FRIARS EDGE GECKOS IN TITLE REMATCH

By Shania Bulala

The highly anticipated boys varsity rugby matchup between the Father Duenas Friars and the George Washington Geckos kicked off the Saturday rugby action at the JFK Ramsey Field.

Both teams put up a hard-fought battle from the first to the very last whistle. The Friars eventually came out on top with a 19-14 victory in a rematch of last year’s championship game. Trey Blas led the Friars with two tries and teammate Javin Meno added one. Hyan Mesa also kicked two successful conversions for the Friars.

First Half: Friars Set the Tone

As the match began, both teams sought to establish dominance early, testing each other’s defensive lines with strategic ball movement and aggressive tackles. The intensity was high, with neither side willing to give up yards easily.

It wasn’t until halfway through the first half when the Friars finally started finding their rhythm on the offensive end. They capitalized on a powerful maul to push the ball forward closer to their try zone. Quick passing and excellent support allowed Trey Blas to power through for the Friars first try. Though the conversion attempt to follow was unsuccessful, the Friars took a 5-0 lead into halftime.

Second Half Surge

The second half saw the Geckos come out strong with a renewed sense of urgency, determined to make up for the deficit. Within minutes, Jovohn Concepcion capitalized on a defensive lapse, cutting through the Friars’ defensive line to reach the try zone. Eduardo “Boom” Whitman followed to kick a successful conversion, giving the Geckos a 7-5 lead.

However, the Friars were quick to respond. A huge play by Blas turned the tide once more as he intercepted a pass, showcasing his anticipation and agility. Blas sprinted down the field and put down his second try of the game, swinging momentum back in the Friars’ favor. Hyan Mesa followed with a successful conversion, putting the Friars back in the lead 12-7.

The Friars weren’t done yet. With their offensive chemistry clicking, Javin Meno broke through the Geckos defense to score another try and further extend the lead. Mesa once again delivered on the conversion, stretching the Friars’ lead to 19-7.

With time winding down, the Geckos mounted one last push to close the gap. In the final play of the game, Rayn Rios muscled his way through a tough Friars defense to score a try. Untalan confidently nailed the conversion, bringing the final score to 19-14.

The Friars’ victory reinforces their status as the top team in the league, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure. “I am very happy with my performance, most especially my team’s performance. We came out slow, but towards the end we started to pick things up and put things together,” said Blas. “We knew this was going to be an emotional game against GW… They came to play.”

Meanwhile, for the Geckos, despite the loss, they proved they are once again a formidable squad. Under the leadership of Untalan and Rios, they demonstrated that they are capable of competing against any team in the league.