May 3, 2010
Westlake Ruggers Win Western Regional Tournament; Go Into National Tournament Ranked 6th in Nation
Oh, the difference a week makes in rugby - and the return of one All-American eight man to the lineup. After losing to Dallas Jesuit High School in the finals of the Texas State Championship Tournament last week, the Chaps faced Jesuit again this past Saturday in the first round of the Western Union Rugby Championship Tournament in Fort Worth. But this time, with the return of All-American eight man Evan Von Zur Meuhlen after an injury, the result was much different. Westlake beat Jesuit 35-24 and went on to win the tournament, earning a 6th seed in the National Championship Tournament to be held in Salt Lake City in three weeks.
Westlake jumped out to an early lead after Von Zur Muehlen nailed a long penalty kick. But the rangers roared back and answered with a try and a conversion to take the lead. Powerful scrum play on both sides of the ball kept the match even throughout the period. Fly half Markham Sayers, Von Zur Muehlen, and wing, Alex Lokken, all scored tries for the Chaps during the period, but Jesuit matched Westlake’s intensity and scoring during the period, and led at the half 21-20.
But the second half belonged to Westlake. Intense rucking by James Howe and Sebastian Medina kept the rangers pinned down on their side of the pitch for much of the period. And Westlake’s superior team speed and conditioning took over. Paul Brown and Ellis Glaw each scored a try, and Von Zur Muehlen added a penalty kick and a conversion to seal the victory, 35-24.
Excitement ran high the next day as the Westlake fans watched their new opponents, the ruggers from St. Thomas Acquinas High School in Kansas City, take the pitch. Westlake scored first when Vince Costa broke a long run down the right touch line and Von Zur Muehlen added the conversion. But St. Thomas answered with a try and conversion of it own.
With the score knotted at 7-apiece early in the first period, the unthinkable happened. Westlake suffered two yellow cards in quick succession and found itself playing two men down, just as it was in its loss to Jesuit a week earlier. As a depressing sense of déjà vu settled over the stands and with Chaps fans visibly worried over the 2-man disadvantage, the boys never seemed to notice. In fact, unlike in the Jesuit game a week earlier, they never missed a beat. Their immediate response to the penalties was to push down the pitch and get the ball to Alex Lokken, who scored on breakaway up the middle. Westlake scored again, this time when it was still a man down, when scrum half Connor McNally scooped up a loose ball and darted in for a try. With Von Zur Muehlen’s two conversion kicks during the period, the Chaps led 21-7 at the half.
Westlake kept up the pressure in the second half with an intense defensive effort. Hard tacking by Ellis Glaw, Chris Cantor, James Sevard, and Chase Carona kept St. Thomas on its heels for much of the period. And Westlake’s powerful scrummies not only outplayed their larger opponents, they led the way in scoring as well. Prop Alex Putnam grabbed a pass, ran over a pack of defenders and rumbled into the try zone early in the period. Ari “the bull” Shita followed with another try after a short but brutal run through a line of defenders.
But perhaps the signature play during the half occurred toward the end of the period and highlighted the superior strength of Westlake’s scrum. The Chaps had the ball in a maul about thirty meters out and methodically pushed the defenders down to the try line. Scrum half Connor McNally expertly managed the scrum and could be heard barking directions as Charlie Copa, Colin Harmon, Ari Shita and the other scrummies moved the pile across the try line allowing Rogan Lye to down the ball for the score.
Although St. Thomas managed to score 15 points during the period, it wasn’t enough and the Chaps won going away, 39-22.
After the presentation of the winner’s trophy, Coach Al Niece was clearly relishing the victory, which was sweet indeed for a program that was only in its second year. But he also was looking forward to taking his team to compete in the national tournament. “I always felt this team was capable of playing with the best teams in the country. And when they scored twice today while playing short-handed, it just showed their toughness and character. I’m excited for the kids and I’m looking forward to the national tournament. It’ll be a great experience for them.”
Charles Vermont