With one league game left to decide the Skyhawk Conference
championship, Bellarmine’s title chances remain unscathed after the
Bells held off a desperate second-half surge by Live Oak to win
20-12 Friday
MORGAN HILL — Coming off two consecutive lopsided defeats in Skyhawk Conference play, the Live Oak rugby team entered Friday’s match in the Outdoor Sports Center desperately needing a win against undefeated Bellarmine.
The other side wanted one just as badly. With one conference game left to decide the league championship, Bellarmine’s title chances remain unscathed after the Bells held off a desperate second-half surge by Live Oak to win 20-12.
In front of a boisterous home crowd, the Acorns started the game flat, allowing Bellarmine to jump ahead 8-0 with an unconverted try and a penalty kick 10 minutes in.
Live Oak was missing its strongest player, senior prop Erik Poulsen, for the second straight week because of a concussion, but rallied behind penetrating runs by seniors Alex Roman, Jordan Stiers and Mark Weber. The Acorns took control of possession and field position, pressuring Bellarmine’s defense until senior hooker Tyler Robison recovered a blocked kick for a try midway through the first half. Andrew Pitzer’s conversion made it a one-point game.
With momentum on their side, the Acorns began to gel — and Bellarmine was forced to play the remainder of the first half in the shadow of the Bells’ goal posts.
Live Oak’s forward pack applied intense pressure, but Bellarmine didn’t crack. The Bells denied three potential tries in goal with tenacious goal-line defense, and the first half ended with them leading 8-7.
The Acorns picked up where they left to begin the final 40 minutes. The opening 15 saw more penetrating runs, solid scrums and lineout play from them, and Bellarmine responded with hard-nosed defense.
At the 20-minute mark, the Bells counter-attacked off a poor kick by Live Oak to score an unconverted try, extending their lead to 13-8. They added another score 28 minutes in when their inside center split the defense and sprinted 55 yards a try between the posts. The ensuing conversion was good, giving Bellarmine a commanding 20-7 advantage with seven minutes left.
The Acorns did not lay down. With his team mustering firepower, Stiers touched down a try with two minutes remaining. A conversion would have pulled Live Oak within a converted try of taking the lead, down 20-12, but it was missed.
The Acorns will try to end the regular season with a win at home Friday, starting at 7 p.m. in the Outdoor Sports Center. Admission is free.
NOTE: In the junior varsity match last Friday, Live Oak fell 36-17 to Bellarmine.
