Kentucky staked its claim to being the top side in the SCRC and, perhaps, the whole of D1AA in the fall with a 40-25 defeat of South Carolina.

With that win and Tennessee’s very close 31-29 victory over Alabama the SCrC semifinals are set for two weeks hence.

The Wildcats opened the scoring against the Gamecocks with a nicely-executed 50-22 from flyhalf Jack Phillips and a maul from the ensuing lineout for Holden Hahn to touch down. It was methodical opening to the game and was essentially how Kentucky took care of business.

Phillips continues to impress with his kicking game and his ability to put players in space, while the forwards helped control the momentum of the first half as the Wildcats took a 35-3 lead into the break.

John Dardis scored on an interception; Jared Monnier powered over later in the first half, and Luke Keough set up Parker Kabel for another try. Phillips, meanwhile, kept the scoreboard ticking over, converting three of the four tries and adding three penalty goals.

Monnier at prop and Will Meckauskas at lock, along with co-captain Tyler Walenga, “are simply mistake -erasers,” said Head Coach Sam Enari. They play hard defense, they clean up loose ball, and they get the Kentucky attack moving forward.

The second half was not so dominant for Kentucky as they rang the changes, but the game was in control after that regardless.

“We are not satisfied with the second half, especially the last 20 minutes, but overall we’re pleased to end the conference regular season without a conference loss for our 1st side or our 2nd side.”

First-year lock Connor Dunlop at 6-9 has much to offer and he was a menace in contact. Junior scrumhalf Alec Cole worked well with Phillips in running the attack, and on the wing Matt Verdes defended exceedingly well and when he had to get out of difficulty did well to make tacklers miss to buy his support tie.