The MAC First XV travelled to Dunedin on the weekend to take on the Otago Boys seconds team to decide who would go through to the division two final. Played in atrocious conditions of cold wind and rain it was never going to be a day for running rugby, the game instead becoming an intense tussle of controlling possession and territory.

Otago Boys were the first to score and used their size advantage in the forwards to power over the line to go 7-0 up after 15 minutes. Despite creating opportunities, the MAC boys were unable to hold on to the ball in the right part of the field to mount any meaningful attack play on the OB’s line and the home side held their lead going into the second half.

With the wind now behind them and some smarter play to suit the conditions MAC were able to pressure the OB's defense and Ryan Jones soon found his way over the line to even the score to 7-7.

However, Otago Boys were soon able to get ahead again with a fortunate try from a missed penalty attempt taking the lead to 14-7.  MAC didn’t take long to respond and hit back when Fergus Read pounced on a loose ball to score and with some great goal kicking by TJ Lilley the scores were once again all locked up.

With the season on the line the home side stepped up the attack and when MAC made a mistake deep in their half the OB’s took full advantage to once again power over the line to hit head the lead 19-14 with seven minutes to go.

Now with their season on the line it was the MAC boys that had to dig deep. They soon regained possession and set about methodically working their way towards the OB’s line with short passes and determined running. They were then able to attack the line and TJ Lilley eventually crashed over to even things up once again to 19-19 which was the final score. 

Head Coach Carl Schmack was happy with the result, “ In those conditions the game could have gone either way so to keep coming back at them in the way that they did should some real heart and determination”

As MAC sat above OB’s on the table a draw was good enough to see them go through to the division two final against Dunstan High School this Saturday. The game will be played in Alexandra at Dunstan High School so the boys will be keen for any who can make it down to support them. Kick off will be at 1pm.

The boys will then play Dunstan again next Tuesday in a separate competition, the National Co-Ed schools rugby competition.  The teams will be playing off to decide who is the top Co-Ee rugby team in Otago and the winner will play Southland's top Co-Ed team.

The MAC team played South Otago in that competition earlier in the week comfortably winning 62-0.