After a nervous start, the Wanganui High School 1st XV led for most of the final of the McDonald's Manawatu Colts competition before succumbing to Massey White 24-19 in Palmerston North at the weekend.
WHS have competed in the tough under-21 competition for three years now and while disappointed not to win outright, the team felt no shame in being runner-up this season, according to deputy principal Chris Friedel.
The other two years WHS have finished fourth.
In her weekly rugby newsletter to parents, WHS supporter Stacey Ranginui said the lads showed a few nerves early in the match allowing Massey to capitalise and score in the corner. The conversion was unsuccessful, but the home side were up 5-0.
WHS then shrugged off the nerves and Sheldon Pakinga intercepted the ball to score under the posts, making for an easy conversion by Mitchell Millar.