The Blue Jay rugby team traveled to Dallas this past weekend to take on their brothers from Jesuit-Dallas. The Rangers were last year’s Texas high school rugby champion and came into the match as the expected favorite. The Blue Jays and the Rangers have played each other three times in the past five years. In each meeting, the final score was 12-12. So, the Jays knew they were in for a proper early-season test.

After the final whistle blew, the Jays walked off the field with a resounding statement victory, 47-10.

Junior flyhalf Andrew Newel was excellent. He was 6 for 7 on conversion kicks—many from the touchline—and a otherwise kept the Rangers off balance with tactical kicks. One such kick was recovered by wing Tyson Oliver for a 60-meter try. Newel also secured four steals and caused the Rangers to commit penalties on two other poach attempts. After the match, the Rangers awarded Newel man-of-the-match honors.

Junior scrumhalf Matt Cashio was Newel’s partner-in-crime. He kept the Blue Jay attack on the front foot with sharp passes to the Blue Jay forwards coupled with repeated probing runs into the Rangers a-gap. Cashio took one such a-gap snipe to the house for a 40-meter try.

Seniors Nate Williams and Nick Ferina connected repeatedly on the day with silk passes, including Ferina executing a flick pass on one instance against the Ranger’s edge defender. Recent football crossover athletes Joe Barnett and Christian Jackson punished the Rangers with powerful runs and shattering tackles.

Finally, senior Josh Barazza, another recent crossover athlete, drew inspiration from his years of competition on the bowling team to repeatedly bowl over the Ranger defense.

After the match, the Rangers hosted the Blue Jays to a feast of some of Texas’s best barbeque. Our brothers in Dallas were gracious hosts and showed true class both on and off the field. Coach Matt Upton—Jesuit Dallas ’02—promised that the Rangers will come to New Orleans next spring and avenge the loss.

The Blue Jays take on Brother Martin this Saturday at the NOLA Gold stadium (formerly Zepher’s Field) with a 4:00 kickoff. The NOLA Gold play the New England Freejacks after the match. Tickets to the Blue Jay’s match will are good for entry to the NOLA Gold match as well. So, come route on the Blue Jays and then the NOLA Gold.

Discounted tickets may be purchased at this link. Kickoff is at 4:00, not 3:30: https://nolagoldrugby.showare.com/PremiumTickets.asp?performanceid=138&qualifierid=41&qualifiertype=password