Boston College High and Fairfield Prep are at the top in Fairfield's Northeast Jesuit Tournament after Saturday's pool play.
Everyone will be in action on Sunday, with most teams playing two more shortened games.
BC High won their pool with well-taken wins over Fairfield Pegasi and McQuaid Jesuit, while Fairfield Prep beat Simsbury and Canisius. Both teams earned bonus points for four tries in a game, and so the tiebreaker for the #1 seed into the semifinals came down to points different, and BC High edged Fairfield by four points.
BC High will take on Trumbull in the semifinals; Trumbull lost a tight one 21-19 to Fordham Prep in the Pool A decider. Fordham faces Fairfield in the other semi.
Fairfield Prep got big performances from junior lock James Burgess, who was a massive defensive presence and also racked up three tries in the two games, and from flyhalf Ben Conelius, who ran the attack nicely.
"We just play a different game when he's with us," said Head Coach Kevin Kery.
As for BC High, Head Coach Paul Carty saw tries scored by nine different players, with many of the tries the result of some good interplay from a variety of players.
It was, said Carty, "selfless rugby." And, he added, "we gave up seven points today in those games, so we are working well together in defense."
BC High No. 8 Conrad Babka scored four tries against the Fairfield Pegasi, including two long-range breaks. Fullback Charlie Thomison was 10-for-10 on conversions against the Fairfield club.
"First day of the season, but the selflessness, communication, and speed of play stand out," said Carty. "Trumbull, Fordham Prep, and Fairfield Prep will hold much tougher challenges tomorrow."
The 5th-through-8th-seeded teams will play for 5th, with Simsbury vs McQuaid Jesuit and BC High vs the Fairfield Club. Ninth-place Canisius will play Fairfield Prep's D2 side.
