Southland Boys' 'back on the horse' to blitz John McGlashan College

Southland Boys’ led 21-7 at halftime and also won the second half 21-7 to complete the 42-14 victory over John McGlashan College.

First five-eighth Mika Muliaina against impressed in Southland Boys’ win over John McGlashan College (file photo). Photo: DEBBIE FAHEY

The Southland Boys’ High School’s first XV’s busy and largely encouraging start to the 2023 season continues.

Southland Boys’ recorded impressive wins over two visiting Auckland schools - Kings College and Auckland Grammar - last month.

That was before a trip to Christchurch on Saturday where it suffered a 38-22 loss to a promising Christchurch Boys’ High School outfit.

However, Southland Boys’ quickly responded with another outing on Wednesday beating John McGlashan College 42-14 in Dunedin.

“We had to get back on the horse after we got kicked off on Saturday by Christchurch Boys’,” SBHS coach Jason Dermody said.

Southland Boys’ led 21-7 at halftime and also won the second half 21-7 to complete the 42-14 victory over John McGlashan.

“We played with a bit of width and skinned them a few times in the backs which was quite good.”

Centre Preston Evans impressed in both attack and on defence in the win, while 16-year-old first five-eighth Mika Muliaina controlled the game well and captain Gregor Rutledge again got through plenty of work as a loose forward.

It could be viewed as a little bit of revenge after John McGlashan beat Southland Boys’ in the 2022 Otago Secondary Schools final but the reality is both teams are much different in 2023. Particularly John McGlashan which lost most of its 2022 squad.

Former Southland Stags first five-eighth Ash Barron is coaching John McGlashan.

Southland Boys’ now eye yet another big fixture when they take on Otago Boys’ High School in Invercargill on Wednesday.