<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-11870 lazyload" src="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rugby_champs.jpg" alt="rugby_champs" width="700" height="400" srcset="https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rugby_champs.jpg 700w, https://www.bishopodowd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/rugby_champs-300x171.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
STOCKTON CA-The O’Dowd men were dominant in a clinical display of running rugby, scoring 10 tries to defeat the Panthers of San Joaquin Memorial High School (Fresno), 62-17, in the Northern California Division 2 Championship.
Led by senior flyhalf Sam Taylor and wing Michael Schirmer, who together accounted for 37 of the Dragons’ 62 points, O’Dowd was just unstoppable scoring in the first minute of the match and never looking back.
“I’m really proud of our team and staff. This year has been quite a journey, and I think we exceeded expectations and really over achieved,” varsity head coach Ray Lehner said. “I’m always sad when the season is over, as this time of year is the most fun to coach because the kids really get it.”
Added Lehner, “As always, I am sad to say goodbye to our seniors. They are an extraordinary group of young men, and I hope that they will all continue to play rugby through college and after. Sam (Taylor) was a wonderful captain, a playmaker and genuine student of the game. He will not be replaced easily.”
Scoring Timeline 100 Try BOD Flyhalf Sam Taylor 5, Conversion Sam Taylor 2 500 Try BOD Wing Michael Schirmer 5 700 Try BOD Wing Michael Schirmer 5 1300 San Joaquin Memorial Try and Conversion 7 1800 Try BOD Wing Ephraim Winston 5, Conversion Scrumhalf Michael Shilliday 2 2300 San Joaquin Memorial Try 5 2600 Try BOD 8th Man Greg Gomez 5, Conversion Scrumhalf Michael Shilliday 2 3500 Try BOD Wing Ephraim Winston 5, Conversion Scrumhalf Michael Shilliday 2
Halftime Score: O’Dowd 38- SJM 12
4000 Try BOD Flyhalf Sam Taylor 5, Conversion Scrumhalf Michael Shilliday 2 4400 San Joaquin Memorial Try 5, 4600 Try BOD Flyhalf Sam Taylor 5, Conversion Scrumhalf Michael Shilliday 2 5300 Try BOD Wing Michael Schirmer 5 7200 Try BOD Flyhalf Sam Taylor 5,
Final Score: O’Dowd 62, San Joaquin Memorial 17
The Dragons finish the 2017 Season with a 6-5 record. ( 4-2 in league play)
Click photo thumbnail to view in slideshow THEN images can be right clicked and downloaded at 1024px wide by 768px.