The Chapel Hill Highlanders are the North Carolina Boys HS Club champions after they beat the Union County Lions 25-12 Saturday.

The victory secures the Highlanders a place in the HS Club tier of the Boys HS Rugby National Championships in Charlotte this coming week, while Union County will play in the Combined Bracket at the same event.

Chapel Hill used a smart kicking game to keep Union County in their 22. The Highlanders chase was very good, and as often as not they not only pinned the Lions back, but poached the ball, as well.

Center Lavon Hartman was moved from center to flanker in part because of his ball-poaching ability, and the move paid off as he helped spoil plenty of Union County possession. Flyhalf Lawrence Bridges, who was moved from scrumhalf to the #10 jersey earlier in the season, was named MVP of the game, and set up one of the more impressive tries of the weekend. After wing Dewan Roets got the team's first try, Bridges launched a well-weighted cross kick that wing Jose Escobedo chased down, gathered, and then the wing spun out of a couple of tackles to go in at the corner. That set up a 17-0 halftime lead. 

Union County clawed back with two tries to make it 17-12, but Chapel Hill put it away with a maul-in for a try, and a penalty to make it 25-12.

"Definitely we were a bit nervous when they started to come back, but we managed to dig deep," said Highlanders Coach Robert Joseph. "We were able to bring in some subs late in the game who provided fresh legs and finished off the game. We're very happy with the performance."