St. Thomas Aquinas defeated the Kansas City Cougars 38-12 Saturday to take the Kansas Youth Rugby championship and exact revenge on a team that had beaten them earlier in the season.

Aquinas Head Coach Tim Kluempers said his team controlled the kicking game much better in this meeting of the two teams.

“We kicked with purpose,” he said. “We took care of the ball. We did a much better job of adapting to the referee and what he was calling.”

KC scored in the first minute of the game, but after that Aquinas had the run over play.

“Our backs are getting better and getting on track - we’re getting deeper and tighter and we’re understand how to play with each other,” added Kluempers. “We did a really nice job in the lineout, and the scrum was solid.”

Center Kevin McDonnell notched two tries and was dangerous in attack, while Stephen Flaspohler stepped in at scrumhalf in place of Hayden King, who was being held out due to a concussion. A skilled flyhalf and center, Flaspohler played his first game at scrumhalf and did well, scoring two tries and moving the ball well.

Now Aquinas looks ahead to the National High School Championships, where they have been put in the single-school top tier, and face defending national champs Gonzaga.

“The boys are excited about it,” said Kluempers. “That’s the way to measure yourself, play against the best. We will go out and play as hard as we can play.”