Highlanders Rugby, Chapel Hill Make it 5 In A Row - North Carolina U19 Rugby State Championship Final, Saturday May 8th 2010

The Highlanders of Chapel Hill were looking to add to their four consecutive U19 State Championships in a league that has become progressively more competitive. Head Coach Robert Joseph commented,”Season 2010 was expected to be a challenging one for the club, having graduated twenty seniors from the very successful 2009 team. In addition only five of the starting fifteen in this final game played regular A-Side rugby in 2009, with three of the starters playing their first ever season of rugby”.



So in 90 degree heat on Saturday at Raleigh Rugby Club, The Highlanders took the field to face Vance Cabarrus Gold, the only North Carolina team to have beaten them in the last three seasons in league play. The teams had contested a very close game on the opening day of the season on February 20th at Cedar Falls Park, with VC Gold edging it by 17:11.

From the kick-off, VC Gold immediately took the game to the Highlanders and despite solid defense, with the Highlanders relieving pressure from their line a number of times, VC Gold’s efforts were rewarded on 10 minutes by an unconverted try to give them a 5-0 lead.

The Highlanders were unphased by this early score and stuck to their game plan, and shortly after, a trademark flowing attack yielded an Arthur Wagner try, which he also converted, to make the score 7-5 on 15 minutes.




Five minutes later the Highlanders added a second try with Jonathan Marshall touching down following some dynamic rucking by the forwards. Wagner converted to extend the Highlanders lead to 14-5. “We knew this year that our forward pack would be one of the smallest in the league. What this meant for us was that we had to capitalize on our superior fitness and mobility, which enabled us to win quick ruck ball through multiple phases” added Coach Joseph.







As half-time approached, VC Gold re-exerted their early pressure, keeping the Highlanders pinned in their 22. As had become their trademark during the last month of the season, the Highlanders were able to thwart VC Gold’s efforts through strong scrummaging, tackling and a very well organized ruck defence. The score at half-time was, Highlanders 14 - VC Gold 5

“During the half-time talk, we stressed the need to stick to our structured game plan as well as the imperative to start strong, because we knew our opponents would be keen to close the gap early in the half”, said Coach Joseph.

From the re-start, the Highlanders pack got deep into the VC Gold half and exerted their own pressure through multiple phases of dynamic rucking, creating the opportunity for scrum-half Tim Torres to score from short-range in the corner. Score: Highlanders 19 – VC Gold 5.

Just as it seemed that the Highlanders were controlling the game, VC Gold hit back with a converted try resulting from a scrum in the Highlanders 22, to cut the deficit to only seven points.

Remembering how the first game against VC Gold ended with a decisive late score, the Highlanders immediately resumed their attacking intent. Running from deep in their 22, the ball was moved wide quickly to one of the new Highlanders, Jaimee Reid (Trinity High School), who used his pace and physique to devastating effect in a seventy meter break. This set up possession deep in the VC Gold 22, and a quick tap penalty from Sebastian Torres and deft handling enabled fly-half Willem Prins to touchdown under the posts. Wagner again converted to extend the Highlanders’ cushion to 26- 12.



Before anyone could catch their breath, Jonathan Marshall set up the Highlanders’ decisive try that was finished by Chris Jaques. Coach Joseph describes the action, “…from deep inside our own half we won quick, clean ball and attacked through USA Eagle center Jonathan Marshall, who beat 3 or 4 defenders before offloading back inside to the forwards who were in prime support positions.....



....a series of great supporting plays with perfectly timed off loads had the VC Gold defence in disarray and the backs then rejoined the play moving the ball through multiple set of hands for Chris Jaques to score in the corner. This great example of flowing rugby brought our large group of Highlanders alumni (and parents) in attendance to their feet to celebrate one of the best tries we have ever scored in our seven year history.”



This took the score to 31:12. However the Highlanders were not about to ease up with a quarter of the game left, and some quick thinking and reaction-play gave Marshall a clear run at the line. The final score was Highlanders 36: Vance Cabarrus Gold 12.

So the Highlanders capped-off another memorable season with their fifth consecutive North Carolina U19 Championship.

Coach Joseph closed by summing up the year: “2010 was a watershed year for the club. We knew we had to recruit aggressively this year and through the efforts of our seniors, led in particular by Robert Jordan (CHHS) and Kent ‘Scottie’ Mackman (ECHHS), we were able to bring in 20 new players, all of whom played a significant role in the team’s success. We also strengthened our coaching staff over the winter with the addition of three new coaches. I would like to thank all the players, coaches and families for their dedication and support this year. It was a great season and the boys got the victory they truly deserved in today’s state championship final.”


Match summary and analysis by Robert Joseph and Richard Jordan, photography by Emily Prins.


Highlanders Rugby, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is a youth rugby club based in the town of Chapel Hill in North Carolina, USA. The club was founded in the fall of 2003 by Robert Joseph and Robert Futch and played its first High School season in spring 2004. The High School A and B sides compete in the North Carolina Youth Rugby (NCYR) club conference. Season 2009 saw the Highlanders field their first U15 and U13 tackle teams under the leadership of Coach Robert Futch. The U15 Highlanders played for the state title in their first year. The Highlanders also continue to run touch rugby for boys and girls of all ages throughout the year.

The Highlanders U19s have achieved many milestones since the club's inception. Season 2010 saw the team complete “5 in a row” as U19 NC State Champions The club has played in 7 State finals, 4 South Championships (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010), National Championships (2005, 2009) and has supplied a large number of players to the North Carolina All Stars. Over 20 of the club's players have also benefited from attending USA Rugby development and selection camps, with 2 players making the USA U17/U18 Eagle teams in 2008 and 2009. This exposure to elite level rugby through the All Stars and USA Rugby programs has been pivotal in the Highlanders success.