FD, GW RUGBY CLASH ENDS IN 0-0 DRAW

By Paradis J. Fejerang

The ISA rugby league delivered a long, gritty day of varsity action at Okkodo High School, home of the Bulldogs, as 12 matches unfolded starting at 9 a.m. while under some of the tough conditions.

Early morning rain turned the field into a mud pit before the first kickoff, and although the rain eased later in the day, the heat and slick footing never did. From start to finish, players battled not only their opponents, but also the elements – dropped balls, slipping boots, and relentless physical play defining the day.

Males: FD v. GW

The schedule opened with one of the most anticipated matchups of the regular season as George Washington and Father Duenas – last year’s championship contenders – faced off in a physical 0–0 draw in the boys varsity division.

Both teams came out aggressive, with neither side willing to give ground despite the muddy conditions. The stalemate mirrored the intensity seen during football season, as both football MVPs once again stood out on the rugby pitch. GW senior Rayn Rios and FD junior Javin Meno played pivotal roles for their respective squads, helping anchor disciplined defensive efforts throughout the match.

“It was very wet, it was very muddy, it was hard to play in,” Rios said to move on to comment on how both teams played with great intensity.

Meno echoed the sentiment, pointing to the conditions and execution as areas for growth. “There were a lot of mistakes that we could fix at practice,” he said. “The weather really impacted us…We’re going to come to practice with a strong mindset – fix all our mistakes…[and] perfect our gameplay.”

Despite the lack of scoring, the match set the tone for a day defined by toughness, adaptability, and mutual respect as Rios leaves a final note to his Friar opponents that it was a good game and his team is going to hit practice on Monday even harder.

Females: Academy v. GW

One of the most dramatic moments of the day came in the girls varsity matchup between George Washington and the Academy of Our Lady of Guam. GW controlled the match for most of the contest, but the Cougars surged late, scoring and converting just before the final whistle to secure a thrilling 12–10 victory.

The comeback injected energy into the sidelines and crowd, serving as an early reminder that no lead was safe on a day when momentum shifted as quickly as footing disappeared.

Females: ND v. Sanchez

Later in the day, the Notre Dame Royals delivered a commanding 22–0 victory over Sanchez, capitalizing early and never relinquishing control.

Sanchez showed early pressure, but Notre Dame quickly found space, with Royal Chloe Taijeron opening the scoring. The Sharks’ defense stayed compact in the middle, forcing the Royals to stretch the field – an adjustment that paid off when senior Alieah Garrido broke free down the left side during the second half for a long sprint to the try line.

“That was a long run,” Garrido laughs over how she always seems to be the one having to run the field the most. “We had support, and I feel like that’s a big part of our tries – support for each other.”

Notre Dame continued to apply pressure, adding another try almost immediately and exposing Sanchez’s growing frustration. The Sharks struggled to use their wings offensively, while defensively crashing in without clear direction.

Garrido, named Player of the Game, credited Notre Dame’s defensive progress and coaching staff. “Our defense – we were working on it this whole week and it’s slowly getting better,” she said. “It really shows that we want it.”

The Royals’ dominant win provided momentum as they continue to push toward championship contention.

Females: Academy vs. Sanchez

In the second  game of the day for both the Cougars and Sharks, Academy defeated Sanchez 14–0.

After receiving the opening kickoff, Sanchez surrendered an early holding penalty that the Cougars converted into the first try of the match. Sanchez responded with improved structure and ball movement behind strong leadership, finding gaps in the Cougar’s defense before the halftime whistle unfortunately halted their momentum.

Though the rain had stopped, the mud remained a factor. Slips and dropped balls plagued Sanchez, while the Cougars returned with renewed intensity. Senior Gabby Hahn stood out for Academy, earning Player of the Game honors with relentless effort and physical runs, supported by teammates Maya Torre and co-captain Kylie Reyes.

“Attitude moves to other people,” Hahn said. “If you have a hype attitude, it connects to everyone else. I’m going out there and giving it my all.”

Hahn also acknowledged the impact of the conditions. “We can’t tell God to make it hot and dry the mud,” she said. “We just had to push through and play.”

Next Week

As the ISA rugby season continues, teams will regroup and prepare for next week’s slate of matches at the Wettengel Rugby Field with the leagues shaping up for hard-fought battles as the season continues.

All Scores

FD 0 – 0 GW

JFK 0 – 15 OHS

SHS 0 – 35 SSHS

AOLG 12 – 10 GW

GHS 10 – 5 OHS

ND 22 – 0 SSHS 

GW 25 – 0 OHS

AOLG 14 – 0 SSHS

GHS 7 – 21 SHS

SSHS 22 – 5 GW

OHS 0 – 25 SHS 

GHS 0 – 34 ND

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