Boys Elite Day One at NAI 7s

Day One at the North American Invitational 7s is done with the Boys Elite Bracket showcasing some very competitive rugby.

"The competition at this tournament is at a very, very high level," said tournament organizer and Utah Lions Head Coach Michael Cressler. "The talent level is impressive."

And so it was. Atlantis won Pool A (a three-team pool after one team was a relatively late pull-out), taking both games by convincing margins. The Atlantis II team, made up of 16- and 17-year-olds in this U18 bracket, was superb in winning three tough games to win Pool B. 

And in Pool C, the Lions were impressive in a group that saw four of the six games decided by a try or less. Eagle Impact Rugby Academy fielded a team mostly from the Sacramento area and struggled to get going. They just held off Upright Rugby Rogues out of Canada, and then fell behind 14-5 to a nifty Rhino Rugby Academy squad before three tries in quick succession in the second half put EIRA through.

However, in that final game between 2-0 teams in Pool C, the Lions were most impressive - big, athletic, and smart as they showed what happens when you play a lot together.

Still, EIRA had a couple of good early scoring opportunities, but a turnover and break by Alma Schoenfeld from Olympus HS set up a try for the Lions. EIRA came back with some good pressure defense producing a penalty and then a try, but in the second half it was all Lions. The heat (pushing 100) started to take its toll, and EIRA kept trying to create a try from nothing, rather than play a little more patient.

Keagan Barnes torched EIRA for an early try down the sideline, and they the Lions scored almost right from the restart. Then some nice ball movement got Barnes in some space and he finished it off 28-5.

In Pool B, Atlantis II had to work for it. They held off Atavus Selects 22-10, and then needed Chase Schor Haskin to score at the death to beat Herriman. And then in a clash of 2-0 teams at the end of the day, they hammered Play Rugby 33-5. Again the heat was a factor, but so was conditioning and Atlantis looked the fresher team.

The teams were tied late in the first half when the Atlantis players worked it to Mike Weir, who went in under the posts before he offloaded to a teammate for the try. It remained 14-7 until midway through the second half when a series of Atlantis offloads and power runs set up Brian Stella (Doylestown) who surged over. After that, they cruised.

"It was a long day but very rewarding," said Atlantis Coach Greg Schor Haskin. "You saw a bunch of guys, especially the forwards, just get better and better. We needed a big play to beat Herriman."

Dan Bark of Archmere and Cole Zeno of Rock Rugby both emerged through the day, and John Dormann (West Chester) provided some crucial toughness and gritt.

So the quarterfinals are now set, with Pool A winners Atlantis facing Herriman, Play Rugby taking on EIRA, Utah Lions playing Upright Rugby, and Celtic Barbarians playing Atlantis II.

"Recovery is going to be very important," said Schor Haskin. "We've got to hydrate - it's very dry here - and hit those ice baths and be ready."

Scores and standings from Day One: