LaSalle College HS defeated Berks County in an impressive final to win the Rugby Pennsylvania boys 7s championships this fall.
Three La Salle teams competed in championship tournament, playing 14 total games over two days. All three teams made their respective championship matches. The 2025 Rugby 7s Explorers entered the state championship weekend as the 1st-place team in Pennsylvania with a 22-4 regular-season record.
Behind them were Downingtown (19-7) and Berks (18-7-1), who both had shown the ability to beat strong opposition. (Worth noting that Greenwich out of Connecticut played in some of the Rugby PA tournaments and had a winning record. Some of the losses suffered by teams such as Downingtown and Berks were to Greenwich.)
Downingtown's overall rugby knowledge and athleticism and grit from Berks made them real contenders.
The Saturday pool play round was held at Greater Chester Valley Sports Complex in Malvern followed by the Sunday knockout round at Penn State Berks.
La Salle started Saturday off well with a 21-5 victory over a talented Doylestown team. With little break before the next matchup, the Explorers were then surprised with a 12-5 loss to a disciplined Elizabethtown team. Elizabethtown had bounced between the top tier and the second tier in Rugby PA's fall competition, and that had been a good combination for them—build confidence with wins in Tier 2, and learn from tougher games in Tier 1.
But finishing 1-1 in pool play was enough for LaSalle to make it to the semis, but were 2nd-seed from their pool.
Berks and Downingtown, predictably, battled for tops in Pool B, and Downingtown took that game. However, it was a pyrrhic victory as that meant they would face LaSalle in the semis.
Berks were impressive over Elizabethtown, scoring right from the opening kickoff to lead 7-0. Elizabethtown responded, working the ball sideline-to-sideline and unleashing their speed to, finally, score from long range. Both teams hit hard in the second half but Elizabethtown was able to bottle up Berks, get a turnover, and run a nifty play to put Francis Burke in under the posts.
However, on further review, there was a knock-on earlier in the play and that try was negated. Berks clung to a 7-5 lead.
Berks kicked to touch from the ensuing scrum, and then stole the lineout throw. They went wide quickly and Patrick Derosato ran in from long range. Having spent the entire second half defending and stuck in their 22, Berks had been the one to score and seal the win 12-5.
In the other semi, Jack Druger got the scoring started for LaSalle, stealing the ball and racing 70 meters. Downingtown took advantage of several La Salle penalties and marched down the field making it 7-5. As time was expiring in the first half, the Explorers maintained possession, keeping the clock alive. The ball was skipped to Maddox Meissler, who weaved through Downingtown defenders to touch it down and put La Salle up 12-7 at halftime.
Neither team allowed the other to get going in the second half, and the score remained 12-7. LaSalle would meet Berks in the final.
