RUGBY TITLE MATCHES SET FOR SATURDAY

The ISA Rugby League semifinals kicked off early in the afternoon at the Guam High field Tuesday.

In our featured girls varsity match, the fifth seeded Okkodo Bulldogs outran the fourth seeded Notre Dame Royals 19-10 to advance and play the undefeated Academy Cougars later in the evening.

For the boys Varsity, the George Washington Geckos upset the Bulldogs 17-10 grabbing their ticket to the championship to face the undefeated FD Friars on Saturday, March 9 at 2 pm.

Bulldogs vs Royals

The Bulldogs led early with a try from Cadance Mansapit but unfortunately missed the conversion kick. ND’s Ely Benavente was able to score a try for her team but the Royals also missed the conversion to keep up with the Bulldogs. Rosita Kuper scored the second try for the Bulldogs to end the first half with a made conversion to lead 12-5.

In the second half, Areyanna Garrido was able to find an opening through the Bulldogs defense to score ND’s second try but a short conversion attempt swiped away the chance to tie the game.

Both teams continued to jockey ball possession on the pitch with crucial tackles coming from both sides until Mansapit made a massive run for the house all the way from the Royals try zone for the Bulldog’s final try. A made conversion sealed the game 19-10 for the Bulldog’s as the time ran out.

Geckos vs Bulldogs

The Boys Varsity matched found the Bulldogs early with a penalty kick by Deon Apatang to put them up 3-0 but the mere lead fell short against a thunderous and towering Gecko squad.

Going back and forth Bulldog Apatang was about to kick the ball to move Okkodo down the field when GW’s Marcello Blas snatched the ball before contact for a solid push through Okkodo’s defense to the house to lead 5-3.

As the Geckos continued to control the ball and move closer to the try zone, Eden Sudo sneaked up just enough to get in the second try and with Eduardo Whitman’s conversion increased the Geckos lead to 12-3.

Just a few minutes before the first half ended, the Geckos got a pass out after the ruck and found skyscraper Isaiah Hayes trucking with high speed to the house for the final try for GW leading 17-3.

The Bulldogs put up a fight in the second half but fell short only being able to score one try from Ferstino Garcia and a made conversion from Deon Apatang.

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