It will be Coastal Carolina and UNC-Wilmington in the final of the Southern Rugby Conference after both won semifinals on Saturday.

Coastal was ranked by Goff Rugby Report lower than East Carolina, and in fact GRR predicted ECU would win this semi, but Coastal won going away 55-26. 

“We felt we could win this one, but it took a while,” said Coast Head Coach Thomas Barnett. 

Coastal went up 12-0 with two early tries, but then twice gave up tries to ECU by trying to run out of their 22 rather than kick it.

“We talked about it at halftime, and said we needed to play a smart field position game and make sure we kick out of our own 22,” said Barnett. “Once we started to do that and play in their half things went more our way.”

Center Mike Tillman was once again a force, scoring tries and making tackles, while No. 8 Chris Doss scored two tries on eightman picks and set up two more. Zach Price also had a solid game for a Coastal team that faces a UNCW outfit that beat them 26-22 in the regular season.

For Wilmington, 35-19 over Appalachian State was as expected.

“The team produces every game day,” said Coach Jeremy Tominack. “They push each other, they expect high standards on the rugby field, and what we work on in practice they execute in the games.”

Lock Cole Shanilec was outstanding on the day and prop Christian Harris kept the set piece solid. Alex Fox at center and James Hall scored multiple times, and the Wilmington defense was impressive.

So now it’s a rematch of a close in-season game for the Southern championship. The team that loses will also get a place in the national playoffs, with a play-in against Capital runners-up Salisbury.