LA Tribe and USA South were perhaps the story of Day One in the Boys Tier I division of the National Sevens Youth Rugby Championships.
Played on the campus of St. Ignatius HS in Cleveland, Ohio (thanks to SIHS students for help in reporting on this tournament), six excellent programs clashed.
Rhinos 21-21 LA Tribe
This was a wild game in the Tier I Boys Division. The Rhinos received the kickoff, recycled quickly and got the ball wide, where they broke a tackle and were in for a try. A fumbled restart by the Tribe led to the Rhinos shipping it wide again. Tribe defended and got the ball back, but finally a good counterruck allowed the Rhinos to take possession and send it wide to score on the edge again.
That made it 14-0. Tribe retained the restart this time and some nice offloads set them up for a reply score. Then a nice skip pass to the outside from the Rhinos provided a counterpoint and a 21-7 Riunos lead at the break.
To start the half, both teams traded the ball in a sloppy series. However, the Tribe got the advantage down near the Rhinos 40. Another penalty allowed them to tap and go, and the Tribe skipped it wide to Makai, who was in untouched to make it 21-14. The Rhinos received and get charged ahead. But they lost the ball, and from the ensuing scrum the Tribe worked their way into Rhunos territory, and eventually run a cheeky move off a scrum and in for the try. Now it was 21-21. Rhunos worked to get the game-winner but a massive hut jarred the ball lose and that was the game.
Charlotte Tigers 35-0 Belmont Shore
The Tigers were on the back foot early after a penalty. But as Belmont moved their way into Charlotte territory, the Tigers intercepted a pass and were gone.
The nest restart gave Belmont good position. They retained possession and pounded their way into Charlotte territory. But Belmont knocked- the ball on and with the advantage, Charlotte started to work their way forward. Belmont got the ball back, but a deep kick just set up a Tigers counter-attack. They spin the ball wide to Jameson who scored and the Tigers now led 14-0.
Another try after a poor set in the ruck put them in control.
The second half was a physical battle in the middle of the field. The Tigers defense was too strong for Belmont, and two turnovers led to breakaway tries.
USA South Panthers 19-12 EIRA
The Panthers strong kickoff to EIRA forced a knock-on and an early opportunity for the Panthers. But their pass off of the scrum was intercepted by EIRA leading to a scoring chance. However the South Panthers forced a holding-on penalty in the ruck, tapped quickly, and Campel was through for a try, converted by Zemke.
A high and short kickoff was restart by the Panthers led to a scrum for EIRA. They went wide quickly and a strong break down the sideline was finished off by Bevilanqua.
Both sides seemed determined to give the other possession in he second half. Finally EIRA put together some phases and O’Conner was over for a converted try and a 14-12 Panthers lead. The Panthers then finished it off with a score on the wing to win 19-12.
Charlotte Tigers 17-0 Rhinos
It was a very good showing for the Tigers. They drew first blood with a big run. But the game was a defensive one and remained 5-0 through to halftime. Midway through the second half Charlotte stole a scrum 10 meters out and ran it in. From there the Tigers controlled the game and scored another from a scrum.
LA Tribe 24-5 EIRA
Team Tribe started out hot with a nice try from close-in. EIRA replied quickly but then the Tribe put one in right from the restart. That made it 14-5 at halftime.
Tribe controlled the second half with powerful runs from their forwards and some good passing and continuity, as well. Two more tries and Tribe rolled 24-5.
Tribe looking good at @national7s_@latriberugby
— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) June 11, 2022
Video Thomas Burrows. pic.twitter.com/d3y5mHmFql
