USA Rugby Crowns Club Champs This Weekend

USA Rugby Crowns Club Champs This Weekend

FloRugby rounds up who made the club finals for this weekend.

May 28, 2018 by Alex Goff
PRP Story Of The Season

USA Rugby crowns club champions this weekend during a huge week for the game on American soil.

Infinity Park in Glendale, CO is once again the host for the Men's Club Championships and the Women's Club Championships.

Men D1

It wasn't easy, but PRP champions Belmont Shore managed to edge the Austin Blacks to win the West. 

Shore came out of a hugely competitive Pacific Rugby Premiership, but had plenty of trouble with the Blacks, who led early.

Shore broke out to a 15-3 lead only to see Austin storm back and retake the lead. Down 20-15, Shore scored to take a 22-20 lead, and the Blacks replied to lead 27-22.

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But, just as they had started the season, Belmont Shore finished strong. Using their big men, including key subs Rob Newcomb and Maze Masoe, the Southern California team powered up the middle. After what seemed like the game-tying try was knocked-on at the line, Shore mounted one last attack. Austin got the ball back and kicked to touch, but there was still time for one more play.

Austin was penalized close to the line and Shore tapped quickly. Jonathan Gray and Keni Nasoqeqe were both on the ball in the breakdown, and after a quick consultation, the referee awarded the game-tying try. Daniel Thomas slotted the difficult conversion, and Shore had won 29-27.

In the Eastern Final, Mystic River shocked Norfolk in the semis, but fell behind 22-5 to NYAC in the final. But last tries from Matias de Paolis - set up by Michael Kaivelata - and Chris Frazier put the Boston club up 26-25, and River held on from there.

So it will be plenty of drama for this final, with two teams that don't get rattled late in the championship game.




Women D1

In the western semis, Austin defeated Tempe 45-21, and Life West was as convincing, 41-20 over the Utah Vipers. But the final, despite the thunder and lightning that messed with the schedule, was somewhat anticlimactic, as Life West rolled over Austin 58-7.


Boston slammed Detroit and Raleigh held off Philadelphia to set up the final.

In the final, Raleigh took an early lead, only to see Boston overhaul the Venom's 16-point lead. Boston scored three late tries, in this game, but were down 22, and Raleigh held on 29-28.

So Raleigh takes on Life West in a game where the Gladiatrix look favored.

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Women D2

More close games as Old Pueblo was edged by St. Louis 26-23 to make the final. 

In the East, Charlotte ran out to a 14-5 lead over Providence, saw the Rhode Islanders storm back to lead 15-14, and then scored at the end to claim it 19-15.

So Missouri's St. Louis faces Charlotte out of North Carolina for the title.

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Men D2

The Denver Barbarians slammed Eastside and the San Diego Old Aztecs held off San Antonio to make the Western final. Detroit Tradesmen won comfortable over Morris, but it was another close one in the other regional semi as Corey Patton's hat trick put Atlanta past Doylestown 27-25.

In the regional finals, Denver exploded for 41 points in the second half to defeat San Diego 60-24. And in the East, Detroit ran out to a lead, and watched nervously as Atlanta chipped away at it. In the end, the clock, and the Tradesmen, won out 32-26 over the Renegades.

So it's Denver against Detroit, and the Barbarians look favored here.

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Men D3

The Austin Blacks scored all of their points in the second half to beat Santa Fe 11-7 to win the West. It remained something of a controversial aspect of divisional play that D1 clubs have D3 teams. But the rules are strict as to what players can play where. The Blacks did well to beat Santa Fe, and meanwhile, Long Island beat the Atlanta Renegades D3 squad 22-12 to make the final.


LIke many teams going to a national final or late playoffs, Long Island has had to do some quick fundraising.

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