Gonzaga HS won the Jesuit Classic hosted at the fields of the Loudoun rugby program at their home fields of Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., holding off a very tough Greenwich HS in the final.

Nine teams played in the Varsity bracket, with each team playing two pool games to decide who gets into the semis. Gonzaga won both of their pool games handily, beating Marin 46-0 and St. Xavier 59-0. Also 2-0 was Greenwich, which beat Charlotte Catholic 31-0 and Gonzaga 2 36-0.

Those two teams went to the semifinals as well as two from the third pool. South Doyle beat Fairfield Prep 17-0, and West Shore beat Fairfield 39-0, then South Doyle and West Shore tied 12-12, leaving both at 1-0-1.

So on to the semis, where Gonzaga shut out South Doyle in impressive fashion 45-0. Greenwich, led by the superb attack generalship of Soh Nakayama, powered past West Shore 37-19.

That set up the final, which was a tense encounter, eventually won by Gonzaga 18-12.

Greenwich punished Gonzaga penalties and eventually scored from a lineout and led 5-0. Gonzaga replied with a try, and then once again a series of Gonzaga penalties led to Greenwich taking the lead. Gonzaga scored a second try to make it Greenwich 12 Gonzaga 10 at halftime in the shortened game.

In the second half, Gonzaga exploited a Greenwich turnover to score their third try and take the lead, and Patrick Sheehy then iced the game with a penalty kick.

The key for Gonzaga was the power of their front eight. Nakayama had been deadly all tournament, but was bottled up somewhat because his forwards were constantly shoved back by the huge Gonzaga pack.

Prop Dante Lopresti was impressive for Gonzaga, playing a good tight game but also showcasing a good work rate in the loose and some fancy passing as well. Reggie Corbin and Tyree Randolph both scored key tries for Gonzaga, and the Gonzaga defense did well to prevent Greenwich from putting their dangerous wings in space.

“We found out pretty soon that we were in a dog fight,” said Gonzaga Head Coach Peter Baggetta. “This was a great team effort and our forwards were just too much.”

The tournament was held on four beautiful fields out in Virginia farm country and featured a Varsity, JV, and Freshman bracket. 

Baggetta said he welcomed the tough competition, but also the other aspects.

“We hosted the Marin players and our parents couldn’t say enough about how great those kids were,” said the Gonzaga coach. “And to have those guys play against our guys and then go back and stay with them over Saturday night, that was great. It’s what rugby’s all about.”

West Shore defeated South Doyle 39-19 for 3rd. Marin defeated Gonzaga 2 for the Plate. West Shore’s JV defeated Gonzaga’s JV 11-10 to win the JV bracket, and Gonzaga beat Xavier (NY) 15-5 in the freshman final.