King’s squares ledger with McGlashan

KING’S High School first XV held on to beat John McGlashan College 1714 in a tense Otago Premier Schools fixture on Saturday.

In the opening game of the season, McGlashan scored late then drilled a sideline conversion to nab a 1513 win. But this time King’s was able to maintain its lead, thanks to some wonderful goalkicking by Logan Wilson.

McGlashan scored two tries to one but Wilson kicked four penalties to keep his side ahead.

King’s coach Ryan Bambry said it was an important win, which promoted King’s to pole position in the top six.

King’s led 110 before McGlashan scored a converted try late in the half to close the gap.

Wilson added two more penalties to stretch the lead to 177. McGlashan rallied with a nice converted try and kept searching for a winner.

‘‘We felt like we were in control but Johnnies came back at us and threw everything at us in that last quarter of an hour but we were able to hang on,’’ Bambry said.

Left winger Esekia Satau had a barnstorming game and scored the opening try.

Lock Eyso Kolman had his first start of the year and was named player of the day for his effort in the engine room.

King’s loosie Keanu Vanisi broke his leg in the first few minutes and will miss the rest of the season.

In the other topsix game, Dunstan High School dispatched Mt Aspiring College 417 in Wanaka.

In the bottom six, Otago Boys’ High School 2nd XV beat Taieri College 4419 to take sole ownership of first place. St Kevin’s climbed into second place with a 3429 win against Kavanagh College, and South Otago High School was too good for King’s Seconds, winning 375.