Orlando has replaced Kahuku HS in the Boys National Invitational Championship after Kahuku opted to play in a west coast invitational instead, and the move is, in the end, jut reward for an improving Orlando team that earned some measure of revenge this past weekend over Daytona.

Daytona beat Orlando badly in the early weeks of the Florida high school rugby season, and Saturday Orlando got revenge with a 23-22 victory.

Daytona scored more tries than Orlando, but Justin Smith was on-target as a goal kicker, and that was a big part of the difference.

Smith slotted two out of three penalty attempts in the opening half to put Orlando up 6-3. Daytona exploded in the second half, scoring three tries and converting two to lead 22-6, but Orlando rebounded.

“The boys were down, but not out,” said Orlando Coach Chris Quigley. “We needed a spark and we were given one.”

Daytona were marching their way down the field, perhaps to score again, when they were penalties. Smith tapped quickly and ran from midfield to score under the posts. That made it 22-13, and Orlando pushed their advantage. Their forwards pounded up the interior channels this time, and flanker Josue Ayla picked and dove over, snapping the ball up and surging forward in one fluid movement Smith hit the conversion and it was 22-20.

With time winding down, Orlando regained possession by forcing a lineout. After a few phases with the forwards, they caught Daytona offside, and Smith slotted the game-winning kick with no time left.

Smith was player of the game, but, said Quigley, Ayla “was an absolute terrier. He led by example.  He created multiple turn over balls.  He scored the second try.  He is everything you want in a #6.”

In other Florida action, Weston, Riviera Beach, and Naples all won comfortably to solidify themselves in 1st in their respective pools. The general consensus is that the teams in the North are all quite strong (event 0-5 Tampa, which lost by a try to the Cape Pirates), and someone will be disappointed to be in the Plate playoffs, while someone else is going to be even more disappointed to be in the Bowl playoffs. 

Cape Pirates face Orlando April 11 for what could be for 1st in the North pool.

Unofficial Florida Standings