West End vs. Morris – a classic match-up /// Photo: Deanne Cowan
Even though there is plenty of high school rugby occurring at this time of year, many of the games that are affecting movement in the rankings come in friendly or tournament form. A big contributor is the fact that within many (not all) leagues, one or two teams have separated themselves from the rest of the field and outside competition is necessary to grow – especially when that growth in aiming for the national championships.
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Fallbrook shut out a touring Canadian side on Wednesday and then defeated a physical South Bay 33-17 on Saturday in advance of the USA Women’s 15s test against Canada at the OTC. The Spartans improve their rating after a solid showing against the national club runner-up and have confirmed that they are indeed participating at club nationals. The Warriors travel to Utah to face United, which is now 3-0 and overtook Land Park because:
Two Fridays ago, Land Park traveled to Bishop O’Dowd for a friendly, and the teams tied 29-all. The home side was pumped up for the rematch of the 2016 Rugby NorCal Plate (which Land Park won), and according to Land Park coach Curtis Popp, his team did underestimate their opponent – a valuable lesson worth learning now rather than later. The Harlequins slid one spot to #3, but we couldn’t even up the teams just yet. In between the two Rugby NorCal programs are teams like Sacramento and Pleasanton – teams that Land Park has beaten, and Bishop O’Dowd has not.
Sacramento rebounded with a 44-24 win over Mother Lode followed by a 69-19 win over Danville. The Lady Oaks dropped as a result. The NorCal playoffs begin April 22 at the quarterfinal round. The potential for a more exciting post-season than usual is there.
The East Coast is coming to life and sees new teams join the rankings. That said, West End has remained the most active and successful, winning three-straight tournament titles (Frostbite, Maryland Exiles and D.C. Ruggerfest – see full results). Coach Matt Estes noted Morris as the team’s best competition and praised North Bay for rapid improvements. Both join the rankings and have potential to advance.
These tournaments (as well as the upcoming Northeast Invitational in late April) are important to these state leaders because they lack consistent competition in their home leagues. West End relies on its second side; North Bay and West Carroll push each other in Maryland (and play this weekend); and Morris’ best local rival is across state lines in Play Rugby. The New York City team is 2-0 in Rugby New York’s Metro division and can potentially advance in the rankings after this weekend’s game against Morris.
Pennsylvania’s Valkyries took its bye week and spent it in D.C. The team lost two close games to Warsaw and beat West Carroll 28-5. The week prior, reigning state champion State College defeated the Valkyries 26-7 and jumped ahead in the rankings.
Those Mid-Atlantic tournaments attracted other region’s talent, like Tennessee’s McMinn Tribe and Indiana’s Warsaw. Tribe fell 48-0 to West End in Maryland, and Warsaw lost the DC Ruggerfest final 30-5 to the Ruckettes.
Broken Arrow during the Hooligan tournament /// Photo: Stephen P. Holman Photography
But perhaps the biggest friendly game to evolve since the last ranking was the St. Joseph Academy vs. Orchard Park match in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. The New York state champion beat the single-school champion in a full-length match, and got the nod in the rankings. We’re not worried about St. Joseph Academy, though. The Ohio squad brought two good sides to New York (its B side beat Kenmore 37-0 in St. Bonaventure) and supplements its state schedule with good competition. Really looking forward to the Midwest High School Championship in late April.
The Hooligan tournament in Oklahoma brought some nationals-bound teams together. Oklahoma state champion Broken Arrow lost a nail-biter to KC United, 22-17, during the semifinals. The Colorado Flatirons, an academy side that isn’t eligible for nationals, won the whole thing and tied Broken Arrow on day one. Coach Gayla Adcock indicated that the team has been super focused since the loss to KC United, which will play in the club national championship.
Finally, mixed in the lineup are teams that continue to do well: The Wisconsin leaders opened the spring with massive friendly wins; Kahuku heads to the Oahu Island championship against Kalihi still undefeated; and Kent is still posting big numbers in Washington. Oregon hosts an exciting weekend, as three undefeated teams and last year’s single-school champion square up. Grant plays Valley Panthers and Lady Barbarians play Linn-Benton – both matches have rankings-altering potential.
The rankings sit at Top 28 right now, but there are still leagues waiting to really launch – like Minnesota, Western New York, Indiana and more.
