In slick conditions, BC High rugby weathers Xaverian to grind out another Division 1 title
Junior hooker Max Ford scored the critical insurance try 15 minutes into the second half, extending the Eagles' lead to 13. With the ball slippery in rainy conditions, the Hawks struggled to advance all day, until a clever forward kick was recovered by senior captain Luke Bell and walked in for a try with two minutes to go.
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Xaverian (4-1-1) entered averaging 38 points a game.
'During the week, we were getting water bottles and soaking the balls. We knew it was going to be raining,' BC High senior captain Mikey Smith said. 'So it happened through our preparation.'
Senior fullback Charlie Thomison was the star for BC High (7-0), finishing with multiple significant carries, including one that set up freshman flanker Cillian O'Callaghan's first-half try. Thomison also converted a short penalty kick to open the scoring.
After a 36-35 win in the regular season and the 40-38 decision in last year's championship, the Eagles have now won their last three matches with the Hawks by a combined 10 points.
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'They're a phenomenal team,' Thomison said. 'And it feels really good to climb the mountain over these guys.'
BC High's Conrad Babka (8) is pulled down by Xaverian's Harry Corrigan (9) in the first half of the Division 1 championship.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
BC's High's Charlie Thomison (15) breaks away from Xaverian's Max Ford at Curry College.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
BC's High's Owen Hurley (14) losing contol of the ball as Xaverian's Benjamin Kramer charges in for the tackle in the Division 1 final.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
BC High's Mikey Smith celebrate hoisting the Division 1 trophy at Curry College.
Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
Sam Robb O'Hagan can be reached at
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