St. Ignatius finds some space. Sam Leopold photo.

The St. Ignatius High School rugby team grabbed a hard-fought 22-19 victory against the San Ignacio Rugby Club as part of their international tour on April 2.

In the day's fixture in Mar del Plata, the Wildcats of St. Ignatius were able to weather intense competition from the San Ignacio team in a game that showcased the best of boys' high school rugby.

Boys from St. Ignatius who scored tries were Braeden Oddi, Matthew Wagenburg, and Nathan Dando, with Aidan Hubbard playing a pivotal role both in scoring a try and converting two times, in addition to a successful penalty goal. Dando's late try, which tied the game, and Hubbard's conversion were crucial moments that turned the tide in favor of the visiting Wildcats.

Highlighting the Wildcats' versatility, Hayden Voth's move from fullback to flyhalf to replace the under-the-weather Colin Spellacy turned out to be instrumental. His kicking for space was an important factor in St. Ignatius controlling field position.

In the forwards, Charlie Steen's tough work contributed significantly to the team's success.

"This was a very tough game and we had to come back to win with a makeshift group. Players like Hubbard, Oddi, Voth, Steen, and Wagenburg galvanized the rest," Coach Bill Craighead said in reflection of the team's effort.

Looking ahead, the St. Ignatius High School Wildcats are set to play against the Mar Del Plata Rugby Club U17s at home on April 4 to continue their international tour of Argentina.