Life Solves Navy Late Surge, Edges Midshipmen on Late Kick

10.19.2024

A late penalty goal from flyhalf Bradley Crane saw Life University edged Navy in Annapolis Saturday in a game between two of the top teams in Rugby East.

Life opened the scoring within a minute after a penalty against Navy for diving over in the ruck. Crane slotted that goal, and while Navy looked to answer through Roanin Kriege (playing fullback this time around), his kick drifted wide. Life built on that 3-0 lead 10 minutes in after a long period of working the phases and forcing Navy to tackle and reorganize.

Scrumhalf Bautista Araujo slipped through a gap and managed to get an offload to hooker Tevita Mapa who charged on to the line. Prop Shaun Mathysen followed on with a pick-and-drive and he scored the try. Crane converted to make it 10-0.

Navy stayed scoreless after another (difficult) missed penalty, and it was Life that scored next. A nicely-executed run down the left tramlines, with multiple offloads, set them up in the Navy 22, and finally a pick-and-drive from lock Tristan Hubsch put them over. Crane was good on the conversion once more and it was 17-0 for Life.

Navy did get close to scoring but were held up. But with seven minutes left in the first half, flyhalf Kade Williams broke through for a long run. He was hauled down inside the Life 22, but Life was penalized for killing the ball. Off the ensuing lineout Life collapsed the maul and referee Kahlil Harrison awarded a penalty try to Navy and a yellow card to Life's Logan Ballinger. A penalty from Krieger ended the half now with the score 17-10.

In the second half Crane added a penalty to make it 20-10, but the Navy defense held them in check for much of the rest of the game.

Navy's second try came from their kicking game. Krieger launched a long kick into the Life 22 for wing Max Smith to gather. The wing just couldn't get the handle and knocked the ball forward into touch. Given the option of the lineout or scrum, Life took the scrum near their line and we able to kick relatively clear, but Navy kept up the pressure and earned a penalty. The infraction was on a fairly pointless counterruck by Life and resulted in a Navy lineout at the Life 22.

The Midshipmen set up the maul and this one was a beauty. They marched all the way down to the tryline, where flanker Aidan Gerber touched it down. Life 20 Navy 15.

The game progressed and Navy's habit of running in the tries in the final 15 minutes or so wasn't materializing. Despite Life getting into penalty trouble, and getting a yellow card, they were able to disrupt the Navy attack and continuity. This included a lineout where flanker Tanner Russell almost stretch into the corner but was thrust into touch.

With about four minutes to go Life once again infringed. This time it was a high tackle. Navy took the lineout and formed another well-put-together maul. Front-rower Dalton Sand, on as an impact sub, did the honors. It was another tough angle for the kick, and Krieger's effort was wide, and the game was now deadlocked 20-20.

For the Running Eagles, their scoring chances had dried up, but they were able to get one as full time approached. Fullback Nahuel Wingford broke through. He had flanker Seth Kramlich in support and also Araujo. Navy scrambled, but with the ball in front of their posts now and time up, they had to be very careful not to commit a penalty. But they did commit one, and Crane stepped up and put it threw.

Full time, Life 23-20.

It was a huge win for Life, beating GRR's #1-ranked Navy on the road. Life, currently ranked #6, will certainly move up.

Life 23
Tries: Mathysen, Hubsch
Convs: Crane 2
Pens: Crane 3

Navy 20
Tries: Penalty Try, Gerber, Sand
Pens: Krieger