BLUE BELL, Pa. -- The Cumberland Valley High School Boys’ Rugby team made it two state championships in a row today, defeating Conestoga High School 32-5 at Montgomery County Community College, the site of the 2015 Pennsylvania Rugby State Championships.

CV earned its way into the final by winning 15-14 over a physical West Allegheny squad on Saturday, while Congestoga also had a close game, beating St. Joe’s Prep 37-33.

Cumberland Valley started the scoring this afternoon with a 40-meter slashing run by inside center sophomore Skylar Vilaychith. Conestoga answered with a try at the 10-minute mark of the first half. Neither team’s conversion was good, leaving the match knotted at 5-5.

At the 15-minute mark, Vilaychith found a seam in the Conestoga backline and offloadedto speedy center Jack Abom, who outraced the Conestoga defense 60 meters for a try and a 10-5 CV lead. Cumberland Valley worked its way up the field with the forwards maintaining possession and muscling in for a try by junior second row Danny Althouse, and that made it 15-5 at halftime.

Both teams played tough defense in the second half, with CV senior No. 8 Brad Hanshaw and junior flanker Ryan Belga delivering key hits that kept Conestoga from breaking the gainline. Cumberland Valley put the match away with two long-range scoring runs at the 15- and 17-minute marks, first by Abom, and then by Vilaychith. Senior flyhalf Alex Spenceley’s conversions were good, as well as a penalty kick, giving CV a 32-5 lead that held to the final whistle. 

CV ended its season 12-0 with notable victories over playoff teams Carlisle, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, West Allegheny, twice over Conestoga, and defeating nationally ranked boys’ club team, West Shore United.

“Throughout the season our team played phenomenal defense,” CV Coach Jay Abom said. “Our boys made their tackles when they needed to. Conestoga and West Shore United are the best-coached teams we played all season. Our fitness in those games made all the difference in this championship run.”

This was the Rugby Pennsylvania single-school championship. RugbyPa also held a multi-school club playoff this weekend.