Morning Star Staff
The Fulton Maroons brushed back the VSS Panthers 29-26 in North Zone Junior Boys Rugby League action Wednesday at Grahame Park.
Caden Doyle and Hunter Krieger each supplied two tries and Ryan Rumsey earned one for Fulton. Kyle Karens and Jeff Han each booted one convert as the Maroons took first in the zone at 3-1.
Fulton built up a 22-5 lead at the break in a scrappy affair, adding Rumsey’s superb try early in the second half before the Panthers took control and made things interesting.
“We had a great first half and played disciplined solid rugby,” said Fulton coach Mike Scheller. “We moved the ball well and tackled well. Our set plays from lineouts and scrums were good. Our only problem in the first half was we did not hit the rucks hard enough.”
Scheller said the Maroons started to coast after grabbing the large lead.
“VSS kept charging, to their credit. Our guys stopped tackling and being aggressive, and in the end it almost caught us. We have to learn to play the full 60 minutes.”
Schelled praised Ike Olson for bold play at standoff, where he moved the ball swiftly and tackled well. Rumsey was tough all game at hooker and Krieger was highly active with some solid attacking runs at No. 8 man.
Fulton is 4-4 overall and host the Kelowna Owls in an exhibition today (3:30 p.m.). The Valley playdowns start Tuesday with the semis Thursday (finals Thursday, May 21).
