Rugby
Seacoast Rugby U19 boys beat Portland
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - After leading 19-5 at the break the Seacoast Pirates held off a late rally by the Portland Power Pigs to preserve a 19-17 victory at Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland on April 7.The Seacoast team showed heart; playing one man short with only 14 players and no substitutes against Portland's 40-plus bodies.
The result has been described as a bit of an upset in the New England Rugby Football Union U19 Boys' Division 2. Portland took second place in 2006, losing the final to Brookline High School of Massachusetts and Seacoast moved up after winning the Division 3 New England Cup a year ago.
The match was back and forth, with both teams controlling the ball and attacking for extended periods. The win brings the Pirate's record to 1-1.
The boys will next play at St John's Prep in Danvers, Mass., on Thursday, April 12, at 4 p.m. and are also scheduled against Kearsarge High School on Saturday, April 14.
The girls open their season on Saturday in Rutland, Vermont.
Players are still being accepted for this season for both the boys' and girls' teams. Athletes ages 13 to 18 are welcome.
More information can be found at www.seacoastrugby.org/youth.php.
