Life University and Saint Mary’s will meet each other once more for the DIA championship, marking the fourth year in a row that these two schools will meet for the top prize in college rugby.

Life rode a superb defensive performance to a 41-7 victory over Lindenwood. 

Life had to work very hard to get points on the board early, Eventually, after some sustained pressure, flyhalf Marcus Walsh scored. Harley Davison scored in the corner, and then Walsh scored another for a 21-0 lead.

Cody Melphy was solid in his kicking and put in a nice long-range run for a try, and Life’s defense was, again, superb.

Meanwhile, Saint Mary’s fell behind 6-0 to Utah, but got on the front foot after that with tries from Dino Waldren and Vili Helu. Tommy Wallace, Aaron Matthews, and Kevin O’Connor scored in the first half, but it wasn’t until Waldren got his hat trick in the second half that the Gaels seemed comfortably ahead. 

Saint Mary’s took the game 81-32.

The Gaels and Running Eagles will meet next week, May 7, in Moraga for the DIA national championship.