The semifinals in Rugby Washington kick off Saturday and it’s hard to imagine any team other than Liberty winning it all … unless you’re Budd Bay.

If Budd Bay can get by their longtime rival Kent in the semis, the Barbarians have a good shot at defeating the 9-1 Patriots. That’s because, in their team meetings this season, the teams have been separated by just three points each time - a 17-14 Budd Bay win at Liberty March 21, and a 20-17 Liberty win at Budd Bay April 25.

“Budd Bay has given us problems for years,” said Liberty Head Coach Jeff Candler. “No matter how good a team we’ve had, they’ve stepped up. Their U17s have beaten us three years in a row for the state championship. Counting those games, and a U19 final, they’ve upset us four times in the state final.”

Liberty is determined not to let it happen again. The Patriots have appeared in eight straight state final in both the U19 and U17 brackets, and this year are looking to take state championships in three categories, as they were top seed in the U17 league, and #3 seed in the U15s.

“Budd Bay has proven over and over again that they can step up and beat us,” said Candler. “They lure us into a physical game. We get macho and think we can mash up with them. But while we like to think we are a physical team, we’re mo a finesse team and they are more physical.”

Candler said the Rugby Washington U19 league remains as competitive as ever, with the last place team capable of beating anyone else in the league on any given day.

And while that is true, with the five teams ranked 2 through 6 boasting records between 6-4 and 3-7, Liberty, at 9-1, does seem to be a cut above.

Stacked with talented players, they’ve also seen a few players come on through the season. John Crichton has begun to exert his power in tight, while flyhalf Sam Peters has grown in confidence.

They will need it all, as their coach won’t be there. Candler will be in Georgia to watch his daughter, Tiffani, play for a national title for Central Washington’s women’s team.

“She’s a senior and this will be here last game, so I am actually going to skip being on the sidelines for Liberty,” said Candler. “But I am one very proud dad.” 

Saturday, Liberty (9-1) faces Eastside (4-6) and Kent (6-4) faces Budd Bay (5-5) in the U19 RugbyWa semis.

In the DII bracket, top team Schoolhouse out of Wenatchee (8-0) plays 6-2 Parkland, while 7-0 Rainier Plateau plays 6-1 Shelton.

The U17s semis are Liberty (6-2) v Budd Bay (2-6), and Rainier Highlanders (5-3) v Chuckanut (5-3).

In the U15s, Rainier Highlanders are already in the final, and they will take on the winner of Liberty (5-4-1) and Eastside (7-2-1).