In yet another exciting FYRU High School crossover match, Weston Rugby traveled up to Boca Raton to face the Buccaneers on their home turf. Just as the week before, both teams faced 90-plus temperatures in the scorching Florida sun.

Weston, who clinched the South 3 Pool last weekend with a 61-7 victory over Juice coach Jeff Oxenreider’s Trojans, immediately opened up the scoring when the Wolfhound backs were able to break the gainline and get a grubber kick downfield for scrumhalf and captain Alex Ruiz to score the opening try. Flyhalf Matthew Mairowitz secured the kick put Weston up 7-0 within the opening two minutes.

Boca Raton’s forwards put up a tough first half, and two unsuccessful attempts at goal left them hungry to score as Weston’s backline continued to put points on the board. Weston centers Arturo San Segundo and Evan Barada worked relentlessly to move the ball into the hands of winger John Powers, who put up four tries, and fullback Ramiro Fernandez who put up two of his own. Both San Segundo and Barada proved to be the cogs in the Weston backline, keeping the flow from scrumhalf Ruiz and flyhalf Mairowitz going all the way through to the end and making impressive tackles and effective counter rucks. Constant penalties against Boca left them a man down before half, and the infraction left them mentally defeated with an entire second half ahead.

Veteran Boca players such as captain Alec Tyler and center Dondrell Luberice brought forth new energy to the Buccaneers side in the opening moments of the second half, moving the ball down the line and forcing Weston centers San Segundo and Barada to make several hard tackles. Weston stood firm and retaliated with two pick and go tries by scrumhalf Ruiz and hooker Andrew Burnley.

Tempers flared late as  some Boca players vented their frustration with some off-the-ball actions and high tackle - the result of which was a red card that essentially put the game completely out of reach. Weston prop Adam Serota and No. 8 Alex Gomez finished out the game with hard runs down field.

Despite the aggressive conduct by two Boca Raton players, the veteran faces of the club apologized and reached out to Weston to forgive and continue the good relations both clubs have enjoyed for the last four years. Final score: Weston Rugby 64  Boca Raton Rugby 0.

"This match really showed me something about my boys," said Weston Coach Corey Carter. "They showed great poise and maturity for this game. They played a very tough but very technically sound game and maintained that gentleman quality we strive for in our sport."
 

Co-written by Alex Ruiz