For William Colenso High School and Taradale High School the scores are now drawn at five-all after Wednesday's 15th annual Napier Secondary Schools Speech Competition staged by Taradale U3A (University of the Third Age).
Which means next year's event at Taradale Town Hall will be a tie-breaker.
This year's competition was taken out by Lennox Winitana of William Colenso College who won the speech trophy as judged by members of Toastmasters clubs from across the region, and the People's Choice Award sponsored by Paper Plus Taradale.
For her speech, titled "Time not wasted - investing in the younger generation", she received $300 cash and a $150 prize which will serve as an Oratory Award for her school library.
"A very deserving winner," was how U3A member and organising team member Franki James put it.