In a rain-soaked and slippery contest, defense took center stage as BC High and Xaverian clashed in a tense, physical Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state final.
The wet conditions made handling difficult, and both teams were forced to dig deep on the defensive end throughout. BC High opened the scoring ten minutes into the first half, with Charlie Thomison slotting a short-range penalty. Ten minutes later, Thomison again made his mark, breaking through off a well-executed set piece and racing down to the 5-meter line.
Quick ball from the breakdown allowed flanker Cillian O’Callaghan to dive over in the corner, extending the lead to 8-0.
Despite both sides spending time inside the opposition 22, defensive pressure and the slick ball led to repeated handling errors, and the score remained unchanged at halftime with BC High holding the lead.
The second half continued in the same physical vein, with territory proving vital. BC High controlled possession deep in Xaverian’s half for the first 15 minutes, but Xaverian’s defense was resolute. Eventually, hooker Max Ford exploited a small gap off a well-timed ball from scrumhalf Braxton Blind and powered through to score, pushing BC High ahead 13-0 with 17 minutes remaining.
