Sacred Heart moved to 2-0 in the Tri-State Conference North Division with a tough 26-22 win over Siena Sunday.

The result put Tri-State teams on notice as Siena is always a strong team in the competition, and Sacred Heart looked good in beating them. 

Siena kicked off to start the match and Sacred Heart did well to maintain possession and work the phases to score and lead 5-0. Siena answered just two minutes later with their own unconverted try at No. 8 Ryan Powell set up flyhalf Mike Gallagher.

In a hard-hitting match, Pioneers took a defensive scrum at the 5 meter line and worked down field to finally put the ball over the tryline and with the conversion led 12-5. Siena answered with a penalty to make it 12-8, but Sacred Heart put the pressure on with a try just before the break and a 19-8 lead.

Siena emerged from halftime with a renewed focus and just six minutes in Ryan Flynn took a ball at pace and dragged two opponents over for the score. With the conversions it was now a four-point game at 19-15. Powell then scored to give Siena the lead at 22-19 with 20 minutes to go.

Numerous opportunities were squandered by both sides, but finally Siena turned over the ball at midfield that led to a Sacred Heart score and conversion with just a minute remaining. that finished it off 26-22.

For Sacred Heart Coach Ray Peterson, it was a game his team could have put away earlier.

“We played well but we kept turning the ball over, especially inside the opposing 22,” said Peterson. “We’re still working on a new system, but we’ve got a good team. We had the US Marines come in for a preseason session and they worked the kids hard for five-and-a-half hours.”

Leading the way for Sacred Heart was outside center Danny Prinz, and DII All American Pat Walpole at No. 8. But it really begins and ends with their props, Chris Coyne and Joe Cutrone, products of BC High and Xavier HS. They are experienced in rugby, big, tough, and set the platform.

Alongside Sacred Heart at the top of the Tri-State North is RPI. The Engineers are the 2-0 but have had to battle for their wins, 20-0 over Union, and this past weekend, 17-15 over Hofstra. Captain Brady Condron said that having to work for it is a good thing.

“Last year we had a fair amount of easy games, but I think we’re better off now having to fight for our wins,” said Condron. “We’ve got some young guys getting some experience and getting better each week.”

Among the younger players improving is flyhalf Stephen Dudch, who was a center last year as a freshman, but has stepped into the crucial pivot role and done very well.

And RPI, like Sacred Heart, has the luxury of an experienced front row to get it all started. Props Even St. Angelo and Andrew Sudano, as well as hooker Brian Shoyer, set the tone.

“We feel good,” said Condron. “Every week we’re growing.”