Seahawks win on biggest stage

GLENDALE, Colo. - Salve Regina men's rugby took the national championship at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo., with a 22-15 win over California Maritime Academy.

(from the blog of Bernie Decker on rugbyatlas.com)

The finals match of National Small College Rugby Organization’s championship weekend at Infinity Park Rugby Stadium in Glendale, Colorado was a spirited battle featuring well-regimented and powerful maulwork by the Keelhaulers forwards combatted by sublime offloads and scrappy opportunism of the three-time, last-four attendee Seahawks.

Salve Regina pressured early inside Maritime’s 22, but a pair of penalties assessed for not releasing the ballcarrier at tackle permitted Keelhauler standoff Kevin Raff to clear his lines.

Maritime were on the front foot in the tenth minute inclose to Salve Regina’s tryline, crossing twice though they were unable to ground. Salve Regina’s desperate defense kept the Keelhaulers at bay until they were caught laying on the ball and quickly-tapped ball swung wide had outside center Quinn Turner put wing Alfred Knapp in space for 50 down the right touchline.

Salve Regina got onboard in the 16th minute when wing Robert LaRiviere-Tougas flippered himself into space and closed the last thirty to ground the match’s initial try: 5-nil to Salve Regina.

Cal knotted scores just past midpoint in the half as fullback Will Fitzpatrick shot through a gap and sped to Salve Regina’s 22 before offloading to inside center Paul Stetson who closed well to touch down and everyone had five.

Salve Regina got theirs back after five strenuous raps on the Keelhaulers door had 8-man Ryan Shilalis on a darting line into goal from five meters out to ground for his own conversion and it was 12-5 to the Seahawks after 30 ticks.

No more scores in a first half that featured wee canny lookers over the top of the scrum by Maritime halfback Jason Herring countered by fine, cutting returns by Seahawks fullback Glen Miles, and multiple meters-gained from maul slippage-and-crashes by Keelhauler backrow lock Lonnie Shankling against the banging openfield running of Seahawks lock Jesse DiTullio and sure-handed lineout grabs of engine mate, Zack Moreau.

Maritime openside Kyle Lewis saw yellow for a late and dangerous hit on Miles at minute 52 and Salve Regina realized a penalty goal five minutes later with Turner’s sticksplitter from 36 meters outside the right post and it was 15-5 in favor of Salve Regina.

Lewis, who’d been a magnet for Maritime lineout tosses, returned to the pitch with vigor, grounding in the corner at the 62nd minute and Maritime had drawn to within five as electricity in the Stadium popped, crackled and fizzled. The crowd of near 1,000 alternately held their collective breaths and hollered encouragement to their heroes on the pitch.

Maritime lock Alex Krauter got an enforced ten minute rest after a late hit at the 65th minute, and the match rocked on with tightly-worked mauling by Maritime and the exciting distribution of the Seahawks three-quarter line keeping everyone in its thrall.  

Seahawks extended their lead at minute 75 when loose ball gotten to LaRiviere-Tougas from breakdown five meters from Maritime’s goaline allowed him to cross-and-dot: with Shilalis’ towering conversion from just inside touch, it was 22-10 as everybody checked their timepieces and reminded each other to breathe.

California Maritime were able to close to within a converted goal near time, as #11 and captain Kevin Hawke knifed through the defense for a try which put scores at 22-15, but that was the match as referee Tim Luscombe’s last blast indicated time and for Salve Regina University Seahawks RFC, third time was indeed a sublime and significant charm.

Scoring
     Keelhaulers – Try: Stetson, Lewis, Hawke
     Seahawks – Try: LaRiviere-Tougas (2), Shilalis; Con: Shilalis (2); Pen: Shilalis
Match Officials: Tim Luscombe, Larry Johnson, Craig Tarr