The St. Ignatius forwards set the maul. Noah Spinos photo.

The St. Ignatius Wildcats emerged as victors in a high school varsity international tour rugby game, defeating the San Ignacio Rugby Club 36-12 in Mar del Plata, Argentina, on April 2.

San Ignacio had put out the welcome mat, scheduling this varsity match on their best field, a field normally reserved only for their men's top side. It was an honor SIHS did not take lightly. It was a beautifully sunny day with fluffy white clouds in a brilliant, blue sky and it set the stage for an exciting match.

Jack Stefan excelled with two tries, his first following a well-worked team effort capped by Bryce Comeau staked Ignatius to a 17-5 halftime lead. Tommy Kilbain and Tommy Passarello also contributed key tries, while Jimmy Collins kicked three conversions and a penalty goal, added vital points to secure the Wildcats' win.
It was a Collins penalty goal that started the scoring, and Comeau's try, converted by Collins made it 10-0. Ignacio replied well with a try to make it 10-5.

Then came a defining play when the Wildcats, pressured deep in their own territory, utilized Kilbain's precise and powerful kick that traveled a remarkable 70 meters. The ball was eventually taken over the sideline by San Ignacio, resulting in a St. Ignatius lineout that paved the way for Stefan's first try.

The spotlight of the game was not only on the scoreboard. Player adaptability was showcased by Teagan Frain, who, amidst challenging circumstances, transitioned from scrumhalf to flyhalf, making plays that bolstered the team's fortunes. Furthermore, Kilbain's exceptional composure during crucial moments was underscored by his pivotal clearing kick leading to a critical St. Ignatius lineout that ultimately advanced the team's position.

Noteworthy defensive contributions came from Michael Krebs, whose ceaseless energy as a flanker disrupted the San Ignacio attack, and Brian McGrath, whose crucial hits helped keep the Wildcats in control.

Stefan's massive carries, especially his second try, earned him player of the game honors. His remarkable long-range run effectively sealed St. Ignatius's victory.

"We felt maybe we weren't getting all the calls that we should have, but after Jack picked the ball up and ran maybe 30 yards to the crib, we felt great," lock Nick Kovalchuk said.

This was a physically demanding game and carried with it a lot of passion. There was a bit of pushing after one player where Ignatius felt they had needed to score. The result of that was a red card to an Ignacio player and two yellow cards to Ignatius players. So the teams played with less than 15 for the remainder of the day.

"Scoreboard aside I thought there were many, many positives from our group," said St. Ignatius Head Coach Dan Arbeznik. "Our exits are functioning and we're doing a good job of playing rugby in the right ends. Most importantly, I think we're gelling as a team. Even with a lot of changed combinations the kids are figuring out ways to change strategies on the fly."

Looking forward, the Wildcats have their sights set on the next challenge, poised to face Mar del Plata Rugby Club in a return game set for April 4 in their current Argentina tour.