By Stu Piddington

A determined Timaru Boys' High School First XV upset St Andrews College 14-11 to win the Moascar Cup for the first time in their long rugby history.

The Moascar Cup is the Ranfurly Shield of New Zealand schoolboy rugby and has been around since 1920.

TBHS deserved their 14-11 win in Christchurch, also inflicting St Andrews' first loss in the Crusaders Schools Championship.

Assistant coach Gavin Miller said it was taking him some time to process the significance of winning such a prestigious trophy.

"As you can image it spends a lot of time in the North Island at certain schools."

Miller credited the side's uncompromising defence for the win.

"The boys tackled really well and scored two good tries."

Only four South Island schools have ever held the cup, Christchurch Boys' High School (the inaugural winners), St Bede's College, St Andrews and now TBHS.

Even Otago Boys' High School, who have produced 19 All Blacks and have been the South Island's strongest school in recent years, has never held the Moascar Cup.

TBHS got off to the perfect start with try to No.8 Finlay Joyce from a lineout move, with Monty Nixon landing the conversion from out near the touch.

St Andrews replied with a try and penalty to take the lead 8-7, then extended to four points with another penalty.

With three minutes left, TBHS centre Ofa Manuofetoa went in under the posts after an attacking move off a scrum, with TBHS using their big wing Isireli Kawa as a decoy.

TBHS then had to staunchly defend in the final few minutes for their victory.

For TBHS prop Thomas Edwards had an excellent game along with fellow front rower Shane Fikken, who continues to impress despite only being in year 11.

Captain Cullen Grace put in his usual strong performance in the pack while Joyce also played a crucial hand in the win.

TBHS were dealt a blow early losing second five Brad Cvtanich to a knee injury which meant Caleb Wheeler-Hunt had to shift from open side to second five.

Wheeler-Hunt and Manuofetoa, however, proved a handful for the St Andrews midfield, while Kawa was dangerous out wide on the few occasions he saw the ball.

TBHS will have to again find an extra gear to retain the Moascar Cup, with a run of three tough home matches in 10 days coming up.

They host Nelson Boys' College on Saturday, then Otago Boys' High School in their traditional inter-school fixture on Wednesday before facing Christ's College, with the cup on the line each time.

MOASCAR CUP

The Ranfurly Shield of New Zealand schoolboy rugby.

It dates back to the end of the World War I.

While the fighting was over, some troops remained partly because there were not enough ships available to get them home.

British, New Zealand and Australian soldiers camped at Moascar in Ismaila, Egypt formed the Ismaila Rugby Union and organised a rugby competition and a cup – described as "a handsome Irish cup" – and had it mounted on a piece of a wooden propeller from a German aircraft shot down in Palestine.

Thus, the Moascar Cup came into being and was won by the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Unit and Depot, which won nine of its ten matches.

The cup was brought home and presented to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union on condition that it be a challenge trophy for secondary schools.

Only four South Island schools have ever held the cup, Christchurch Boys' High School (the inaugural winners), St Bede's College, St Andrews and now Timaru Boys' High School.

The rules stipulate it must be played for at every home game. St Andrews became the holders after beating Wellington's Scots College last year.