Xavier Impresses vs St. Augustine

03.07.2023HS Boys

Xavier HS defeated St. Augustine High School in South Jersey to open up the season for both school teams.

The game was highlighted by five tries from player of the game Padraig Long. The Xavier JVs beat the Hermits JVs 75-0.

In the 1st-side match the Knights attacked from the opening whistle and looked sharp throughout the game with a defense that never faltered.

“Medhi was an absolute force out there,” said assistant coach Ski Bailey, referring to junior flanker Medhi Merah, who scored two tries. “We implemented a new system and the boys took to it like ducks to water.”

Bailey also said that Xavier's defense was very strong as were their scrums and lineouts.

“Padraig Long, our wing, deserves a big shout-out,” Bailey added. “He fought his way through contact, and put himself in position to score multiple times; it was a solid performance from the junior.”

Xavier Head Coach Greg Norris was happy with the outcome of the match but noted that there is still much the team needs to work on.

“We played a little too individualistic and we are not in the shape we want to be. We need to work on shapes, but we had good hands from the backs, and we were really, really good with interior defense.”

The defense was impressive throughout the game and, in one set, pushed the opposition back 40 yards.

“Gaining ground on defense is always what you want to do,” Norris added.

Along with Long and Merah, Xavier got some good work from prop Christopher O'Halloran-Gannon (who scored a try), and second-row player Maseah Young.

Xavier was “aggressive on defense, which enabled us to get the ball back multiple times,” said Merah.

Led by lock Colin Peterson and wing Shane Zaletofsky, Xavier showed their depth with a complete win over the St. Augustine JVs.

“It was a good, all-around team win,” said scrumhalf Sean Kull. “Everyone stepped up when they needed to.”

—Mike LiVigni

Xavier HS

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