In a clash of two of the stronger teams in the Deep South Tuesday night, Brother Martin came back from a 12-point lead to beat Archbishop Shaw 26-24.

The game was competitive throughout. Shaw scored early by pressuring Brother Martin and forcing errors. They then scored a second by running hard off the rucks. Brother Martin replied when captain Daniel Cardenez set up Jordan Scott for a try. Shaw struck back to make it 17-5 at halftime.

Brother Martin turned it around in the second half. Fullback Jason Watts was the danger man, scoring two tries to help put his side up 26-17. Once again, Shaw replied, this time with a quick tap to scamper in. The conversion was good, to make it 26-24. There was time, with seven minutes left, but Brother Martin held on.

“We executed out pattern well during the first half,” said Shaw Coach Tim Falcon. “Fitness, or lack thereof, caught up with us in the second half. Brother Martin took advantage and played aggressive attacking rugby moving the ball wide. Starting the season late and not playing as many matches as them hurt. It was a wakeup call for this group which we believe can be a good team if they commit to getting fitter.”

Brother Martin enjoyed å strong performance from Cardenez, who was ferocious in the tackle, and prop Patrick Clark’s running complemented the speedier work of Watts at fullback. Nelson Broughton led the backline defensive effort at center.

The result throws the Deep South standings into even more of a confusion, as teams that have produced striking early wins have then dropped decisions you might expect them to claim. Lake Area, recent losers to Niceville, is one example. Brother Martin is now in with a shot at the top four, and might well wish that the Deep South used the bonus point system, because their two losses were both by only three points (and their two wins were each by two points).