CBHS ready for Southland

Christchurch Boys’ High must cut down their error rate and maintain discipline to book a spot in the national schoolboy finals.

Boys’ High host Highlanders’ qualifiers Southland Boys’ High in the South Island final at Straven Road on Saturday.

Christchurch Boys’ snuck past Shirley Boys’ 21-20 in the Crusaders’ regional final last weekend, but it could have easily gone the other way.

To topple a talented Southland Boys’ side, Boys’ High will need to do a better job of holding onto the ball and reducing their penalty count. They were also guilty of a couple of costly missed tackles that allowed Shirley Boys’ to slice through and score.

Centre Matt Jensen was one of Christchurch Boys’ best in the final and they will be looking for him to produce plenty of goforward. Left wing Atu Manu bagged a brace of tries in the decider to take his tally for the season to 14 and is one of the best young finishers in the region.

Christchurch Boys’ will be thrilled to be through to the South Island decider after a slow start to their campaign.

In their opening game in late April they were upset by Marlborough Boys’ College at home, but since then have strung 14 consecutive Crusaders’ competition wins together.

Southland Boys’ will be quietly confident in their ability having been much improved in 2016. They ran in some impressive tries when they knocked over Otago Boys’ High 32-19 in Dunedin in May for their first victory over their traditional foe since 2008.

Southland Boys’ overcame Dunedin’s John McGlashan College 31-17 in the Highlanders’ final last Saturday.

Kickoff is at 1pm.