It’s a big weekend in South Carolina HS rugby as South Greenville takes on Chapin in a game that will decide who wins the Midlands Division, and in the Coast Division, School of the Arts and Bishop England clash to see who finishes 2nd.

South Greenville is feeling pretty good, coming off a 20-0 defeat of Greenville HS on a rainy Friday.

Tall flyhalf Hippolyte Houette, who moved to South Carolina from France with his family, was a big influence on the game as his goalkicking was part of the different. The 6-4 #10 slotted two difficult penalty goals to give South Greenville a 20-0 lead, and then he converted tries by Zantravius Wardlaw and lock Ebube David-Osuagwu - both from the touchline - to complete the scoring.

Scrumhalf Jackson Clark was the catalyst for the team, often zipping down the blind side to test the Greenville HS defense.

“Our defense has been incredible all year,” said Coach Phil Weston, whose team has allowed eight points in six games (that’s right, eight points total, not per-game). “We are athletic and often physically bigger than our opponents, and we’re working well together. But Greenville High was tough. They have a very good lineout and we stopped contesting it, and just tried to stop their maul.”

Greenville HS Coach Lawson Ballard said he felt fairly good about the game as a whole.

“We have a very young team,” said Ballard. “They’ve got a majority of juniors and seniors. So I am extremely happy with how well this 80% sophomore team performed. Most of the team we have is the group that won the U15 state title. So we’re pleased with our progress.”

Greenville HS drops to 4-2, and still has an excellent shot at 3rd in the Midlands. But 1st is down to South Greenville, currently 6-0, and Chapin, currently 6-0-1.

“We are,” said Weston, “cautiously optimistic.”

Teams from the two divisions are all fighting for the eight quarterfinal places, with standings points deciding who fits where (because one conference plays eight games and the other seven, the Midlands will drop their results against the bottom team to help even things out). 

So that makes the playoff scenarios a bit convoluted, but it is clear that Wando will be one of the top two seeds, and so will the winner of South Greenville v Chapin.

School of the Arts and Bishop England both are in good shape to make the playoffs, as are Aiken, Irmo, and Greenville HS. Lexington plays Irmo on Friday and that’s also a big game for both.