Xavier HS swept two games in a trip to New Jersey to play St. Joseph's and St. Augustine, but it wasn't quite what they expected.

In a four-game weekend hosted by the St. Augustine Hermits in the Garden State, Xavier took two varsity sides. Xavier has split their squads into a Varsity Nationals squad, and a Varsity States squad (which plays in Rugby NY), and the New York City high school also fielded a B side in games.

The Varsity Nationals team defeated St. Augustine in fairly convincing fashion 74-17. This is an experienced Xavier roster, and Eagle Impact Rugby Academy veteran Will Laino scored four tries out of the No. 8 position, while wing Sean Hennessy ran in two.

Center Henri Ross-Pelat scored 16 points with eight conversions. 

"We did well enough and played to our strengths in the first game, moving the ball well across the width of the field," said Xavier Head Coach Greg Norris. "Some good kicking into space allowed us to maintain pressure on the St Augustine's goal line."

Xavier lost captain and flyhalf Damian Morley to injury and that forced a switcharound for the backs.

"It was not too much of a disruption and the rearrangement only rattled us a little," said Norris.

Laino, Christian Valentino (lock), and loose forward Diego Gonzalez off the bench brought some impressive go-forward.

In the other game, the Varsity States team had to battle against a very good St. Joe's team. St. Joseph's scored two tries in the opening 12 minutes to lead 14-0, but tries from No. 8 Gonzalez, wing Christian Mazza, and hooker Michael Frizalone to overcome St. Joseph's 17-14.

Clearly the squd-splitting put the slightly less experienced Varsity State team under some pressure, but that's kind of the point.

"St. Joe's came to play and they were very physical with some very good defensive line pressure," said Norris. "With no go-forward ball we were battling to mount a successful attack and took most of the first half before we got onto the scoreboard."

Quinn Lafferty was a force in the lineout and his win on a lineout five meters from the Xavier tryline helped seal the victory.

"It was a close game and the players all stepped up," said Norris.

The Xavier States Juniors beat the St. Joe's B side 19-12, winning on the final play of the game, and the sophomores beat St. Augustine's 67-0.