Black and Blue rebound for victory in regular-season finale

FRENCHTOWN — The Kalispell Black and Blue rugby team picked up a much-needed win Saturday to regain momentum entering the playoffs, defeating the previously undefeated Frenchtown Iron Horse 33-19.

“The team played its best match of the season,” Black and Blue coach Bob Kiesel said. “Their fundamentals finally came together.

“They controlled the ball; they controlled the game.”

Coming off back-to-back losses, the Black and Blue (2-2) were locked in a tight match early before Sebastian Koch broke through for a try 15 minutes in. The Iron Horse (4-1) responded with a try at the 20-minute mark to cut the Black and Blue’s lead to 7-5, but senior captain Tucker Nadeau broke away for a 60-meter try just before halftime to give the Black and Blue its first two-possession lead at 14-5.

Nadeau, who leads the team in tries, paced the squad with two tries, five poached balls and a 4 of 5 mark on conversions.

“He’s everywhere he needs to be when he needs to be there,” Kiesel said. “If things aren’t getting done, he’ll take it in his own hands.

“You don’t get many like that.”

The Black and Blue, down four seniors due to injury, nevertheless began to control the match in the second half, starting with Hunter Wellcome’s try at the 41-minute mark that gave the Black and Blue a 21-5 advantage. A resilient Iron Horse squad bounced back for a try 50 minutes in to make it 21-12, but Nadeau’s second try of the match stretched the Black and Blue’s lead once again to 26-12.

Tanner Russell passed off to freshman Braydon Boyle for another Black and Blue try at the 65-minute mark, and Frenchtown added its final score 68 minutes in.

“We have a great young crew that we subbed in today, and they responded,” Kiesel said.

The Black and Blue now awaits playoff seeding to see where they will travel in next week’s quarterfinals, though Kiesel said it will likely be a road match versus either the Bitterroot Warriors or the Iron Horse.

“The play on the pitch for the kids was absolutely the best thing that could have happened (Saturday),” he said. “I know that whoever draws us is not looking forward to it.

“No one wants to play the Black and Blue.”