The 2018 Mid-South Independent Rugby League season ended with an epic cup final between South Greenville and the Charlotte Tigers, a game South Greenville won in double overtime, so it seemed appropriate to open the season with these two teams going at it.

The two two powerhouse high school clubs from North and South Carolina kicked off the MSIRL this past weekend with the Tigers making the trip from Charlotte to Greenville on a rare dry and sunny Carolina Saturday to take on the defending champs on their home pitch. Both teams had key players graduate at the end of last season, but the Tigers had more returning veterans and it showed.

Tigers captain and scrumhalf Alex Paquette put his team on the board first. After a few minutes of somewhat sloppy play from both teams due to opening-game jitters, the big flanker-turned-scrumhalf took a quick pick-and-go from a breakdown a couple of meters out for a cheeky try to get the Tigers on the board first. Junior fullback Jack Williams slotted the conversion and 7-0 was as close as the game would be for the reminder of the match.  By halftime it was 17-5 Tigers.

South Greenville went on to score one more unconverted try, but it was the Tigers that took control, 50-10.

Senior lock David Grant scored three tries, with center Darius Law adding two. Paquette, lock Jack Brown, and flyhalf Porter Goodrum alo added tries. Goodrum and Williams combined for five conversions.

The win was based on sure tacking on defense and multiple line breaks on attack by a powerful pack, said Tigers coach Jason Paquette. Hooker Robbie Jarmyn, flankers Eddy van Heerden and William Smith, and No. 8 Jarrett Self led the charge all match and were relentless in their work rate. Inside center Ethyn Baker set up the backs nicely all day by drawing defenders and opening up clean lanes for outside runners.  Men-of-the-match were lock David Grant and flyhalf Porter Goodrum.