A hugely competitive Boys Fall 7s Championships ended in driving rain and mud, and no excuses as Berks County pulled off two upsets to win the title.

Berks, St. Joseph’s Prep, Conestoga, and La Salle all came into the tournament with a legitimate shot at winning it all. Conestoga had some impressive power runners and a strong defense. La Salle had depth for days and shifty runners. St. Joe’s had the best kicking game and a really polished sevens approach. Berks had pieces of all of that (maybe not the kicking game … until they needed it).

Berks went into the final tournament with a 13-1 record, and yet with Lasalle going 8-1 (participating in fewer tournaments), St. Joe’s 7-3, and Conestoga at 14-4, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who automatically pegged Berks as the favorite.

Pool Play

Conestoga started off well with a clear 21-5 win over Hempfield. They followed that up with a 27-10 win over Bishops Shanahan in which they fell behind early. Shanahan’s scrumhalf Matt Harper was a sparkplug for that team all day long and needed constant attention. But with Ryan Cammaratta scoring key tries and Eli Ross combining an ability to bust through tacklers and distribute when he drew too much attention, Consetoga looked in control.

La Salle played some exceptional defense, beating Cumberland Valley 33-10, and then holding off an effective West Shore team 7-0. 

But Aiden Bretschneider acknowledged that his team had a target on its back.

“Being one of the only school teams here, we’ve beaten these teams before, so they’re out for revenge,” said the big La Salle forward. 

“The culture on this team is one of the things that keep as at the top,” added Kevin Corso. 

St. Joe’s used their rangy runners and ability to kick to space to torch Blackthorn 36-7. Berks did much the same, 24-5 over Blackthorn. They went wide quickly and were relatively sure-handed on a wet, muddy day. That set up the clash between two teams who could go all the way.

Some wind but also some atmosphere! In the huddle at the @rugby_pa fall 7s finals pic.twitter.com/FEm8L6wzvZ

— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) October 31, 2021

The game would go back and forth. St. Joe’s led. Then the combination of Cole Boyer, Turk Baum, and Matt Cleland produced two tries and a 12-5 lead for Berks. St. Joe’s came back but conversions were hard to come by on the wet ground, as the ball didn’t bounce well. Conversion no good, and Berks held on 12-10.

So the three pool winners went through to the semis along with St. Joe’s, the best 1-1 team with a +27 points difference (West Shore was +12 and Shanahan was -10).

Semifinals

In the semis, once again St. Joe’s was in a back-and-forth game. Ross made a couple of key plays, including setting up the game-icing try, while Cammarata just had a nose for the tryline. Conestoage 28, St. Joe’s 17.

For La Salle vs Berks it was tight all the way. After no score in the first half Berks managed to get one over, only to see La Salle come back with a breakaway that ended with everyone shoving the pile over. That made it 7-7. 

With time running out, Berks then produced probably the try of the tournament. It was just a snappy piece of rugby. Baum cut through the middle, set the ruck, and Aiden Pavlek found Boyer, who set up Cleland with a perfect commit-and-offload for the game-winner 12-7.

They didn't know it, but by the end of the day of this interview they'd be @rugby_pa champs. @CountyRugby pic.twitter.com/iEc4ZQaIij

— Alex Goff (@goffrugbyreport) November 1, 2021

The Final

So on to the final. Berks started the game with the ball and working it side to side, but Cammarata anticipated the ball coming back inside and intercepted the pass to go in for the try. However, as he tried to center the ball the Conestoga player injured his ankle and, unfortunately, could not continue. That was a huge blow to Conestoga. Berks, playing without Baum who picked up an injury in the semis, opted to key on Ross thereafter and, for the most part, that worked.

Berks went back to moving the ball and patiently waiting for an opportunity. it came and Boyer raced through a gap for 80 meters to make it 7-5. Then, perhaps the key moment. With the half almost up, Conestoga was threatening. Berks won a scrum near their tryline but were still under significant pressure. Jake Stelluti, in for Baum, saw there was no sweeper and booted the ball downfield. 

The chase was on. Cleland got to the ball first and hoofed it further downfield. He then expertly scooped it up and hydroplaned over the line for a dramatic score.

That was a heartbreaker for Conestoga, as they went from potentially creating a try from defensive pressure to being scored upon 95 meters the other way.

Now Berks had the lead 12-7 going into halftime.

The second half began with Berks getting a yellow card for an intentional knock-on, and Conestoga punishing them with a try for Roma Cammaratta to make it 12-12.

But Berks replied with Pavlek setting up Boyer for his second on a huge run down the sidelines. That made it 17-12, and as the Berks team resolved to keep possession and run out the clock, Boyer saw now cover on the weak side, picked up, and was in at the corner for the 22-12 win.

Both Conestoga Head Coach Chris Ryan and Berks Head Coach Greg Stelluti agreed that the kick-and-chase try at the end of the first half was a key turning point. Conestoga, ready to win the physical battle as they had in the semis, found themselves instead chasing phantoms on the sideline, while Berks was giving as good as they got at the contact point.

An upset? Maybe, maybe not. But it was fun.