MILTON – Overcoming a sluggish start, top-seeded Belmont scored enough points to take home its second straight Div. 1 boys rugby title Sunday morning.

The Marauders were able to fend off a couple attempts early in the second half for No. 2 St. John’s Prep to escape with a 24-14 victory at Curry College to win the state title for the third time since 2019.

“It feels good,” said Belmont coach Greg Bruce. “We started with 21 kids back in the spring of 2007 when we were a club team for many, many years. When the MIAA went varsity and to get school support like that. We have had the parent’s support for a while, but once we got the school support that really helped a lot.

In off-and-on rain showers, the Marauders toughed through a persistent St. John’s Prep defense and were able to find the scoreboard after 20 minutes as junior Max Cornelius’ try followed by a conversion kick for junior Stephen Hong made it 7-0.

“It was so physical,” Hong said about the defensive front for the Eagles. “They were double-hitting us. They were loud and they were talking. We played our game though and (limited) our talking back.

Hong added a try to put Belmont (7-0) up 12-0 before St. John’s Prep responded with a try for junior Luke Rinklin. Rinklin added a conversion kick to make it a 12-7 contest.

Marauders senior Matt Doban and a Hong conversion kick right before the half made it 19-7 after 35 minutes.

In the second half, a fourth different player had a try for Belmont as Luke Wilgren scored off a St. John’s Prep (4-2-1) turnover.

The Eagles finished off the scoring as senior Ryan Albano’s try with 13:15 left followed by a Rinklin conversion kick made it 24-14.