Earlier in the season Grandville faced Rockford in the Michigan Boys HS league, and won 15-12, but it wasn’t the same close outcome this time around, as Grandville used the wide field to open up the game and spread Rockford defense, winning 25-7.

Photos by Steven Zomberg. Click on image to enlarge.

​Grandville looked to get the ball out wide early, and in fact had a try all set to be scored, but the scorer in question slipped on the long, wet grass and slid on his backside out of the back of the try zone before he could touch the ball down. That, said Grandville Coach Tom Feeney, was a lesson.

“We told them, it’s wet, long grass, maybe more conducive to ten-man rugby, but we need to stick to our game plan and we’ll be OK,” said Feeney. “And if we can scow, don’t worry about getting closer to the posts, just touch it down!”

That all worked nicely, and with the defense, especially their loose forwards, standing up bravely to Rockford’s formidable pick-and-go game, Grandville started to send the ball wide. Backs Ben Sinclair, Alen Atwater, and Luke Ensing all played a key part in the scoring. But the forwards had to set the platform, and leading the way was player of the game Sam VanderWest, a freshman lock who was part of a sterling defensive effort.

The game was close for much of the first half. The game was still scoreless when Grandville got a penalty at a tough angle to go for posts. The coaches suggested the kick attempt anyway, reasoning that a miss would still force a 22 dropout and Grandville might get the ball back. The kick missed, Grandville got the ball back, and scored soon thereafter. The teams changed ends with the score 7-0 Grandville, but after that Grandville rolled. Rockford scored one try, thundering their way the length of the field to do so, but the energy expended to get to paydirt was costly.