Three Champions Crowned at Youth 7s Nationals
Three Champions Crowned at Youth 7s Nationals
We have three champions crowned at the National Youth 7s.
Here's how it happened.
U18s
Panther Rugby Academy won all five of their games without allowing a point. Their defense was very impressive, especially their cover defense. But, more importantly, the PRA team didn't make drastic mistakes. They executed their passes, didn't give up wild turnovers, and as a result didn't give up soft tries.
Restart errors are a big way to give up soft tries, and they avoided that pitfall.
Iowa Selects battled past Badger Rugby in the semifinal to set up the final. And in the final Iowa played a very smart tactical game. They worked the ball well, used their physicality, and kept possession. As a result, while PRA scored early through the electric Ivan Nisa, and led 7-0 early. But they couldn't break through for another. Iowa kept at it but couldn't break through, either, although they were held up in-goal late in the first half.
Late in the game, Iowa got close to the PRA line, but a couple of reserves were brought on, including the very scampery Epa Mataitonga, by Panther and they helped force a turnover. Then, as time wound down, Colin Spellacy forced a holding-on penalty at midfield and PRA kicked to touch to end the game.
This was an excellent team effort. Nisa and Bryson Cook were both really strong for PRA, and Jake Orefice and Landon Lockhard-Keener were key in keeping everyone dialed in. For Iowa, this was an excellent showing and they were not far off from winning the trophy. Logan Lashbrook was a powerful present in the middie, while Brandon Bogseth was strong but also a good communicator. But everything for Iowa went through captain Blake Guthrie, who is a very smart rugby player who kept his team focused and made smart decisions.
In the 3rd-4th match, Gorilla and Badgers played to a dramatic tie. It was a defensive battle and Badgers scored a well-taken try to take a 7-0 lead into the halftime break. Gorilla scored after a breakaway to tie it up.
That ended up taking us to overtime and this was perhaps a half too long for Gorilla, which took 7s players to the tournament. Badgers broke down the sideline to score the game-winner.
U16s
PRA edged a very good Loudoun County team to make the final while Bethesda and Badger played a tight one. Well, that was just fine for Bethesda, as they had won two games by a try or less the day before.
Panther had the ball for a long period early on in the first half but Bethesda's defense held on tenaciously. But finally harassment from scrumhalf Liam McGettigan forced a knock-on and the ball was sent wide to Seon Kumar, who sliced his way through. Trace Snellman nailed the tough conversions for a 7-0 lead.
Bethesda answered right off the restart as David Pfaff raced through the middle to make it 7-5. Panther then got a nice sidestep and run through the middle from John Eddleman and PRA led 14-5.
It was almost 21-5. Right as the first half ended, the Panthers got a couple of penalties and threatened the Bethesda line. They had a chance on a switch move but decided not to run the switch.
"Too much hero ball," said Coach Gary Anderson. Bethesda held them up in-goal to end the first half.
In the second half some impressive interplay with several of the Bethesda players, including Dylan King and Matias Caieux, set up a try to inch them closer at 14-12. Then some smart counterrucking forced a penalty for Bethesda and Cadieux raced down the sideline to score and make it 19-14.
With time gone on full time, PRA got a penalty, surged on, got another penalty, and finally Snellman drew a final defender and fed Kumar to score in the corner. Conversion a bit too far to get over, and we had overtime.
Bethesda received the ball in OT and quickly Cadieux had space down the sideline and through he went.
For Bethesda, this was (mostly) a team of players who have played as a club through the season. They did add a couple of players for this tournament, but overall this was a club that played as club all season. Their unity of purpose saw them through.
For PRA, that held-up at the end of the first half hurt. Had they scored then they would have started the second half up three scores and might well have changed their tactics as a result.
U14s
Speaking of clubs, Highland Buzzards are just a bunch of kids from a town in a relatively rural area of Ohio south of Cleveland. The Buzzards lost the Rookie Rugby Cleveland final to West Park, but beat West Park in the state semifinal on their way to winning the state U14 title. They battled West Park once again in the semifinal and just barely got through thanks, in part, to a superb break from Davin Zeleznak.
There they faced the Assassins Rugby Academy out of North Carolina. The Assassins had defeated Panther Rugby Academy, North Carolina Gray, and, in the semifinals Bethesda 14-12. They had lost a game, however, as against Highland on Friday they were beaten soundly 47-10.
The final was kind of the same story. Highland's ability to use their passing ability and their rugby IQ undercut the Assassins' physicality. Meanwhile, the Assassins struggled with discipline breakdowns. Highland, for their part, showcased some impressive kicking skills from Leo Rizzo and Kenny Belter. They were essentially the only U14 team that put boot to ball in open field and they produced tries in the semi and in the final because of it.
The final started with both teams getting turnovers but being unable to capitalized. Finally some solid defense from the Buzzards set up a chance for Zaleznak to speed over. The Assassins answered right after the restart. They took a lineout, sent it diwn, and scored in the corner. That tied it up 7-7. But Highland chased down an excellent kick to space and then off a lineout Rizzo took the long throw and sidestepped his way past several defenders t o score under the posts.
Belter converted and it was 14-7 at halftime.
The second half was all Highland. They spun the ball to the backline off a lineout and Laytham Majeed cut through the middle and charged on from 65 meters out. Frustration set in for the Assassins and a series of penalties put them on the back foot. A tip tackle produced a yellow card, and then Rizzo spun out of a tackle to score.
That made it 26-7. As time wound down they marched their way down the field again and Sam Schoch picked up, skated wide, and cut up to score the final try.
This was a very impressive showing by Highland as they won 31-7. Their teamwork and commitment to each other, as a pure club, showed that anyone can win at this national 7s Youth Championships. You don't have to be an academy or select side if you have it right.
