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Rugby Cats Earn Huge Victory over No. 2 Club Team in Nation

By Joe Ginley, 04/24/17, 9:45AM EDT

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In a duel with one of the best high school club rugby teams in the nation, the Saint Ignatius rugby team found a way to get it done. 

The Wildcats defeated the Cathedral Royal Irish of Indianapolis, Indiana on Saturday, capturing a 22-21 victory at The Ohio State University. 

The Rugby Cats, fresh off this critical victory, enter into the home stretch of the season with a near spotless 11-1 record, and the No. 1 ranking in the nation of single-school teams. 

The contest began with the Royal Irish striking first. Jake Christmann notched a penalty goal 15 minutes into the match, making the score, 3-0. Alex Chura responded for the blue and gold. The junior standout hauled in a kick at about the 50-yard line and galloped into the right corner of the try zone for five points for the Wildcats. 

A pair of Christmann penalty kicks for the Royal Irish set the score at 9-5 heading into halftime. 

Near the start of the second half, the Wildcats received a penalty goal of their own, as Chris Fedor knocked it through to narrow the deficit to one point with 30 minutes left.

Jackson Sherby then replied with a try for the Royal Irish, their first of the day, and the visitors converted the kick. The Royal Irish held a 16-8 advantage for much of the second.

Using his strength, Tommy Lavelle pounded it in from the 5-yard line, and Fedor used the wind at his back to narrow the deficit to 16-15. But just a minute later, the Royal Irish struck back with another try, though missing the conversion, making the score 21-15. 

The score did not demoralize the Wildcats. Following the restart, Aidan Gill picked off a Royal Irish pass and raced the distance to under the posts. His heroic pick-six set the stage for a critical Chris Fedor kick. The senior veteran sent it through the updates with no problem. The Wildcats led 22-21. 

Alex Goff of the Goff Rugby Report recapped the ending of the contest perfectly:

"Royal Irish won the restart and earned three penalties but didn’t kick for touch. With the wind too strong to risk a kick at goal, they tapped and ran and made it down to the Ignatius line. A long defensive stand ensued, and then Ignatius No. 8 Sean Soeder and lock Josef O'Brien caught a ball carrier and held him up. Once the maul stalled, the game was over."

The Royal Irish drew within the 3-yard line, but the Wildcats stood strong to secure the victory in impressive fashion.

As the old adage goes, champions find a way to win, and the Wildcats did. Entering into a 2-match week, the Wildcats look well prepared for difficult competition and the final stretch of the season.