For the first time since 2017 there will not be a Californian team in the final of the HS National Championships Club Division.
A brilliant tactical game from Charlotte Cardinals and a powerful performance from The Woodlands put those teams into the final.
The Woodlands
Woodlands and Belmont Shore traded scores throughout their game. Belmont Shore looked to exert dominance with their forwards but the Woodlands pack is pretty strong, too, and they defended well.
Flanker Grant Raper was a big part of the defense, while Sky Feletoa was a monster running with the ball. The center pairing of Jace Hernandez and Zane Smith tested the Belmont Shore defense while there were opportunities for the likes of Elijah Lolesio-Pua and Lenny Ibarra, Shore did not run away with it.
Raymond Gomez scored two tries and Jasiah Lolesio-Pua scored one for Shore, but tries from relatively early tries from Junior Alatini on an excellent cutback, Mason Wilson powering over at hooker, and wing Sebastian Infante finishing off a long period of pressure, Woodlands won.
With Neel Menon's excellent goalkicking producing two conversions and a penalty, and Belmont Shore getting into penalty trouble, Woodlands took the game 22-17.
