As the evening sun was setting, casting a crimson hue across the sky, the shrill of the whistle signaled the start of the final game for the Rebels Rugby season.
It was a tightly contested game from the outset, with both teams dotting over the try line and taking the extra conversion points to bring the score to 7-7. The excitement continued as consecutive unconverted tries quickly came for both teams, taking the score to 12-12.
The match was a bruising encounter, characterized by multiple carries by the forwards up the central channel of the pitch. Seniors Jacob Siler, Merrick Edmondson, Henry Troutman, and Jamie Reinhardt, along with Maddox Tinker and Landon Lockhart-Keener, made notable contributions in this regard. Ayden Muse stood out for his fearless and immense tackling throughout the game.
The contest at the breakdown was fiercely fought by both teams. The majority of the time, the team in possession effectively recycled and retained the ball to get over the gain line with second and third phase ball. Both teams were also quick to the breakdown, with players showcasing their jackling skills to rip and turnover the ball. Jacob Siler and Santi Rivera often emerged from the melee with ball in hand.
Late in the first half, Phoenix took the greatest lead in the game, breaking through traffic to score under the posts for the full 7 points, bringing the score to 19-12 in their favor.
