Last-Minute Try Gets Xavier Past Greenwich
Last-Minute Try Gets Xavier Past Greenwich
The Xavier Knights and Greenwich Cardinals arrived at Aviator Sports Complex in Brooklyn, NY knowing that their match was a must-win and a key HS Nationals seeding game.
In a dramatic clash, Xavier won by a single point 19-18.
“This game was all about heart,” said front-row Matthew Lane. “I feel like we had it in us from the start. We lost our way a little, but we knew our game was a forwards game. We had to fight hard and when we started playing our game, that’s what gave us the win.”
Certainly, the game was about heart, and for first seven minutes of the match there was an almighty struggle for possession as the two teams battled hard for the ball in the middle of the field.
Lane, who was chosen as Man of the Match with the winning try in the final few minutes of the second half, was correct; this was a forward’s game for Xavier with all three of Xavier’s tries scored by forwards. The first was by flanker Matthew Scariano 10 minutes into the first half and the second at the very end of the first half by front-rower Christopher O’Halloran-Gannon.
The Knights left the first half up 14-0 and seemed to have the game in hand.
“The first half we came out swinging,” said wing Sean Kull, who had a strong defensive performance, “but in the second half they came out with some kicks that put pressure on us and set us back.” Greenwich, however, was not going to go down without a fight.
Greenwich used a patient, resilient defensive structure to create scoring opportunities. After a try by lock Oliver Willott, momentum seemed to be swinging the Cardinals' way. Flyhalf Nico Figueroa drilled two huge penalty kicks and fullback Lucas Luzuriaga touched one down in the corner, set up by center JB Meier. Figueroa was not able to convert that kick leaving the scoreline 18-14 in favor of Greenwich with less than five minutes to play.
But the Knights, no stranger to tough matches, battled back to pull out the win.
“Matt Lane had a huge try to finish it off,” said O’Halloran-Gannon. "And Liam Allison was great from the kicking tee. That was the difference between a win and a loss for us.”
Xavier's assistant athletic director, Dom DeFalco noted that the Knights defended against the Greenwich attack very well.
“Defensively we looked strong. I thought their two best players were their numbers 10 and 15, their kickers and we defended their kicks well.” DeFalco credited the Knights with maintaining composure under pressure for the positive outcome of the game for Xavier. “Despite Greenwich battling back, we maintained composure. We played simple, stuck to our system, and finished off with a win.”
“The Xavier/Greenwich war wages on," said Greenwich Head Coach Mike Pina. "The level of rugby played on both sides today by starters and finishers alike was as good as you’ll see anywhere in the country at the high school level. I’m most proud of the respect each team showed their opponent, which can sometimes be hard to stick to in such a physical matchup. If this is a preview of what’s to be seen in Indiana in two weeks, we’re all in for a treat.”
Xavier Head coach Greg Norris offered that it was “nice to be on the upside of a one-point win,” referring to the last time the two teams met in last year's regular season game. “We had a great first half with some good, solid, front-foot ball and we really looked good,” Norris said.
“In the second half, perhaps we got our tails up and got a little overconfident. We need to be more disciplined. We let them back into the game through penalties,” added Norris. “They had us on the ropes, but when it mattered most the boys dug deep and they powered their way to a win. They did what they needed to do and I am very pleased with the way they played.”
Team captain and flanker Maseah Young also acknowledged the fight that Greenwich put up. “It was a really hard-fought game. Congratulations need to be given to Greenwich. They put it all out there and left it all on the field. It was an excellent game from both sides.”
The second-side match saw the Knights play loose and easy as they cruised to a 60-5 win over Greenwich’s second side.
“I think we played great,” said Alexander Zagoreos, who played center and flyhalf in the match after returning to action from an injury. “We moved the ball wide and we were able to get everyone a try.”
Team captain and front-rower Louis Freeman added that “I was happy that we were playing with togetherness and working as one team instead of 15 individual players."
“We saw a lot of talent coming out of the junior class,” said Head Coach Ski Bailey. “There was good execution of skills and physical runs, particularly from Freeman who had multiple tries and put in a kick himself. It was a really nice game for the seniors to have for Family Night, and a great game for the program.”
As a result of this game, Xavier received the #4 seed for HS Nationals.
—Michael LiVigni
