St. Augustine, Union Co. Win In New Jersey
St. Augustine and the Union County Mudturtles secured Rugby New Jersey state titles over the weekend.
Led by a player-of-the-game performance from Andrew Whiteman, the Hermits battled in a tight game with Delbarton. Delbarton led 12-7 at halftime but St. Augustine came back, tied it 12-12 through a try from John Lawson, and then Whiteman scored the game-winner.
Giovanni Sabelli scored the Hermits' other try, with Mario Licciardello converting.
The Mudturtles won yet again in the HS Club bracket, beating Jersey Shore 38-24. For Jersey Shore, it was a solid season, as they only lost to the Mudturtles during league play. But Union County held firm.
Union County Wins Big One In NJ
Union County RFC traveled to the Jersey Shore Sharks in what was expected to be a closely contested match. Neither team disappointed.
Both teams began with ferocious defense. Jersey Shore 8 man Evan Burton ran hard a number of times along with Center Sam Watts. The Mudturtles, missing 5 starters, had to rely on depth and bring up a number of young players in order to contain the hard running Sharks. Late in the first half, winger Cole Zuckerman was unleashed on the outside to pick up the first try of the match. Union 5 - Jersey Shore 0.
Union County Downs Doylestown
In their opening match of the 15s season, the Union County (NJ) Mudturtles defeated Doylestown 38-22 in a hard hitting non-conference contest.
Doylestown got off to an early lead with strong forward play going up 10-0. The Mudturtles answered with two tries by winger Ryan Dones to tie the game 10-10 at halftime.
NJ Latest - Delbarton, Unon Win
Delbarton defeated Hudson Catholic 69-0 to remain undefeated in New Jersey in the single-school league.
The Green Wave’s first XV has not lost to a New Jersey team in well over two years, but has gone about .500 in a few matches out of state (wins over St. Thomas and LaSalle College HS, close losses to St. Xavier and St. Mary’s Secondary School, Ontario). They outscored their in-state opponents 140-15 in four matches this year.
Delbarton will be the #1 seed in NJ’s playoff bracket with St. Augustine taking the #2 spot and CBA/St. Peter’s Prep playing for the #3 and #4 seed this week.
Union Mudturtles Win NJ Again
The Mudturtles of Union County New Jersey won their fifth consecutive State Championship Saturday, beating Bridgewater, a team they lost to earlier in the season, 32-12.
These two teams met April 24, with Bridgewater winning comfortably 38-5. But it was a different story this time around, as the Mudturtles got off to a fast start. Jack Dabulas scored twice in the opening minutes, and then Ben Kelly made it 15-0 with a long run down the sidelines. Bridgewater replied with a try to make it 15-7 at halftime, but in the second period, Union seniors Brendan Collum and Eric Swanson dominated the rucks and open field play, showing impressive fitness in hot weather.
