It was yet another win for the Chapel Hill Highlanders in North Carolina, as they beat the Southern Pines Gators 41-5.

The win makes the Highlanders 3-0 in North Carolina HS Club league play.

“We’re very happy overall,” said Highlanders Coach Robert Joseph. “We continued with our strong defense - we have only given up two tries in the last four games. We also had a couple of new players that got a run so our squad depth is looking really strong especially in the backs.”

Chapel Hill flyhalf Lawrence Bridges is out with broken collarbone so Joseph ran on Aidan Gallagher as the pivot, despite the fact he’s only been with the team for two weeks. Of course, he’s not new to the game, his family just moved to North Carolina from Ireland, and he slid in quite nicely.

Some other new additions to the team are running backs from the local HS football team, and that speed has opened up opportunities and space for everyone. Fullback Ben Austin scored three tries. A contact rugby rookie (he played some touch) and only a sophomore, he has been very good in his new sport. 

“They way he plays you would think he had three or four years of experience, “ said Joseph. 

For Southern Pines, it as a tough game. They have a lot of new players and are still getting up to speed on the rugby part of the equation. 

Next up for Chapel Hill is a trip to play the Union County Lions (17-10 victors over the Charlotte Tigers Friday) in a game that is for the Maxwell Trophy.