Aspetuck High School Boys Come Of Age in Victory Over Staples

In one of the most anticipated games of the season, the High School teams of Aspetuck Valley RFC took on Westport Staples High School in what turned out to be a rip-roaring contest from start to finish. Despite it being a hot and humid afternoon, a great crowd turned out to support both teams.

The Junior B sides played first, both teams attacking hard from the kick-off whistle. Aspetuck had the best of the possession for the first ten minutes but repeated battering failed to break through an excellent Staples defense. The visitors ratcheted up the pressure until a turnover ball in the 14th minute released their backs to break through and score the first try of the game. The home team retaliated with the strongest rucking performance of the season, some strong, aggressive play from Sam Pronovost (Easton) and Matt Masi (Ridgefield) and a brilliant pick-up and attack, from a difficult bounce, by Ben Thompson (Redding). However, they were unable to answer the visitors increasing score line until midway through the second half when Wilton’s Conor Kilmartin hammered over the line for his first try in a gold shirt to put Aspetuck on the scoreboard with 5 points. Tyler Dickinson (Easton) duly kicked the ball through the posts to convert, adding a further two points. Full time score Aspetuck 7, Staples 20.

Next onto the field were the Senior A’s. Staples’ backs swiftly demonstrated their class with a cleverly worked try to take an early lead. However, Aspetuck took the fight straight back to them, throwing in some huge tackles to regain possession. The home side maintained discipline during repeated rucking against a well-drilled Staples defense to pound the ball to the line. Redding’s Lewis Grassie, delivered the final pick and drive, burrowing through the defenders to score. Grassie subsequently kicked a successful conversion for an additional two points.

Staples upped the tempo yet again in what was to prove a bruising battle of the forwards. The visitors took advantage of a momentary Aspetuck lapse to cross the line, but minutes later the home side were rewarded in spectacular style when the cheekiest of grubber kicks from Grassie bounced back off the post and into his hands for a try. Grassie converted again. However, Staples continued to turn up the heat with excellent scoring efforts of their own. Half time score, Aspetuck 14, Staples 26.

If anyone thought the game was a foregone conclusion at the beginning of the second half, they were in for a surprise. Aspetuck shrugged off the half-time blues to hit Staples hard enough to send up the dust and turn the tide in their favor. Using the size of their pack to good advantage, the home team pounded in ruck after ruck. Some formidable clearing out work from Tom Dolman (Bethel) and Tim Squance (Weston) succeeded in winning the ball. Nate Jacobson (Weston) broke the deadlock, bulldozing towards the line to set up Easton’s CJ Kowalski for the first of three consecutive tries. Grassie proved his first half kicking success was more than mere luck by maintaining a perfect record. Wilton’s Robb brothers kept the attack moving with some sublime side-stepping and an inspired pass across the width of the field to Redding’s Drew Sennett that could have been another try if Staples hadn’t managed to bundle Sennett out of play with only yards to go. Staples rallied to score again in the second to last minute but it wasn’t enough. A thoroughly deserved win for the home side, with Grassie’s boot proving to be the clincher. Aspetuck 35, Staples 31

Aspetuck Valley Rugby Football Club is open to all boys aged 8 through High School, from any town in the area that doesn’t already have a rugby program. The home field is situated in Redding, behind the Umpawaug Rd Fire Department. Full details are available on our website at aspetuckrugby.org.