The Carolina Ruggerfest concluded over the weekend and we will deviate from our usual fence-sitting to tell you it is a really, really well-run tournament.
From how hard the referees work to keeping it on schedule, from the fields to the amenities, concessions, and space for the players, it was well run and showcased some impressive rugby.
For many teams this is either a season opener or a pause between the Carolinas school season and the club season—either way, this meant there would be mistakes, communication issues, and all the growing pains of clubs putting things together. Nevertheless, some teams looked quite polished.
Youth
Teams in U10 and U12 brackets competed with 15 clubs from five states sending teams in the two brackets. Local team Matthews Sharks did very well in U10 as did the Clayton Copperheads. Georgia had a strong showing in the U12s, but Clayton was once again very impressive.
In the Middle School Boys bracket saw Key Biscayne and Charlotte Cardinals look strong.
Girls
Working to get all the pieces put together the girls teams had their moments, but didn't use the width of the full-sized fields at the Matthews Sportsplex. The Charlotte Cardinals looked impressive and athletic, as expected, but ran up against a polished and structured Badger Academy team out of Wisconsin. The Cardinals went 3-1, losing only to the Badgers 17-10. The Wisconsinites finished 4-0. Three teams from Ohio competed, getting some much-needed competition in warm weather.
Perhaps a bit of a surprise team was Wando, which beat Morris (an upset to GRR if no one else) and beating Brunswick, Raleigh Redhawks, and Tribe as well.
Boys
Four points showed exceedingly well in the JV Boys bracket with a 54-14 win over Neuqua and a 53-5 win over Loudoun.
In the Varsity bracket, the Charlotte Cardinals vs Key Biscayne game was perhaps the most fun to watch. Key Biscayne's open approach was certainly entertaining and the Rats were 3-1 in the JV bracket and 2-1 in the Varsity bracket.
"We come from an Argentine background so we're comfortable moving the ball and we always try to be there and open the game," said Axel Nino with the Rats.
"We are willing to take a risk and make that extra pass," added Martin Gentile. "And if there's space, we go."
"Last time we came here we won so we wanted to do that again," added Baustista Tedin. "But we played the Cardinals and they're a very good team, physical, and we tried our best but they won."
And so they did, beating Raleigh Redhawks, Four Points out of the Austin, Texas area, and Key Biscayne. Neither got to face the Charlotte Tigers, but the Tigers also went 3-0, and Greer 76ers came up with a win over Maryland Exiles. Richmond Strikers went 2-0-1.
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Carolina Ruggerfest Scores
| Clayton Copperheads - 2 (NC) | 40 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 5 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 2 (NC) | 15 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 15 | 10U |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 15 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 35 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 2 (NC) | 15 | Clayton Copperheads - 1 (NC) | 50 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 1 (NC) | 0 | Matthews Sharks (NC) | 0 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 1 (NC) | 45 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 10 | 10U |
| Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 10U | ||
| Matthews Sharks (NC) | 40 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 5 | 10U |
| Matthews Sharks (NC) | 35 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 5 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 2 (NC) | 5 | Matthews Sharks (NC) | 50 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 1 (NC) | 55 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 0 | 10U |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 45 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 10 | 10U |
| Clayton Copperheads - 2 (NC) | 15 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 35 | 10U |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 25 | Matthews Sharks (NC) | 30 | 10U |
| Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 0 | Clayton Copperheads - 1 (NC) | 35 | 10U |
| AYR Red Top (GA) | 25 | AYR Barbarians (GA) | 0 | 12U |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 10 | AYR Buckhead (GA) | 30 | 12U |
| Roswell Rebels (GA) | 15 | AYR Inman Park (GA) | 20 | 12U |
| AYR Barbarians (GA) | 0 | Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 56 | 12U |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 30 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 0 | 12U |
| Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 30 | Richmond Strikers (VA) | 15 | 12U |
| Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 35 | Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 5 | 12U |
| Aspetuck (CT) | 21 | Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 28 | 12U |
| Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 21 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 35 | 12U |
| AYR Buckhead (GA) | 0 | Charlotte Shockers (NC) | 20 | 12U |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 25 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 35 | 12U |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 25 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 25 | 12U |
| AYR Inman Park (GA) | 20 | Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 15 | 12U |
| Charlotte Shockers (NC) | 30 | Aspetuck (CT) | 0 | 12U |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 30 | AYR Red Top (GA) | 15 | 12U |
| AYR Inman Park (GA) | 15 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 10 | 12U |
| Roswell Rebels (GA) | 15 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 25 | 12U |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 25 | Aspetuck (CT) | 20 | 12U |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 20 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 15 | 12U |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 14 | Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 49 | 12U |
| Roswell Rebels (GA) | 15 | Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 10 | 12U |
| AYR Red Top (GA) | 15 | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 45 | 12U |
| AYR Buckhead (GA) | 10 | Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 10 | 12U |
| Lake Wylie Warriors - 2 (SC) | 25 | AYR Inman Park (GA) | 20 | 12U |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 56 | AYR Red Top (GA) | 7 | 12U |
| Aspetuck (CT) | 0 | AYR Buckhead (GA) | 14 | 12U |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | Charlotte Shockers (NC) | 12U | ||
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | AYR Barbarians (GA) | 12U | ||
| Charlotte Shockers (NC) | 20 | Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 5 | 12U |
| AYR Barbarians (GA) | Lake Wylie Warriors - 1 (SC) | 12U | ||
| Raleigh Cobras (NC) | 5 | Badger Academy - B (WI) | 15 | HS Girls |
| Vienna (VA) | 39 | Warsaw Area (IN) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 0 | Wando Wahines (SC) | 43 | HS Girls |
| Clayton Tough Turtles (NC) | 15 | Greer 76ers (SC) | 5 | HS Girls |
| Highland Lady Buzzards (OH) | 5 | Vienna (VA) | 15 | HS Girls |
| Brunswick Valkyries (OH) | 15 | Morris (NJ) | 12 | HS Girls |
| West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 15 | Badger Academy - B (WI) | 10 | HS Girls |
| Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 10 | West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 5 | HS Girls |
| Morris (NJ) | 29 | Tribe (TN) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Roswell Lady Rebels (GA) | 7 | Clayton Tough Turtles (NC) | 25 | HS Girls |
| Greer 76ers (SC) | 15 | Moon Area (PA) | 17 | HS Girls |
| Moon Area (PA) | 5 | Hudson (OH) | 39 | HS Girls |
| Hudson (OH) | 24 | Roswell Lady Rebels (GA) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Wando Wahines (SC) | 29 | Brunswick Valkyries (OH) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 10 | Badger Academy (WI) | 17 | HS Girls |
| Warsaw Area (IN) | 14 | Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 52 | HS Girls |
| Tribe (TN) | 45 | Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 24 | HS Girls |
| Badger Academy (WI) | 66 | Highland Lady Buzzards (OH) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Raleigh Cobras (NC) | 25 | Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 14 | HS Girls |
| Moon Area (PA) | 7 | Clayton Tough Turtles (NC) | 15 | HS Girls |
| Brunswick Valkyries (OH) | 45 | Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Tribe (TN) | 12 | Brunswick Valkyries (OH) | 38 | HS Girls |
| Greer 76ers (SC) | 12 | Hudson (OH) | 10 | HS Girls |
| Roswell Lady Rebels (GA) | 5 | Moon Area (PA) | 33 | HS Girls |
| Wando Wahines (SC) | 22 | Morris (NJ) | 5 | HS Girls |
| Clayton Tough Turtles (NC) | 32 | Hudson (OH) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 5 | Morris (NJ) | 64 | HS Girls |
| Greer 76ers (SC) | 29 | Roswell Lady Rebels (GA) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Raleigh Cobras (NC) | 15 | West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 19 | HS Girls |
| Wando Wahines (SC) | 15 | Tribe (TN) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Badger Academy (WI) | 12 | Vienna (VA) | 5 | HS Girls |
| Warsaw Area (IN) | 7 | Highland Lady Buzzards (OH) | 31 | HS Girls |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 59 | Vienna (VA) | 5 | HS Girls |
| Highland Lady Buzzards (OH) | 5 | Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 27 | HS Girls |
| Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 7 | Badger Academy - B (WI) | 20 | HS Girls |
| Badger Academy (WI) | 46 | Warsaw Area (IN) | 0 | HS Girls |
| Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 14 | Four Points (TX) | 54 | HS JV Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 17 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 14 | HS JV Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 17 | Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 14 | HS JV Boys |
| Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | 0 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 7 | HS JV Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 5 | Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 26 | HS JV Boys |
| Loudoun (VA) | 5 | Four Points (TX) | 53 | HS JV Boys |
| Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 19 | Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | 24 | HS JV Boys |
| Loudoun (VA) | 19 | Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 10 | HS JV Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 0 | Four Points (TX) | 33 | HS JV Boys |
| Loudoun (VA) | 31 | Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 7 | HS JV Boys |
| Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 5 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 15 | HS JV Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 0 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 52 | HS JV Boys |
| Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 10 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 12 | Charlotte Cardinals - B (NC) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks - B (NC) | 7 | Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 26 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals - B (NC) | 10 | West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 10 | HS Varsity Boys |
| West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 5 | Raleigh Redhawks - B (NC) | 29 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 7 | Wando Warriors (SC) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 12 | Loudoun (VA) | 20 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 26 | Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 0 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Wando Warriors (SC) | 7 | Richmond Strikers (VA) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 34 | Four Points (TX) | 22 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Loudoun (VA) | 22 | Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 14 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Greer 76ers (SC) | 15 | Hudson (OH) | 10 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 33 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 17 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 24 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 22 | Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 15 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 22 | Four Points (TX) | 10 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 26 | Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 36 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Tigers (NC) | 34 | Maryland Exiles (MD) | 0 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Tigers (NC) | 32 | Greer 76ers (SC) | 0 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Hudson (OH) | 10 | Maryland Exiles (MD) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 0 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 46 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 15 | Raleigh Redhawks - B (NC) | 0 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 14 | Charlotte Cardinals - B (NC) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Cape Fear Flytraps (NC) | 12 | Richmond Strikers (VA) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 29 | Four Points (TX) | 14 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Tigers (NC) | 34 | Hudson (OH) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 24 | Loudoun (VA) | 19 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Greer 76ers (SC) | 20 | Maryland Exiles (MD) | 19 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Wando Warriors (SC) | 17 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 29 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Alpharetta Phoenix (GA) | 12 | Neuqua Wildcats (IL) | 14 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Oceanside Landsharks (SC) | 35 | West Carroll Marauders (MD) | 7 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals - B (NC) | 14 | Raleigh Redhawks - B (NC) | 12 | HS Varsity Boys |
| Charlotte Tiger Cubs (NC) | 51 | Loudoun (VA) | 14 | MS Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 7 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 34 | MS Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 22 | Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | 14 | MS Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 12 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 36 | MS Boys |
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 10 | Four Points (TX) | 22 | MS Boys |
| NOVA Barbarians (VA) | 10 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 5 | MS Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 45 | NOVA Barbarians (VA) | 5 | MS Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 5 | Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 65 | MS Boys |
| Charlotte Cardinals (NC) | 50 | Roswell Rebels (GA) | 14 | MS Boys |
| Raleigh Redhawks (NC) | 7 | NOVA Barbarians (VA) | 44 | MS Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | 5 | Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | 17 | MS Boys |
| Charlotte Tiger Cubs (NC) | 27 | Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 12 | MS Boys |
| Clayton Copperheads (NC) | 27 | Richmond Strikers (VA) | 24 | MS Boys |
| Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | 5 | Key Biscayne Rugby Rats (FL) | 34 | MS Boys |
| Richmond Strikers (VA) | Atlanta Youth Rugby (GA) | MS Boys | ||
| Loudoun (VA) | Four Points (TX) | MS Boys | ||
| Raleigh Rattlesnakes (NC) | 32 | Loudoun (VA) | 17 | MS Boys |
| Charlotte Tiger Cubs (NC) | 39 | Four Points (TX) | 27 | MS Boys |
