USA South Wins Third Straight RAN U19s Championship
USA South Wins Third Straight RAN U19s Championship
The USA South Panthers U19s defeated Bermuda U19s 27-14 to win the Rugby Americas North U19 championship for the third year in a row.
Backed by an outstanding defense, the Panthers went 5-0, and it was only in the final that they actually allowed any tries. They wrapped up the tournament scoring 144 points and allowing 26.
Trinidad & Tobago beat Mexico 32-17 for 3rd.
"Credit to Bermuda," said assistant coach Jody Hensley. "We played them earlier in the tournament and they made some adjustments." A defensive breakdown led to Bermuda's first try and then an interception produced their second.
Playing against the wind the Panthers were able to score three times and led 19-14 at halftime. It was a lead, but certainly not the type of lead they expected.
In the second half, the South defense came to the fore once more and held Bermuda scoreless. Lindenwood's Brysten Appleton was impressive, got involved throughout the game, and scored a key try in the second half to give the South a two-score cushion. They added a penalty goal, too, to secure the 27-14 win.
Key throughout the tournament were second row forwards Alex Schenke of the University of Cincinnati and Joey Peevler who plays for the Zionsville HS program in Indiana. Both played strong defense and were excellent in both scrums and lineouts. In fact, in the lineouts they were almost unstoppable. But overall Bermuda did not get much in the way of clean ball from set-piece.
Unsurprisingly, fullback and scrumhalf Aidan Chavez was named MVP of the tournament. He was electric throughout and his role at fullback caused massive problems for all opponents as he is quick, elusive, and loves to set up his teammates.
"We had such a good defense, but, what could teams do?" said Hensley. "I mean, go ahead, kick it to the best player at the tournament, go ahead, and see what happens."
USA South took a 7-0 lead in the first five minutes, and mostly that was due to defensive pressure and a good counter-ruck that forced a penalty. From the ensuing lineout the South worked back and forth. Flanker Max Buckingham bashed through and go close, and then after a shifty little run from Ivan Nisa on the wing and a long pass from Chavez allowed hooker Napoleon Hunter to set up wing Hunter Vanarman to soar over. Oliver Weidner, playing fullback this game, slotted the extra and it was 7-0.
Bermuda equalized on an astonishing play from flyhalf Kwame Naylor who grubbered through and used his soccer skills to guide the ball through the recovering USA South defenders and then dive on it to score. He converted what was an excellent individual effort. For the South, they looked on it as a defensive breakdown, but it was a breakdown caused by a piece of brilliance.
So that made it 7-7. Some elusive running from Chavez and some direct running from Buckingham put the Panthers back on the front paw and after a quick tap the forwards worked it to the line where Peevler picked up and dove low to score. Weidner curled in the tough kick and it was 14-7. Bermuda equalized with an interception from Matt Groves, who sped in under the posts. Groves converted and the South knew they were in for a battle.
But the Panthers answered. Weidner punished a penalty with a nice touchfinder against the wind, They won the lineout, sent it wide, and after a Bermuda infraction, and Chavez tapped quickly before sending a beautiful pass to Ed Durham to score in the corner.
That made it 19-14 and that's how the half would end.
In the second half, Bermuda had the Panthers under pressure early, but a knock-on gave USA South a scrum. Weidner got out of trouble with a chip ahead that he almost booted to go the length of the field. Bermuda recovered but were penalized for not releasing. A good kick into the Bermuda 22 from Weidner set up a lineout, and while that lineout throw was not straight, the ensuing scrum ended up seeing another mistake from Bermuda. A low pass to a player not expecting it and a scrum near the tryline set the Panthers up. The forwards went to work and finally Appleton picked up and dove over the bodies to score.
Bermuda did have attacking chances but the South players dedicated themselves to defense. Late in the game a no-tackler-release penalty presented a kickable penalty and Weidner kicked it to finish off the scoring. It was a brave performance from the USA South team, which ended the tournament with just 18 players because of some injuries.
USA South U19s 27
Tries: Vanarman, Peevler, Durham, Appleton
Convs: Weidner 2
Pens: Weidner
Bermuda U19s 14
Tries: Baylor, Grovers
Convs: Nayor, Groves
The way we see the Panthers is we like to see players go through the our U12s, U14s, U16s, and U18s and progress through the program," said program director Santi Cuccaresse. "We were dominant in the forwards and our halfbacks were accurate, and that allowed us to play expansive rugby. That is the essence of what the coaches preach. We have players such as Max Buckingham, Nick Morgan, Aidan Chavez, Colby Marr, and Nick Orefice who have been with us for many years. We have been able to expose these kids to international competition and they have really benefited from it."
USA South Roster:
Aidan Chavez, KC Jr. Blues
Alex Schenke, U. Cincinnati
Andrew Weeks, U. Kentucky
Brysten Appleton, Lindenwood
Colby Marr, Charlotte Cardinals
Dylan Forbes-Roberts, AYR War Eagle
Edward Durham, U. Kentucky
Felipe Elizathe, Boca Raton
Gavin Richards, Lindenwood
Gavin Wall, Sumner County
Hunter Vanarman, Belmont Abbey
Ivan Nisa, San Mateo Wolverines
Joey Peevler, Zionsville
John Dardis, U. Kentucky
Kyler Rieves, St. Louis Jets
Maxton Buckingham, Belmont Abbey
Napoleon Hunter, Tampa Krewe
Nick Morgan, AYR War Eagle
Nick Orefice, Lindenwood
Oliver Weidner, St. Xavier HS
Ty Ferguson, Sumner County
Head Coach: John Watson
Forwards Coach: Jody Hensley
Backs Coach: Sam Enari
Director: Santi Cuccarese
Athletic Trainer: Jill Ayres
