Regis Jesuit Rugby wins Inaugural CIRA State Championship

Palmer vs. Regis Jesuit

Saw these two teams meet for the 3^rd time this year and is as many weeks as possible.

It took about 8 minutes into the game for Flyhalf Eddie Maxfield to find room in the backline and chip kick the ball which was hauled in by Center David Dody who beat the Palmer fullback to score. Conversion by Sam Storey was good and RJ led 7-0.

RJ was awarded a scrum at center as the ensuing kick-off did not go 10m. 8-Man Logan Hilliard picked up the ball off the base of the scrum, drew two defenders, and offloaded to Scrum-half Sam Storey who weaved through the backline got RJ’s second try of the half.  The conversion was good and the score RJ 14 – 0 Palmer.

Palmer had several great line breaks which forced RJ to use kicks to exit and relieve some pressure and lineout to Palmer. The lineout led to a turnover by RJ which was knocked on and Palmer was awarded the try. AN early engagement penalty by RJ, found them with their backs turned and 8-Man Dalton Slaughter quick tapped and broke a few tackles before drawing a defender and passing to #7 Landon Neel who scored in the corner. The conversion was no good. RJ 14 – Palmer 5.

The game was once again back and forth for the next 10 minutes as both teams tried to get an advantage on territory and possession. The game was played between the 22s for the most part. Once inside Palmer’s 22m, Eddie Maxfield tried a grubber kick which pinned Palmer’s backline on the goal line and a dangerous tackle saw RJ Flanker Dieterich Miller given a yellow and RJ down to 14 players.

The penalty kick by Palmer found touch, but RJ was awarded a penalty from the lineout and used multiple phases to run the ball from the right side to the left side of the field and back using the width of the pitch to over commit the Palmer defense. This led to a ruck inside the 22m, and Sam Storey with a pick and go drew one defender as there was an 8 on 3 with a forward pod and the backline awaiting the outlet pass. Sam sent a high skip pass to Prop Spencer Aye who split the reaming defenders as he crashed in for the try. The conversion was no good as the halftime whistle blew. RJ 19 – Palmer 5.

The 2^nd half saw both teams come out with stellar defensive responses to their opponent's attack. Both teams had several opportunities to score, but BIG tackles stalled any forward momentum for either side. A Palmer lineout on their own 5M failed to find touch and Sophomore Zack O’Reilly began the Regis Jesuit attack by running away from Palmer’s large forward pack. This led to multiple phases that spread the Palmer defense from left to right and Center David Dody popped the ball to Sam Storey who broke one tackle to score his 2^nd try of the game. Sam’s conversion was good. RJ 26 – Palmer 5.

Palmer rallied the troops and won the kickoff by tapping the ball back to their supporting forwards. Palmer built a multiple phase attack which saw Flyhalf Abe Kamara, and Scrumhalf Derric Torbido used Palmer’s larger forward pack to over-commit the RJ defense. From a ruck, Torbido passed out to Center Dylan Mercer who weaved in and out of the RJ defense to score. Torbido’s conversion kick was no good. RJ 26 – Palmer 10.

With 20 minutes to go in the game, Palmer seemed to have found their stride and were on the attack and holding off any Regis Jesuit attacks. Great pressure and huge tackles by Landon Neel and Abe Kamara halted any breaks that Regis Jesuit could build from. This lead to some undisciplined play from Regis Jesuit and a penalty for Palmer on the Regis Jesuit 22m. Palmer kicked for touch and had a lineout on the Regis Jesuit 5m mark. Palmer won their lineout and mauled the ball, drawing in the Regis Jesuit forwards. Torbido passed out to an attacking Kamara who broke the line and dotted down between the sticks. Torbido’s conversion was good. Regis Jesuit 26 – Palmer 17 with less than 5 minutes to go.

The kickoff saw Palmer build phase ball which led to another Regis Jesuit penalty for side entry. Palmer kicked for touch and was awarded a lineout just inside the Regis Jesuit half. Palmer’s throw-in was to Dalton Slaughter in front who set up a ruck to begin what seemed to be another Palmer attack. Torbido passed the ball out to an attacking pod that was met by a wall of Regis Jesuit defenders. Flanker Zee Carroll was able to strip the ball from the carrier, spinning out and breaking one tackle, and with support whizzed between two Palmer defenders to score under the uprights with little time left. Sam Storey’s conversion was good.

The referee whistled full time with the final score Regis Jesuit 33 – Palmer 17.

Scores for this game.

Regis Jesuit Raiders
David Dody, Spencer Aye, Zee Carroll each with one try.

Sam Storey, 2 tries and 4 conversions.

Palmer Terrors
Landon Neel, Abe Kamara, Dylan Mercer – each with a try
Derric Torbido – one conversion