Warsaw’s boys rugby team played Homestead in the first round of the Indiana division 2 state playoffs Thursday night. In front of one of their biggest crowds of the season the Warsaw Tigers put on a powerful but controlled performance. The game started with Homestead taking an early lead, scoring a try about ten minutes into the first half. This seemed to be the wake up call that Warsaw needed, as Zeb McCollom quickly scored a try to bring the game even at 5 to 5. From that point on, the first half was dominated by the Tigers. Midway through the half, Jason Taylor went in to score his first try of the game. A few minutes later Lorenzo DeGaetano crossed the line to score a try, only for it to be awarded and then called back as being held up by the referee after consultation with the touch judge. Warsaw, however, was not deterred and from the resulting 5 meter scrum Taylor picked up from the base of the scrum and proceeded to score his second try of the game. This was the last score of the first half, giving Warsaw a 15-5lead. The Tigers started the second half the way they finished the first. Immediately, from the Warsaw kickoff Homestead turned over the ball allowing Jackson Wagner to score in the corner. Midway through the half again Taylor crossed the line to complete his hat trick of tries. Late in the half, a darting run by Spencer Davidson saw him cross the line for a try which was converted by Richard Hernandez to bring the final score to 32-5 in Warsaw’s favor. "We played very well (Thursday night) said Warsaw coach Trevor Cracknell. “The players worked hard earlier this week as we introduced them to some new concepts and they have obviously grasped them very well. We played with power, passion and discipline. This is what we have been working toward all season. A number of players had outstanding games, but Spencer Davidson in his first game at scrum half on the A team was by far my player of the match. Unfortunately we lost Nathan Roberts for the rest of the playoffs with a broken collar bone. We all wish Nathan a quick and full recovery." The Tigers’ next game is at Angola today at 11 am.
