The Belmont boys’ rugby squad cruised to a 50-point victory May 25 against St. John’s Prep. But coach Greg Bruce warned his players that Sunday’s rematch in the Division 1 state final would be different.
The second-seeded Eagles silenced the defending state champion Marauders for the first 20 minutes. But top-seeded Belmont proved once again that it is the state’s best after four players scored tries in a 24-14 victory at Curry College.
The win capped a perfect season for Belmont (7-0), which finished 10-0 overall including victories over three out-of-state opponents not recognized by the MIAA.
”I’m absolutely thrilled,” Bruce said.
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“We asked them to put out their best defensive performance of the year. Even though the score might not be the lowest points we’ve given up, that was by far the best defensive performance.”
Senior Matt Doban and juniors Luke Wilgren, Stephen Hong and Max Cornelius scored a try apiece for Belmont. Hong was 2 for 4 on conversion kicks.
”We came in with some nerves because we knew this was worth a lot and we had a lot on the line,” Doban said. “We were able to slow things down, catch our breath, and really play our style.”
Senior Ryan Albano and junior Luke Rinklin tallied tries for Prep (4-2-1). Rinklin made both conversion kicks for the Eagles, who absorbed a 57-7 defeat at Belmont during the regular season.
It is Belmont’s third title, following wins in 2019 (over Milton) and last year (20-7 over BC High).
”We started this with 21 kids in the spring of 2007,” Bruce said. “When the MIAA went varsity, we got the school support and it definitely helped.”
Division 2 State
Weymouth 59, Algonquin 14 — The Wildcats finished off a sweep by defending champions, and did so with a two-way clinic at Curry College.
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The third-seeded Wildcats used a 31-0 lockdown effort in the first half, helped by several explosive plays, to capture their second consecutive championship.
“We’ve preached it all year, that defense is a mind-set,” Weymouth coach Ryan Casey said. “It’s effort, and it’s want, and they wanted it more, and they just came up as a team and were relentless.”
Weymouth (9-1) was on the ropes early against a strong first possession by top-seeded Algonquin (7-2), but shut it down near their own try line and took control for most of the half. Senior captain Tyler Ahern said that first stop helped set the tone.
“I think once we have a good stop like that, it’s just a boost of morale for the rest of the game,” he said. “We keep building and building on how we’re feeling. Our attitudes were just positive throughout the entire game.”
After Anthoni Gonzalez-Dumont scored on a short-yardage try with 25:20 left in the first half, the floodgates opened. William Savage tallied two explosive tries, including a 65-yard scamper to end the frame, and Naheem Ridore and Michael Mastrocola also added tries.
“Sometimes, you have the horses,” Casey said. “We got a lot of good athletes.”
Savage tacked on another long try early in the second half. The junior finished 6 for 8 on conversion kicks. Christian Laenen, Ryan Kane, and Ahern notched second-half tries for Weymouth.
Liam Cunniffe and Jace Golden scored tries for Algonquin in the loss.
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The Wildcats have two state titles in just five years as a program. Ahern joined the team as a sophomore, when the program generated little hype and struggled to win games. Once football players and other talented student-athletes started taking an interest, the team’s success skyrocketed.
“Ever since then, I’ve just been watching the program build up and up,” Ahern said. “It’s an amazing thing to see and I’m super proud to be on this team.”
Girls’ rugby
Division 1 State
Belmont 59, Brookline 0 — There never was a doubt. After a dominant spring, the top-seeded Marauders (9-0) racked up a season high in points to throttle third-seeded Brookline (4-5) at Curry College, the program’s fifth title since 2017. No other team has won a state championship in that span; there wasn’t a title game in 2020 (pandemic) nor ‘21, when teams played 7 on 7 instead of the traditional 15s.
”There’s a legacy that’s been laid by the teams that came before them, which is a benefit to every girl that puts on that jersey,” said Belmont coach Kate McCabe, a history teacher at the school.
“There’s also a culture that’s really family-oriented. They really love being a part of this team, and that means they grow together as a group.”
Junior Mia Taylor ran for three tries, senior Elise Conroy recorded two, and juniors Rowan Dargon, Sally Amer, and Olivia Mann added a try apiece. Sophomore Sadie Taylor also scored a try, while junior Lucy Kabrhel made seven conversion kicks.
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”The scoreboard might not look like it, but each tackle and every single part of that game was a fight,” Taylor said. Even moments after she received an ice water bath from her players, it was hard for McCabe not to look ahead at her program’s bright future.
”They’re mostly juniors and sophomores,” she said. “What a gift to have the growth we know that means for the next few years.”
Ethan Fuller reported from Milton on the Division 2 boys’ final.