The finalists for the Rugby Pennsylvania boys championships are set as the semifinals were concluded Saturday.

Ina  dramatic Boys HS Club semi, Downingtown just held off West Shore to make the final. There they will meet Doylestown, who won by forfeit over West Chester, as West Chester could not, apparently, field a team the day after their prom.

That was a sad end for West Chester, but things were a little better in the single-school semis. There, Conestoga, led by strong performances from Kade Lamarre and Ronan Carter, looked dominant in a 47-19 victory over La Salle.

Conestoga got into penalty trouble early, and it took more than a quarter of the game for the favorites to settle down.

"After the first 20 minutes of contact, the boys realized they were in just another rugby game," said Conestoga Coach Alex Johnson. "They knew they had to play their best."

Despite winning fairly convincingly, Conestoga was unable to rest many players because La Salle kept coming.

"If we would have taken a breather they would have pounced all over us," said Johnson. "They are a great team."

Things were much closer in St. Joe’s Prep v Gregory the Great. With just about the entire GGA student body either on the field or on the sidelines, the game was played in an intense atmosphere. The teams traded scores back and forth, either being able to shake the other.

In the end, St. Joe’s held on by akin fewer mistakes and converting one more scoring opportunity in a 26-20 decision.

Gaelen Kelly scored two tries for St. Joe’s and Colin Donnelly stepped in very nicely at flyhalf and directed play conservatively, but well enough to get the job done. It was, however, a massively physical game for St. Joe’s and they will have a tough time Sunday in the final against a very impressive Conestoga team.

In DII club, Kiski Valley defeated Coventry 32-7, and Media beat North Penn 43-24 to set up a Kiski v Media final.