Around the National in HS Playoff Implications
Around the National in HS Playoff Implications
Some notes around the nation in HS rugby as some playoffs start, or get set to start.
Colorado
In a battle of unbeaten teams, Valor beat East HS 20-12 over the weekend.
As happens every year, some leagues are wrapping up while some are just getting started. Why? Well look at this game, played in late April in 36-degree weather with about two inches of snow on the ground. So it wasn't surprising that the game itself was relatively low-scoring.
Valor wisely opted to take point when they were on offer and established an early lead with two penalty goals from flyhalf Zach Maughan. East came back with an unconverted try around the 20-minute mark and the score remained 6-5 for Valor at halftime.
East scored a second try, converted this time, early in the second half but from that point on Valor were generally in control. Valor were fairly dominant in the lineout with Breen Wilson stealing several East throws. That helped keep East on the back foot. Fullback Zach Pickett scored Valor's first try of the day and Maughan converted to put Valor ahead 13-12.
Powerful runs from prop Isaiah Amaro and flanker Nico Zaharas put Valor back in scoring position and with about seven minutes to go flanker Brennan Boyle scored. Maughan's conversion made it 20-12.
This was a good follow-up to another tough game as Valor beat Monarch 24-20 midweek.
Valor leads the Rugby Colorado league now and remains undefeated, with East now with just the one loss.
Northern California
De la Salle beat previously undefeated Marin 35-14. Five different Spartans scored in with game with Parker Beilke, Lucas Meranda, Joseph Dietchman, Chris Biller, and Likas Platzbecker all going over the tryline for DLS. Evan Hampton and Dante Rivera scored tries for Main. Danville, meanwhile, beat Granite Bay 19-12 with 14 of their points coming from the boot of flyhalf Edwin Lee, with three penalty goals, a conversion of Michael Bruno's try, and a drop goal.
That was a big win for Danville as the Oaks are now ahead of Granite Bay in 4th in the NorCal Boys Premier. DLS clinches first seed in the playoffs. Regardless of Sunday's SFGG vs Jesuit game, SFGG and Marin will be 2nd and 3rd (or 3rd and 2nd) and play each other in the semis. Jesuit cannot overhaul Danville for 4th so the Oaks will play the Spartans.
In NorCal's Gold league, Lamorinda beat SacPAL in the game to decide who finishes 3rd. Lamo won 52-17 thanks to four tries from Elliott Lewis. Elsie Allen beat Gridley to end the season at 5-1 but they were set for 2nd anyway. Elsie Allen will play Lamorinda in the semis while the San Mateo Wolverines will play SacPAL in their semi.
Virginia
Vienna beat Loudoun 40-12 with David Ropper's and Joshua Paine's tries setting them up for an early 14-0 lead and they cruised from there. Ryan Vagoun was outstanding with his goalkicking. As a result, Vienna moves to 2-1 as is Fort Hunt and Richmond. Fort Hunt is #1 thanks to bonus points and Richmond stays at #2 so playoffs should see Vienna vs Richmond and Fort Hunt vs Loudoun.
| Rugby Va Cardinal Boys U18 | W | L | T | PA | PA | PD | BT | BL | Pts |
| Fort Hunt | 2 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 52 | 33 | 2 | 1 | 11 |
| Richmond | 2 | 1 | 0 | 83 | 60 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Vienna | 2 | 1 | 0 | 76 | 57 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Loudoun | 0 | 3 | 0 | 50 | 125 | -75 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Ohio
St. Ignatius beat St. Xavier 48-12 in a game that saw Ignatius score a number of tries out wide. Jimmy Collins scored 13 points with four conversions and a try, while No. 8 Rafe Gabrovsek scored two tries. Fullback Tommy Kilbain continued his outstanding form as a defensive rescue unit and a counter-attacker. Mark French was a spark at scrumhalf.
As a result of that game St. Ignatius wraps up the #1 seed in the Ohio Varsity Boys league. St. Xavier is 3rd. So SIHS will play Moeller in the semis and St. Xavier will play St. Edward, a rematch of a March 16 meeting which Ed's won 24-20.
| Rugby Ohio Varsity Boys | W | L | T | PA | PA | PD | BT | BL | Pts |
| St. Ignatius | 3 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 22 | 80 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| St. Edward | 2 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 63 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| St. Xavier | 1 | 2 | 0 | 56 | 94 | -38 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Moeller | 0 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 94 | -43 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Also in Ohio Olentangy is now 6-0 in the Ohio HS club league after a convincing 55-8 win over Dublin. Their offense has been firing of late.
Medina won 100-0 in their last game to retain 1st in the Ohio Single-School league. Benjamin Raulie and Blaine Chrisman have been scoring a ton of tries.
Washington / Cascade
Two tries each from Tristan Esterhuizen and Parker Jackson, and 13 points from Kellen Eskridge put Eastside Lions at 6-0. Rainier beat Camas to drop Camas to 4-3 and raise Rainier to 2-4-1. So Eastside looks to be the strongest team as they look ahead to HS Nationals.
In the Cascade league in central Washington/North-Central Oregon/Western Idaho, Moscow edged Schoolhouse out of Wenatchee 27-20 in a clash of the top two teams in the league.
Florida
Jacksonville and Okapi are now in the Florida final.
Jacksonville, Okapi Make Florida HS Final
Arizona
Tempe beat Red Mountain to win the state boys D1 title.
Late Surge Sees Tempe Win Arizona Title
Texas/Louisiana
Dallas Jesuit beat Strake Jesuit to win the Varsity Cup involving single-school teams from Texas and from Louisiana.
NOLA Jesuit did not make the final but they will be in the Louisiana final against Brother Martin.
Brother Martin beat St Paul in a nailbiter 38-24. Brother Martin was up by 12 points with approximately 15 minutes left but St. Paul scored a try and made the tough conversion to bring the score to 24-19. St Paul had the momentum and scored another try with three minutes left in the game. The conversion would put St Paul up by but it clanged off the posts to leave the game tied 24-24.
Brother Martin drove down the field and was awarded a penalty about 20 meters out. But the kick was missed and the game went to overtime. In the two 10-minute periods, Brother Martin finally pulled it out with a try in each period and two well-taken conversions by Branson Pereez..
Southern California
The playoff matchups were essentially confirmed before this weekend. San Diego Mustangs, Belmont Shore, SOC Raptors, and Thunder were all expected to win this week. All did and as a result San Diego will play Thunder and Belmont Shore will play SOC Raptors in the upcoming playoffs.
