USA Rugby crowned five new Club 15s champions over the weekend in Glendale, CO, with a couple of runaway games and a few surprises.
Women D2
Charlotte defeated the St. Louis Sabres 46-28 to take the Women's D2 final. Led by No. 8 and MVP Sara Davis, Charlotte was able to get the better of the game at the breakdown, and that opened up some space out wide in the second half.
Still, the game was tight into halftime. However, the second half saw Charlotte score quickly and keep the pressure on. As St. Louis started to fall off a few tackles, Charlotte led by 25 after 60 minutes and never looked back.
Flyhalf Madeline Clark had a strong game at pivot but also kicked well, logging 11 points with the boot. Altogether, Charlotte scored seven tries from seven different players.
Charlotte 46
Tries: Davis, Sager, Satterfield, Ravaioli, Clanton, Jehlik, Romero
Convs: Clark 4
Pens: Clark
St. Louis 28
Tries: Schwartz, Newton, M. Smith, W. Smith
Convs: Albrecht 4
Women D1
Life West dominated the Raleigh Venom in a 91-22 victory. The Gladiatrix ran out to a 38-12 halftime lead. Raleigh closed the score to 45-22, but then Life West exploded for 46 more points to pull away.
Catherine Benson earned MVP honors and it was telling that a prop was recognized, as Life West was just more physical, powerful, and imposing.
Benson's MVP award came in part thanks to four tries. Amy Naber scored three tries, and Atumata Hingano and Nicole Stasko each logged two, as the wealth was spread out all over for the Gladiatrix.
Life West 91
Tries: Naber 3, Hingano 2, Cairns, Strasko 2, Benson 4, Rovetti, Motley
Convs: Deters 5, Motley, Hingano, Sever
Raleigh 22
Tries: Gray 2, Gatewood 2
Convs: Garber
Men D1
In a sometimes contentious and very close game, Mystic River shocked Pacific Rugby Premiership defending champion Belmont Shore 25-24 to win the Men's D1 final. Mystic River had gone winless through the Atlantic Rugby Premiership in the fall, but some player additions and a series of solid results in the spring put the Boston-area club in better position to win.
Belmont Shore was somewhat surprised at the hard-nosed Mystic attack, and the Californians played impatiently and got into penalty trouble. Mystic was only too happy to take advantage with some superb running from loose forwards Chris Frazier and John Kokinda.
However, Shore couldn't be shaken loose, and late tries from Max Paronelli and Viliame Iongi made it close. Santiago Bertranou slotted a crucial penalty to give Mystic a six-point cushion, and it would be needed. With time winding down, Keni Nasoqeqe's try made it a one-point game. The conversion wasn't good, however, and Mystic held on for the win.
Mystic River 25
Tries: Frazier, Kokinda, De Paolis
Convs: Bertranou 2
Pens: Bertranou 2
Belmont Shore 24
Tries: Iongi, Paronelli, Nasoqeqe
Pens: Thomas 2, Ojeda
