Kennett Square, PA - The 2011 Pennsylvania State Boys Rugby Championships concluded yesterday with two terrific finals matches – one for Under‐19/Club and the other for single school high school programs. The matches were played at Unionville Rugby’s home pitch, on the grounds of Hillendale Elementary School in Chadds Ford, PA.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS
SINGLE‐SCHOOL PROGRAMS
#2 St. Joseph’s Prep 22, #1 Burrell 17
(Unbridled joy is the best way to describe the St. Joseph’s Prep sideline as the final whistle sounded in this incredible match. Burrell High School, the defending State Champions, jumped out to an early 5‐3 advantage. Prep hung tough, however, fighting back to earn a 15‐10 halftime lead. The second half can only be described as pandemonium. Two full sidelines going crazy as two great teams refused to back down. Burrell had several chances inside the Prep 22, but each time the St. Joe’s defense rose to the occasion. In the end, each side put up a converted try in the second half, resulting in a 22‐17 final score. If ever there was a shining example of all that can be good in sport, this match was it. A Championship match in every sense of the word.)
St. Joseph’s Prep Scoring: Dillon Phillips (15 points – 3 tries), Pat Kardish
(7 points – 1 penalty kick, 2 conversions)
Burrell Scoring: Dan Domanski (7 points – 1 try, 1 conversion), Tim Pettigrew (5
points – try), Jesse Burton (5 points – try)
MULTI‐SCHOOL CLUB / U‐19 PROGRAMS
#2 North Penn Iron Lions 20, #5 Downingtown Boys 19
(Downingtown ran to an early 12‐0 lead, but North Penn clawed their way back to tie the match at 12‐12 at the half. The Iron Lions struck first in the second half on an unconverted try by Anthony Sciarra. Downingtown retook the lead 19‐17 with about 12 minutes remaining. With time running out, North Penn chose not to attempt a PK – opting instead to quick tap off the penalty – but lost the ball in subsequent play, and it appeared that all might be lost. But the sun was shining (figuratively) on North Penn and another PK opportunity occurred with only minutes remaining. Anthony Sciarra put it through the uprights for the lead and the State Championship.)
North Penn Scoring: Anthony Sciarra (10 points – 1 try, 1 conversion, 1 PK), Tyler
Vandergrift (5 points – try), Harry Perry (5 points – try).
Downingtown Scoring: Peter Mulville (5 points – try), Tim Hamill (5 points – try),
Matt Dunleavy (5 points – try), Stephen Palmieri (4 points – 2 conversions)
