Kingfishers Overwhelming in Winning Kansas Title
Kingfishers Overwhelming in Winning Kansas Title
In a monumental clash at Westwick Field in Lawrence, Kansas, Saint Martin’s Academy Kingfishers defeated the Saints of St. Thomas Aquinas 50-0 in the Kansas State Rugby Championship final, clinching their third consecutive state title.
While last year's final was rife with drama and came down to the wire, there was no controversy about this one. Senior captain Ethan Blakie led his tenacious squad, delivering bone-crushing tackles that set the tone, and the back three of Joseph Masny, JP Van De Ryt, and Will Van De Ryt delivered stellar performances. Will Ve De Ryt was awarded Man of the Match honors by the host University of Kansas Rugby Program.
By Vincent Prezzia
The Kingfishers struck early when flanker Luke Sapio powered over in the eighth minute; Will van der Ryt’s conversion made it 7-0. The game’s defining moment followed in the tenth minute. A long goalline stand, as Aquinas hammered at the tryline, ended when Will van der Ryt held the ball up in-goal. Aquinas still had a penalty but after they tapped, center Sam Egger’s crucial poach stole the ball for St. Martin's and they were able to clear their lines.
In the 26th minute, senior JP Gallo surged over for the second try on a pick-and-go, and prop Ben Walsh followed, scoring the third try off a crafty tips ball from No. 8 Finn Burch.
Will van der Ryt converted both for a 21-0 lead. Masny’s cunning defensive reads kept the Aquinas wings pinned. At the same time, senior lock Prosper Owen and sophomore flanker Vince Lima delivered thunderous tackles, joined by Burch, Gallo, and senior captain Blakie. Senior scrumhalf Robbie Ritson orchestrated the attack with pinpoint passes and relentless energy.
The second half was a relentless onslaught as Kingfishers scored four more tries and a penalty goal from van der Ryt.
Mulholland capped off a movement to make it, with van der Ryt's kick, 28-0. JP van der Ryt powered over for a score and lock Prosper Owen followed with one. Prop Henry Schafer sealed the rout with a try in the 63rd minute, and van der Ryt converted once more for 15 points on the day.
Aquinas battled hard and, despite the scoreline played well and certainly in the first half the game looked like it could do any way. However, St. Martin's unity of play was excellent. Berkeley Nordhus, who had suffered a season-ending knee injury but coached throughout the season, made an emotional return.
This ended a strong season by St. Martin's in impressive fashion. Aquinas, meanwhile, looks to playing in Tier 2 of the Boys HS National Championships.
St. Martin's JV won the Kansas Tier 2 final, also in a shutout.
