Both Connecticut Semis Down to the Wire
Both Connecticut Semis Down to the Wire
It’s all pretty close at the top of Rugby Connecticut as both teams that made the final had to battle through very tight games to go it.
Fairfield Prep edged Trumbull 34-32 in one semifinal.
Trumbull ran out to a 20-7 first-half lead. Fairfield Prep’s ill discipline and Trumbull’s powerful running put Fairfield back on their heels.
“I believe that physicality is a hallmark of the Trumbull program, as well as their immense discipline around the breakdown in both securing and opposing ruck points,” said Fairfield Prep Head Coach Kevin Kery.
With Brady Smith and Keane Horne leading a strong backline, Trumbull was in good position to win this game.
But things started to change in the second half. A yellow card to Trumbull and Fairfield’s commitment to just getting points when they were on offer allowed them to come back. And, eventually, Prep led 34-25.
But Trumbull turned that around and in the final 10 minutes scored to make it a one-score game at 34-32.
Trumbull pressured from the restart and threatened to score, but Fairfield forced a penalty, and closed out the game.
Ben Cornelius scored a try, a crucial late penalty goal, and added three conversions for 14 points. Harry Crawford added two tries for Fairfield Prep and they also got lone tries from James Burgess and Alex Iadarola.
Greenwich, meanwhile, held off Fairfield Pegasi, the only club in the semis, 26-24.
Greenwich were coming off a trip to the Boys HS Rugby National Championships where they played St. Ignatius in a close one, Jesuit Sacramento, and Strake Jesuit.
“Fairfield were rested, healthy, and had know who they were playing next for 15 days,” said Greenwich Head Coach Mike Fina. “And they plated really well. We were coming in with a few injuries, you can’t avoid that, and there’s both a mental and physical toll on coming out of Nationals to play a state playoff game.”
Leaning on his leadership group of four co-captains, Fina needed his players to refocus quickly, which they did
Santi Lettuada was outstanding on the edge and gave Greenwich a bit of an X-factor, scoring a spectacular try in the process. Defensively flanker Ben Schacher was ferocious.
Still it was a battle.
Now the two teams look to each other. Greenwich beat Fairfield Prep 43-12 in April in their league meeting, but Fina will point to the fact that his team beat the Pegasi 48-19 in their first meeting, only for the Fairfield club to bring the scoreline 27 points closer the second time around.
“Prep has built their numbers and their quality and they are probably one of the four best teams in the Northeast,” said Fina. “Our guys expect them to come to play and I am hoping our close semifinal was a bit of a humbling moment for our guys.”
“We’re hopeful that we can continue to build momentum towards this Saturday,” added Fairfield’s Kery. “Greenwich and Trumbull play dramatically different styles of rugby, but the boys are gelling at the right time, trusting in one another and communicating well. I think we should put up a much better fight than in the regular season when we played down at Greenwich, as I believe this is a much more mature and developed team than took the field on April 25.”
It will be a busy finals day for Prep as they also face Trumbull in the Froshmore final.
