HS Championships Update
HS Championships Update
This is a weekend of crowning champions in high school rugby, and here is the latest:
Jesuit defeated Danville to win the Northern California Premier League. Danville scored a penalty goal early in the game, but then the first half was all Jesuit.
With captain Garrett Kay playing really outstanding rugby all season, Jesuit exploded for four tries and a 22-3 lead in the first half. Kyle Estipular, Joe Marchant, Mason Phillips, and Kay all scord tries. Carlos Ramirez added two conversions and two penalties. Joe Marchant and Dylan Boylan were named Jesuit's players of the game.
Also in Northern California, De La Salle dominated against a physical Central Parkway team, winning 72-10. Flanker Richard Fahiua was excellent. The sophomore has had a strong season, but had a breakout game Saturday.
Myers Park defeated the Hough Huskies 36-7 to win the North Carolina single-school title. Myers Park started off with two quick scores, and Hough responded with a try of their own. Hough had a good defensive stand against Myers Park, but eventually the Mustangs broke through. Penalties and good go-forward ball led to another try by Myers Park, and that put the Mustangs in control.
In Southern California, it was semifinal time. Back Bay got some revenge over an earlier loss to Belmont Shore, beating Shore 23-15 to advance to next week's final. Joining them will be the Irvine Rhinos. The Rhinos trailed the San Diego Mustangs 21-7 with five minutes to go. But 370 minutes of rugby in the past ten days started to tell on San Diego, and Irvine scored two tries to tie the game.
The Rhinos could have won it right there, but knocked the ball on at the tryline just as time expired. In overtime, it was too much for the Mustangs. With Wes Uipi getting go-forward in the pack, and Moses Sepulona was excellent at flyhalf, finding space and punishing any missed tackle. The Rhinos scored four unanswered tries in overtime to win it 49-21.
"San Diego were pretty gassed, and our guys finished well," said Rhinos Coach Derek Nellmapius. "We work a lot on strength and conditioning. But we also needed a full team performance."
"The Rhinos are young and very athletic," said Mustangs Coach Ramon Samaniego. "They will be a force for years to com."
And in Texas, the Dallas Harlequins Colts upset Westlake and Woodlands survived Cy Fair for Sunday's final. More on that game here.
Go here to see the live stream of Sunday's final games in Texas.