RUGBY: Flathead Valley Black and Blue win state championship
<p>Black and Blue Rugby Club's Tilor Mercier runs away from a pair of Hamilton Warrior defenders during the Black and Blue's 25-7 victory at Evergreen Junior High in this April 2, 2016 file photo. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)</p>
MISSOULA — The Flathead Valley Black and Blue defeated the Missoula Mud Dogs 19-12 in the championship match to win the Montana Youth Rubgy Association State Tournament on Saturday at Fort Missoula.
Flathead (8-0-1 overall on the high school season) led 7-5 at the half before pulling away.
Payton Boyce did all of the scoring, three times, for the Black and Blue, which led to his Man of the Match honor.
“I think the difference in the second half was our boys were fit, very well conditioned and wanted it bad after last year’s semifinal loss,” Black and Blue head coach Lance Heavirland said.
“That’s all they have been focusing on since open gym in the winter.”
Black and Blue won the regular-season meeting with the Mud Dogs, also in Missoula, 27-20.
Eight teams were competing at state.
The Black and Blue rolled into the final by blasting the Helena Hooligans in the semifinals earlier in the day 68-5. Black and Blue led 25-5 at the half.
Jacob Ridgway, a wing, was the Man of the Match for the Black and Blue in that outing.
Sam Mann scored on a 60-meter run, Ziah Brown popped one in at the end and Tilor Mercier had multiple scores.
Colton Boyle and Boyce also added points.
“I was proud of their performance (today) and their sportsmanship all year,” Heavirland said.
The Black and Blue’s last state title was in 2012.
The Black and Blue Junior High squad also won state, going 3-0 on Saturday and downing Helena in the final, 24-10.