Brock Yoho '16 and USA Rugby South advance in RAN U19 Championships
The USA Rugby South Panthers, whose roster includes former Saint Ignatius Rugby mainstay Brock Yoho '16, rallied to a 24-23 victory over Trinidad &Tobago in Wednesday night's second round of the RAN U19 Championships in Miramar, Florida
Trailing, 23-11, the USA Rugby South U19 Panthers staged a dramatic 24-23 comeback and advanced to Saturday's Championship match versus Mexico.
Head Coach Mark Williams' Rugby South Panthers were coming off last weekend's 41-0 triumph over Bermuda in what was a Pool B matchup in the opening round of the Rugby Americas North U19 Championships (see the corner's post from Saturday evening).
The USA Rugby South U19s needed a big-time second half to defeat Trinidad & Tobago and secure a spot in the Rugby Americas North U19 Championships final Saturday in Miramar, Fla. Miramar is located right across the canal from Miami.
Trinidad & Tobago unleashed an attack the had the South Panthers' defense off-balance in the early going.
T & T scored a try from a scrum near midfield in increasing its lead to 11-3 and pushed that advantage to 16-6 by halftime off another try from a scrum.
Picking up its defense and possession, the South Panthers closed to 16-11 on a try by flyhalf Shea O’Hanlon.
Trinidad & Tobago responded again, however, and a touchline conversion saw the South Panthers trailing, 23-11.
Despite what the scoreboard said, Comeback City was just around the corner from Miramar.
After Panthers' flanker Austin Parrish went for the corner from about 50 meters out, the undaunted South, behind runs by Tucker Donlon and Nikolas Koumandarakis, set up a try by Cordell Ramsey.
The Panthers continued to ride their momentum, as they took the 24-23 lead on a kick for points by Sean O'Driscoll and stayed out of harm's way over the final six minutes to earn the Championship showdown with Mexico.
Note: Wednesday night's final score bulletin was courtesy of Mr. Keith Yoho and the score line was courtesy of the highly respected Goff Rugby Report.
Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer
Head Coach Mark Williams' Rugby South Panthers were coming off last weekend's 41-0 triumph over Bermuda in what was a Pool B matchup in the opening round of the Rugby Americas North U19 Championships (see the corner's post from Saturday evening).
The USA Rugby South U19s needed a big-time second half to defeat Trinidad & Tobago and secure a spot in the Rugby Americas North U19 Championships final Saturday in Miramar, Fla. Miramar is located right across the canal from Miami.
Trinidad & Tobago unleashed an attack the had the South Panthers' defense off-balance in the early going.
T & T scored a try from a scrum near midfield in increasing its lead to 11-3 and pushed that advantage to 16-6 by halftime off another try from a scrum.
Picking up its defense and possession, the South Panthers closed to 16-11 on a try by flyhalf Shea O’Hanlon.
Trinidad & Tobago responded again, however, and a touchline conversion saw the South Panthers trailing, 23-11.
Despite what the scoreboard said, Comeback City was just around the corner from Miramar.
After Panthers' flanker Austin Parrish went for the corner from about 50 meters out, the undaunted South, behind runs by Tucker Donlon and Nikolas Koumandarakis, set up a try by Cordell Ramsey.
The Panthers continued to ride their momentum, as they took the 24-23 lead on a kick for points by Sean O'Driscoll and stayed out of harm's way over the final six minutes to earn the Championship showdown with Mexico.
Note: Wednesday night's final score bulletin was courtesy of Mr. Keith Yoho and the score line was courtesy of the highly respected Goff Rugby Report.
Posted By Mr. Eddie Dwyer