CHAPS TAKE THIRD IN STATE TOURNAMENT

The Westlake rugby team traveled to Strake Jesuit High School in Houston this past weekend to compete in the State Championship Rugby Tournament and took home third place honors.  On Saturday, the Chaps lost their opening match to defending state champs Dallas Jesuit High School but easily handled Strake Jesuit in Sunday’s consolation match.  The Third place victory extended Westlake’s season and assured the team a spot in the upcoming National Western Regional Tournament to be held in Austin in two weeks.

Dallas Jesuit jumped out to an early lead in Westlake’s opening match when it scored a quick try early in the period.  But then the Westlake scrum went to work and clamped down on the opposition.  Scrummies, Tyler Jones, Matt Schwartz, and Curtis Loeffel dominated Jesuit’s scrum and allowed veteran scrumhalf Connor McNally to score a try just 8 minutes into the match.  Reid McMenamin made good on the conversion kick and Westlake took an early 7-5 lead.

Westlake’s scrum continued to push Jesuit’s scrummies up and down the pitch for the remainder of the period, with veterans Eric Wiggin and Ari Shita turning in standout performances.  Westlake’s backs then took advantage of superior field position during the period.  Flyhalf Thomas Robison scored on a breakaway run with about six minutes remaining in the period.  Outside center Sean Potter also scored, with only seconds remaining in the period.  McMenamin tacked on a conversion kick and Westlake went into the half time break up 19-5.

Unfortunately, the second half was an entirely different story.  The Jesuit squad took full advantage of a blustery wind at their backs and kept the ball pinned down in Westlake’s side of the pitch for much of the period.  In the end, Jesuit reeled off 32 unanswered points during the period.  Despite the disappointing outcome, Westlake’s scrum, as well as full back Will Slade and flyhalf Thomas Robison, turned in outstanding defensive performances.

Sunday’s match against the home team, Strake Jesuit, was much sweeter.  Westlake’s scrum, including veterans Colin Harmon and Chris Canter, as well as Alex Faulkenberry, dominated their counterparts throughout the match, while Westlake’s backs, led by the veteran tandem of McNally and Robison, controlled the pace of the match and did an excellent job of distributing the ball among Westlake’s speedsters.  Freshman Robert Slack did an especially noteworthy job starting for the first time at wing.  Robison, Canter, and Shita all scored during the period and, with an added conversion kick by McMenamin, Westlake took a commanding 17-0 lead at the half.

Westlake substituted liberally during the second period and the fresh legs kept up the pressure.   Veteran wing Graham Soto-Kerans scored early in the period when Westlake took advantage of an overloaded left side.  Eric Wiggin, playing in his first tournament after returning from a shoulder injury, broke through Jesuit’s defenses and scored twice during the period.  McNally scored his second try of the tournament during the period and Thomas Robison showcased his kicking prowess by nailing two conversions kicks to the loud cheers of the Westlake faithful.

Jesuit finally managed to score a try and convert a kick as time ran out, but it was too late to matter.  Westlake walked away with a 41-7 victory and a ticket to the Western Regional Tournament in two weeks.

Charles Vermont