The saying is "Iron sharpens Iron" and that would mean the Atlantic Rugby Conference is pretty magnetic.
There's plenty of iron in the ARC was in this week's four NCR D1 playoff games, ARC games won three of them. The other game? The ARC team lost by a point.
Walsh defeated a young but tenacious Aquinas side 40-17, but the Cavaliers weren't overjoyed with the win. While Walsh controlled things fairly well in the first half, leading 33-7, they were outscored 10-7 in the second half and their game devolved somewhat away from their game plan.
Walsh's scrum was very strong with the front row of Luke Dotson, Josh Josh Groudle, and Colton Webber once again playing very well. And early on they were impressive in open field. Pressure and a penalty led to an attacking scrum for Walsh and a short ball to fullback Ayabong Mkhekeli put the #15 straight through.
Aquinas responded immediately and tied it up at 7-7 when they countered on a missed kick to touch.
But after that it was all Walsh in the first half.
A superb sidestep saw Mkekeli score again. Flyhalf Elliott McKinney snappily stopped a ball rolling into touch, sold a sidestep, and cut through for a 75-meter jaunt for the next try.
More elusive running led to tries and a 33-7 halftime lead.
Things slowed down after that. Aquinas didn't wilt and they played until the end. However, they weren't going to overhaul Walsh. However, they played like they could.
Head Coach Lance Hohaia said he was proud of his team's desire to keep playing. They are young, with a number of freshmen in the lineup, and they learned a lot from this playoff appearance. But Walsh's physicality and their strngth at (most) set piece allowed them to stay on the front foot.
Nico Bitossi Coronedi, Ben Cassidy, and hard-running No.8. Fraser Leslie all scored tries for the Cavs.
ARC #4 Kutztown edged Liberty #2 Dartmouth 36-31 in other NCR D1 playoff action.
Center Ben Collison had a big day, scoring two tries, kicking four conversions, and adding a penalty goal for 21 plints in a dramatic match.
Lucas Jansen Van Vurren, Tinotenda Chinyadza, and scrumhalf Tuli Leuga scored tries. Five Big Green players scored tries.
