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05/11/08
RESULTS: Boys High School/U-19 Championships
West Shore United and St. Joseph's Prep come out winners
Article Submitted the the EPRU website by Sean Robinson
Lancaster, PA - The EPRU Final
Four for Single School and U-19 Club teams took place on an overcast Mother's Day Sunday. The Hempfield and Warwick Rugby Clubs of the Susquehanna District teamed up to host the event on their beautiful
pitches at Centerville Elementary School.
Single School Semi-finals
The event would kick-off with the single school semi-finals. On field one the #1 seed, St. Joe's Prep from the Southern District, would take on the #4 seed, State College of
the Susquehanna District, while #2 seed Unionville of the Brandywine District would face #3 seed St. Gregory's from the Northern District on Field two. Both matches were very tight affairs that were still up
for grabs until the final whistle. State College would score early on St. Joe's Prep to take a 5-0 lead, but Prep was able to respond to tie the game at 5-5 before the half. St. Joe's came out storming in
the second half, putting up two converted trys to build a 19-5 lead. State College refused to quit and scored a converted try to get within one score. State College continued to pressure, but The Prep
defense was able to stand strong and prevent any more scoring to take the semi-final 19-12.
In the other semi-final, Unionville and St. Gregory's were involved in a nail biter. St. Gregory's were
able to get on the board first for a 5-0 lead. Unionville had their chances on offense, but the stubborn St. Gregory's defense would stand strong with their relentless tackling. St. Gregory's finally
clinched the victory with a try on the games last play to bring the final score to 10-0 setting up a showdown with St. Joe's Prep in the EPRU Single School Final.
U19 Club Semi-Finals
In the club semi-finals the #1 seed West Shore United would face a
very strong #4 seed in Doylestown on field one while #2 seed Valley Forge would square off with #3 seed Wilmington on field two. The West Shore/Doylestown game was very intense, with tough forward play and
hard rucking by both teams. The game went back and forth for the first ten minutes with both teams making many unforced errors due to nerves and the tough wind. West Shore was able to settle down first with
their hooker Allen Proper forcing his way over the line for a 5-0 lead. Each team had some more chances, but were not able to convert them into points and the half would end with West Shore clinging to their
5 point lead. The second half was a carbon copy of the first half with relentless rucking and tackling by both sides and the play staying between the 22's. West Shore was able to gain some momentum and their
forwards were again able to push over the line for a 10-0 lead. Both teams continued to batter each other for the remainder of a very hotly contested and chippy game. The West Shore defense remained strong
and managed to hold off Doylestown until the final whistle for a hard fought 10-0 victory and a spot in the finals.
On field two Valley Forge would use their strong pack to wear down a young
Wilmington team to build a 17-0 lead. Wilmington continued to battle and were finally able to put over a late converted try, to bring the final score to 17-7. The Valley Forge victory moved them into the
finals opposite #1 seed West Shore United.
Championship Finals- Single School
In the single school finals, St. Joe's Prep and St. Greg's waged an epic battle. Both teams came out fired up and determined to take home their first EPRU Championship. The
sidelines were packed with vocal spectators from both teams. The bagpipes and singing of the St. Gregory's cheering section set the atmosphere for an intense battle between two well coached and disciplined
teams. The first half of the game was played between the 22's with strong defense by both sides. Neither team could find a weakness to exploit and the half ended with no score. The second half was more of
the same with defense dominating play. St. Joe's Prep started to gradually gain an advantage and moved inside St. Greg's 22. After applying sustained pressure it looked like St. Joe's prep was in for a sure
score when their wing made a break for the line with one defender to beat. The St. Greg's defender squared up his shoulders and met the Prep player head on a meter from the try line and drove him back with a
text book tackle to thwart the attack and keep the game scoreless. St. Joe's would keep the pressure on and drew their second penalty in front of the posts. On their first penalty in front of the posts St.
Joe's tried to quick tap and catch St. Greg's off guard. It didn't work out and a prime opportunity to put points on the board was wasted. This time they made the wise decision to go for points. The penalty
was converted and St. Joe's Prep took the first lead of the game 3-0 with about 15 minutes remaining to play. St. Joe's used this momentum to their advantage and scored a try with 7 minutes left in
regulation to go up 8-0. This should have been the final nail in the coffin, but St. Greg's responded with the ferocity of a wounded dog and battled its way to a huge try with 3 minutes remaining in the
game. The try was converted to make the score 8-7 in favor of Prep. St. Greg's regained possession after the restart and immediately started attacking. They moved the ball close, but the Prep defense
remained strong. With the final seconds ticking off of the clock St. Greg's made one final effort to take the game. They worked the ball wide and seemed to have an overload, but a great hustling tackle by a
Prep defender stopped the attack short and the final whistle blew ending an amazing game and giving St. Joe's Prep the EPRU single school championship and a date with East Coast power Gonzaga Prep of
Washington DC in the MARFU Championship game next Saturday.
Championship Finals- U19 Club
In the club championship West Shore United from Central Pennsylvania would take on Valley Forge. Both teams had strong athletic packs and speedy backs. West Shore
would seize the early momentum by mixing up solid forward play with some nice back line moves. They quickly advanced inside of the Valley Forge 22 and looked to be on their way to scoring, but the West Shore
forwards were slow getting to a breakdown and their ball carrier was penalized for holding onto the ball. Valley Forge relieved the pressure, but West Shore went right back on the attack. West Shore appeared
to take the lead on some nice passing out to their speedy wing Pat Connolly who sprinted past the Valley Forge defense to touch down, but the alert touch judge saw him step out in goal and disallowed the
try. No worries for West Shore as Connolly took the ensuing 22 meter drop kick, broke through the Valley Forge defense and off loaded to flanker Lee Hoover in support. Hoover would touch down between the
post and Fullback Jake Fink would convert for a 7-0 West Shore lead. West Shore would keep the pressure on and Jake Fink would get on the board with a great run through the Valley Forge backline to increase
the lead to 12-0. Valley Forge would claw their way back into the game with strong forward play. They worked their way inside the West Shore 22 and were pressuring the line. West Shore kept repelling the
Valley Forge attacks but they were eventually penalized for being offsides. Valley Forge took advantage of the penalty, passing quickly through hands to score out wide on the final play of the half. They
could not convert and the score at the half was 12-5 in favor of West Shore United.
In the second half West Shore came out fired up and determined to put the game out of reach. Their forwards were
able to hold their own against the strong Valley Forge pack and eventually started to take over the game. Valley Forge was penalized for an infraction at a ruck and West Shore co-captain Scotty Acri alertly
quick tapped and off loaded to fly half Ryan Tilley who passed to inside center and co-captain Gage Warner. Warner finished off the 50 meter movement by touching down in the corner for a 17-5 West Shore
lead. Gage Warner would strike again on a turnover ball that was quickly passed out of traffic. Warner took the ball at pace and outran the Valley Forge defense to put the game out of reach. Jake Fink would
convert bringing the final score to 24-5 in favor of West Shore United.
In the consolation Finals Doylestown defeated Wilmington 24-7 to take third place in the club bracket and State College defeated
Unionville 16-10 to take third place in the single school bracket.
West Shore United will now compete for the MARFU Championship against the Potomac Rugby Union Club Champion North Bay and St. Joe's
Prep will face PRU single school champion Gonzaga Prep. The winners of both games will advance to the USA Rugby U-19 and High School Nationals in Pittsburgh, PA on May 30,31 and June 1. Congratulations to
both teams on their fine seasons and best of luck in the MARFU Championships!
The MARFU Championships will be at Glasgow High School in Newark, DE. The U19 Club Championships will kick-off at 11:00
AM immediately followed by the Single School Championship.
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