Marquette 58, Fox 0
Saturday's wind and cold did not seem to effect the Marquette Mustang rugby team, lead by senior #8 Nick Schasch, from dominating the Fox Warriers in a Missouri High School Rugby League Divisional match up. With scoring by Schasch, Senior Scrum Half Danny Sapernaro and Junior Wing Ryan Cop, the Mustangs secured an early lead in the first half and kept the pressure up the entire match. Trys by Senior Hooker Zach Baker and Sophmore Center Jake Vernon rounded out the scoring for the home side Mustangs. Conversion kicks were added by Vernon and Senior Adam Prouty.
DeSmet 32, Marquette 12
The visiting Spartans used three first half trys and a conversion to jump out to a 17 to 0 first half lead. In the early stages of the match, both teams brought passion to the contest at the tackle area but often the Spartans were overly aggressive and earned several penalties. These penalties allowed Marquette to ease the pressure and make a couple runs deep inside DeSmet territory.
It was the Spartans who scored first when Princeton Russel found a gap in the defense and raced 60 meters for the opening score. Alex Tajkowski and Nick Radice scored short range trys with Alex Tajkowski converting only his own try to round out the scoring.
Marquette upped their tempo in the second half and was rewarded with a try by lock Thomas Sherman early in the half. DeSmet was able to answer that score with one from prop Shawn Caradine. Marquette showed a willingness to fight back and again were rewarded with a powerful try by number 8 Nick Schasch which was converted by Jake Vernon. Princeton Russel took a pass late in the second half and with a nifty run scored his second of the day. The whistle for full time sounded right after Alex Tajkowski slotted a penalty.
Jefferson City 12, De Smet 10
The Jefferson City Rugby Football Club traveled to St. Louis this past Saturday to play a district match against De Smet High School.
The game began with Jefferson City taking the lead on a short run from senior captain Adam Luetkemeyer but the conversion was missed. After several penalties, De Smet took the lead with a try under the posts to give the Spartans at 7-5 lead.
The Nightmare responded with several phases of attacking play but was unable to add any points. It was De Smet who scored next adding one unconverted try and a penalty kick to give the Spartans a 15-5 halftime score.
The second half did not fare any better for Jefferson City. The Nightmare started to stray from their game plan and De Smet took advantage earning a penalty ten meters from the Nightmare try line. De Smet pounded the penalty play over the try line (JCRFC – 5 De Smet – 20). As time grew short, desperation set in and Jefferson City made a series of mistakes that allowed De Smet to add one more try to their tally. Jefferson City was unable to muster any answers. Final score JCRFC – 5 De Smet – 27. Congratulations to De Smet on becoming the district champion.
A B-side match was also contested between Jefferson City and De Smet. De Smet started the scoring with an unconverted try (JCRFC – 0 De Smet – 5). Jefferson City quickly answered the score with a long run down the far sideline by sophomore Danny Luetkemeyer. Junior Billy Wundrack missed the conversion (JCRFC -5 De Smet – 5). The Nightmare gained the lead with a break through the middle by senior Stevie Zenishek. This time Billy Wundrack made the conversion kick (JCRFC – 12 De Smet – 5). De Smet closed the lead with another unconverted try (JCRFC – 12 De Smet – 10). In the closing moments of the game De Smet missed a penalty kick which would have given them the win.
De Smet Jesuit 27, Jefferson City 5
De Smet had a chance to clinch the District D championship with a win over visiting Jefferson City on Saturday. However, Jefferson City started the match with a greater sense of urgency and dictated play for the opening stages. After a couple costly penalties, Jefferson City’s scrumhalf, Adam Luetkemeyer picked the ball up from the back of a ruck and dotted down for a try. The conversion was not successful.
This seemed to wake the Spartans as they slowly began to win the battle for field position and apply pressure. Tony Sanford quick tapped a penalty 5 meters from the Jefferson City try line and was rewarded with a try. The conversion by Alex Tajkowski brought the score to 7 to 5.
Repeated pressure by the Spartans was repelled time and time again by a dogged and determined Jefferson City defense. However, minutes before halftime, the Spartans stole a Jefferson City scrum and #8 Tony Sanford raced in from 10 meters out to round out the first half scoring. The conversion failed.
In the second half, the Spartans used the wind at their backs to keep the ball in Jefferson City’s half. The constant pressure earned the Spartans another try. This time Shawn Caradine bowled through the defense to score in the corner at the 10 minute mark. Tajkowski missed the difficult conversion. The score was 17 to 5.
Five minutes later, Alex Tajkowski added a penalty kick from right in front of the posts to increase the lead to 20 to 5.
With ten minutes remaining, Kevin Christoff picked up a loose ball at midfield kicked ahead and won the race to the ball and the try line. Alex Tajkowski added the conversion.
The District Championship means that De Smet will join Parkway United and two yet to be determined teams in the Missouri High School Championship Final Four.
CBC 12, SLUH 10
SLUH and CBC met on Friday, April 15th, with a playoff birth, potentially, on the line. The game was delayed a ½ hour due to rain but neither team seemed to suffer from the delay. CBC marked down the field and spent the first seven minutes on SLUH’s goal-line. However, the SLUH defense didn’t falter and was eventually able to steal the ball and kick it down field. Eventually, SLUH was able to reach CBC’s 22 meter line and Nick Hermann converted a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead.
SLUH and CBC traded territory and possession for the rest of the half until Eric Rhone quick tapped on a penalty and was able to score on a penalty try awarded for a high tackle. Adam Pikul kicked the conversion for a 7-3 lead where it stood at half.
Again on the second half, both teams threatened, but neither team scored for the first twenty-five minutes of the half. Will Schmitt of SLUH ended a long stream of possession and downed the ball in the try zone, but it was ruled that he had stepped out of bounds at the ½ meter line a fraction of a second before downing it. Finally, after some long pressure, SLUH was able to burst through the CBC line and Nick Schwetz downed the ball in CBC’s try zone with less than 3 minutes remaining. Nick Hermann converted the try and SLUH led 10-3.
CBC rallied and moved the ball down the field to SLUH’s ten meter line when SLUH stole the ball. However, CBC blocked SLUH’s kick and the ball ricocheted to the CBC winger who was tackled on the 2 meter line with a high tackle. Eric Rhone, once again, quick tapped and scored the try. The conversion was missed leaving CBC with a 12-10 lead.
SLUH stole the kickoff and was gaining ground in CBC’s territory in extra time when CBC stole the ball and kicked it out of bounds for a hard found 12-10 victory. CBC now only needs a victory against Priory to secure a spot in the state championship playoffs.
Parkway 17, Eureka 15
Thursday's match between the Eureka RFC and Parkway United RF was a back and forth battle. The first half was a bit sloppy with some tough defense by both sides. The half ended in a 0-0 tie.
Parkway came out in the second half and scored in the first minute with a nice try near the sideline by Andri Kruger to put the score at 5-0. Eureka fought back and scored 3 minutes later with a nice run and try by Eureka scrumhalf Scott Hanify, who converted the kick to put Eureka ahead 7-5. Eureka would get their second try 9 minutes later with a strong run by Eureka fullback Shane Glascott to put Eureka ahead 12-5.
Parkway would not back down and scored 4 minutes later with a try by Manny Sabala, tying the score at 12 apiece. A Parkway penalty gave Eureka the opportunity to take the lead with 7 minutes to play and Scott Hanify converted to make it 15-12 Eureka.
Both teams battled for the next five minutes, with Parkway putting together a nice defensive series, scoring off a blocked kick. Akbar Usmanov scored the try with 7 minutes remaining, putting Parkway ahead 17-15. Eureka put the pressure on, but could not score, and the match ended with Parkway claiming a 17-15 victory and District A.
