Nelson College have become the first school to book their spot for the National 1st XV Championship.
Nelson College were crowned South Island champions on Saturday, beating defending national champions Southland Boys High School 47-24 at their Waimea Road home ground on Saturday.
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In the first meeting between the two schools at opposite ends of the Mainland since 2003, Nelson ran in seven tries from seven different scorers, with captain Harry Inch slotting six conversions.
With the victory, Nelson claimed the Moascar Cup, 1st XV rugby's equivalent of the Ranfurly Shield, which they will have to defend at the Top Four tournament in Palmerston North from September 5-7.
Nelson struck early with tries to prop Samuela Takapu and hooker Jack Trott, but Southland levelled the scores up with five-pointers from outside backs Jack Brock and Will Garrick. A solo break from Inch set up halfback Oliver Gibbons for a try just before halftime, putting the home side up 21-14.
Nelson scored three tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half, through flanker Saumaki Saumaki, centre Fanua Fa'avae and wing Mikey Morrison for a 42-19 lead.
SBHS got two second-half tries from powerful replacement wing Ezekell Hammond-Siolo but they were never a serious threat of a comeback, with Nelson loose forward Kobe Brownlee capping off the win late.
Despite being a dominant force in the Crusaders competition in the last decade, it will be the Collegians' first Top Four appearance since 2019 and just their third overall, with the other coming in 2007.
At the Top Four tournament, Nelson will face either Auckland 1st XV 1A winners Kelston Boys High or North Harbour 1st XV 1A winners Westlake Boys High, who meet for the Blues Cup on Saturday (kick-off 12pm).
Kelston won their second Auckland title in the last three years, holding off St Kentigern College 30-24 at Eden Park on Saturday.
Westlake, a Top Four team the last two seasons, avenged their only loss of the season, beating Rosmini College 41-27 for the North Harbour title, their fourth straight, while they were also top-ranked when the 2020 and 2021 seasons were cancelled.
The other Top Four semifinal will pit the Chiefs and Hurricanes region champions against each other.
Five-time national champions Hamilton Boys High will face four-time winners Rotorua Boys High for the Chiefs title in Hamilton on Saturday (kick-off 12pm), after contrasting semifinal wins last weekend.
Rotorua had no issues against an overmatched Pukekohe High in Pukekohe, winning 76-0, while Hamilton BHS battled past New Plymouth Boys High on the road 36-29.
In the Hurricanes final on Saturday at Massey University (kick-off 1.15pm), Feilding High will chase their first appearance at the Top Four against four-time participants Palmerston Boys High.
Feilding, the Central North Island 1st XV runners-up, defeated Gisborne Boys High 28-14 at home in the semifinals, while Palmerston North BHS upset Wellington 1st XV Premiership champions St Pat's Silverstream 30-19 at home.
NATIONAL 1ST XV RESULTS
NORTH HARBOUR 1ST XV 1A
Final: Westlake BHS 41 Rosmini College 27
Plate Final: Mahurangi College beat Massey HS by default
NORTH HARBOUR 1ST XV 1B
Final: Kaipara College 29 Westlake BHS 2nd XV 12
Plate Final: Westlake BHS 3rd XV Green beat Rosmini College 2nd XV by default
AUCKLAND 1ST XV 1A FINAL
Kelston BHS 30 St Kentigern College 24
AUCKLAND 1ST XV 1B
Final: Tangaroa College 27 Macleans College 24
Plate Final: Avondale College 19 Onehunga HS 15
CHIEFS SEMIFINALS
Rotorua BHS 76 Pukekohe HS 0
Hamilton BHS 36 New Plymouth BHS 29
HURRICANES SEMIFINALS
Feilding HS 28 Gisborne BHS 14
Palmerston North BHS 30 St Pat's Silverstream 19
SOUTH ISLAND FINAL
Nelson College 47 Southland BHS 24