres for Ronan Dynes to score. What a try.

SBHS responded shortly before half time, working through multiple phases, challenging our defence until a hole opened for a big lock to lumber over for a well-worked try.

Five minutes into the second half, as our pack pressed up the right hand touch, Southland pulled down a maul and the ref swung his arm to signal penalty advantage. With nothing to lose, on the 40 metre line and five metres in from touch, Finn Hurley ventured a droppy. Over!

At 20-7 down, however, SBHS do what they always do - dig it in and mount a comeback. Their tackles gained venom and their carries grew stronger, ratcheting up the pressure as they brought the game to us. After camping in on our 22 and working through multiple phases, Nikora-Balloch drifted right and popped an inside ball to his centre to crash over.

The momentum had shifted now, and still SBHS kept coming. Sending runners down the edges and using their big pack to work through multiple phases. 50 minutes in, Finn Hurley copped a boot to the head and had to leave the field for the blood bin. We were suddenly under real pressure.

The OBs forwards steadied the ship with one off runners, keeping it tight, as Southland probed the edges with kicks and runners. A bomb from the SBHS right wing Richie Kuresa was spilled on our 22. Kuresa gathered the pill, spun, and charged at the line - popping a pass to captain Jack Taylor to score. SBHS were now in the lead, 21-20.

The blowtorch was on us. The forwards stayed patient, rumbling it up, metre by metre, looking to steady the ship until Hurley rejoined us, swathed in bandages, covered in blood.

Southland were penalised for offside and Hurley plugged the corner for the lineout. Semisi peeled off the ensuing maul and charged, Southland taking him to ground then infringing at the breakdown. A penalty for OBs, calmly slotted by Hurley. 10 minutes to go and we were back in front by a nose.

But SBHS kept pressing, taking the direct route straight up the middle, then sending the ball wide and probing the edges, testing our mettle. A threatening raid down the left edge was snuffed by Oscar Anderson, who calmly marked a chip kick then raked off a 45 metre clearance. Still SBHS kept pressing. A few phases later and we were penalised for offside, 35 metres in front of the posts on a gentle angle. Nikora-Balloch slotted the penalty and SBHS were back in front.

At 24-23 down with 5 minutes to play, the pressure was intense. But one thing about our team is that they never, ever give up. From the ensuing kick-off our pack went to work, patiently working through phases, only to yield a penalty for being off our feet. SBHS plugged the right touchline, took the line-out then ran left, again attacking the edge. A forward pass from Nikora-Balloch gave us a scrum, and moments later we secured a ruck penalty midfield.

With three minutes left on the clock we had one more chance. Hurley plugged the left touchline, giving us an attacking lineout 30 metres out. This was it. Do or die.

Alex McLachlan threw another dart to Ronan Dynes and the pack set to work, building through phases towards the posts. Booth shifted the ball left to Semisi, who was grass cut in a no-arms tackle. The ref swung his arm for penalty advantage but the team played on, our big forwards setting for another pod. Ashton Booth had meanwhile heard a call from deep and set to pass.

There’s an old saying, “cometh the hour, cometh the man” big players take the big moments under big pressure. Take a bow, Finn Hurley. Ashton fired a bullet back to Finn, who with four Southland defenders on top of him, calmly slotted a droppy from 40 metres out on the angle. Up in the North Stand, the Hoops Army went nuts.

One minute 20 seconds to play, time enough for SBHS to pin us in our 40 and force a penalty. But, as they’ve done all year, our forwards delivered when it mattered, fielding the kick-off and keeping the ball tight, cycling through multiple phases, one-off runs, soaking up the pressure and winding down the clock. The Hoops Army counted it down for us, 5-4-3-2-1, Booth fired it to Hurley, who nudged it into touch.

What a game. Two unbelievable teams. One winner. OBHS 1st XV.