We have three champions crowned at the National Youth 7s.
Here's how it happened.
U18s
Panther Rugby Academy won all five of their games without allowing a point. Their defense was very impressive, especially their cover defense. But, more importantly, the PRA team didn't make drastic mistakes. They executed their passes, didn't give up wild turnovers, and as a result didn't give up soft tries.
Restart errors are a big way to give up soft tries, and they avoided that pitfall.
Iowa Selects battled past Badger Rugby in the semifinal to set up the final. And in the final Iowa played a very smart tactical game. They worked the ball well, used their physicality, and kept possession. As a result, while PRA scored early through the electric Ivan Nisa, and led 7-0 early. But they couldn't break through for another. Iowa kept at it but couldn't break through, either, although they were held up in-goal late in the first half.
Late in the game, Iowa got close to the PRA line, but a couple of reserves were brought on, including the very scampery Epa Mataitonga, by Panther and they helped force a turnover. Then, as time wound down, Colin Spellacy forced a holding-on penalty at midfield and PRA kicked to touch to end the game.
This was an excellent team effort. Nisa and Bryson Cook were both really strong for PRA, and Jake Orefice and Landon Lockhard-Keener were key in keeping everyone dialed in. For Iowa, this was an excellent showing and they were not far off from winning the trophy. Logan Lashbrook was a powerful present in the middie, while Brandon Bogseth was strong but also a good communicator. But everything for Iowa went through captain Blake Guthrie, who is a very smart rugby player who kept his team focused and made smart decisions.
In the 3rd-4th match, Gorilla and Badgers played to a dramatic tie. It was a defensive battle and Badgers scored a well-taken try to take a 7-0 lead into the halftime break. Gorilla scored after a breakaway to tie it up.
That ended up taking us to overtime and this was perhaps a half too long for Gorilla, which took 7s players to the tournament. Badgers broke down the sideline to score the game-winner.
U16s
PRA edged a very good Loudoun County team to make the final while Bethesda and Badger played a tight one. Well, that was just fine for Bethesda, as they had won two games by a try or less the day before.
Panther had the ball for a long period early on in the first half but Bethesda's defense held on tenaciously. But finally harassment from scrumhalf Liam McGettigan forced a knock-on and the ball was sent wide to Seon Kumar, who sliced his way through. Trace Snellman nailed the tough conversions for a 7-0 lead.
Bethesda answered right off the restart as David Pfaff raced through the middle to make it 7-5. Panther then got a nice sidestep and run through the middle from John Eddleman and PRA led 14-5.
It was almost 21-5. Right as the first half ended, the Panthers got a couple of penalties and threatened the Bethesda line. They had a chance on a switch move but decided not to run the switch.
"Too much hero ball," said Coach Gary Anderson. Bethesda held them up in-goal to end the first half.
In the second half some impressive interplay with several of the Bethesda players, including Dylan King and Matias Moleres Cadieux, set up a try to inch them closer at 14-12. Then some smart counterrucking forced a penalty for Bethesda and Moleres Cadieux raced down the sideline to score and make it 19-14.
With time gone on full time, PRA got a penalty, surged on, got another penalty, and finally Snellman drew a final defender and fed Kumar to score in the corner. Conversion a bit too far to get over, and we had overtime.
Bethesda received the ball in OT and quickly Moleres Cadieux had space down the sideline and through he went.
For Bethesda, this was (mostly) a team of players who have played as a club through the season. They did add a couple of players for this tournament, but overall this was a club that played as club all season. Their unity of purpose saw them through.
For PRA, that held-up at the end of the first half hurt. Had they scored then they would have started the second half up three scores and might well have changed their tactics as a result.
