Thrilling Day at CRAA Fall Classic
Thrilling Day at CRAA Fall Classic
Four excellent rugby Bowl Games were on the slate Saturday at the CRAA Fall Classic.
HOA All-Stars vs Florida All-Stars
The Heart of America All-Stars defeated the Florida Collegiate Conference All-Stars 48-17 in the CRAA Fall Classic, starting off a full day of collegiate rugby in Spartanburg, SC.
This was the first time a match consisting of conference all-stars was held during the Fall Classic and it was an instant hit. The players received their jerseys from USA player Sam Golla the night before, and on Saturday, put in an entertaining and hard-nosed effort.
HOA was determined to exert physical control in the game but were stymied early, having to be content with a Ren Heimer penalty goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Florida’s defense at the goal line was very good.
Florida answered with a wild try coming off a grubber from flyhalf Danny Bennet. That grubber rolled between two players and as Florida swarmed in, Tanner Smith was able to dive over.
Slowing, however, HOA started to exert their control. Zach English scored after a period of pressure and a quick tap. Then a penalty try for repeated maul collapses put HOA up 17-5.
As Florida’s defense was drawn in to worry about the hard carriers, there started to be space out wide. That’s where Heimer found room to race down the sideline. And after that prop Nolan LeBreck, who had enjoyed a big run earlier, charged over to make it 31-5 at halftime.
Florida came out a bit more cohesive for the second half and an interception try by Lucas Speese plus one more late saw them put in two tries on the day.
HOA kept them at arm’s length and won it. Heimer was outstanding, scoring 19 points and causing Florida all sorts of problems on attack. However, it is also worth mentioning the tight five, led by LeBreck, hooker Eli McGuffin, and lock and captain Alex Geisert. They ran the hard yards that made everything else possible.
Air Force and SVU
It was a true barnburner as expected as Air Force was able to hold off Southern Virginia. SVU using their big forwards, led by prop Andy Faupusa and No. 8 Sky Feletoa, both first-years, to push the Air Force defenders back. It worked and two tries later (Faupusa and hooker Weston Memmott) they led 12-0.
But Air Force found their level with flyhalf Kyle Hulme using multiple weapons and Cole Norris and Will Taylor finding space out wide.
The Zoomies also used the liked of lock Thomas “TK” Kensinver to punish SVU in tight. The result was three tries and a 19-12 lead.
SVU answered in the second half behind some nifty running from fullback Zachary Jones and smart and quick service from scrumhalf Joshua Hill-Garvin. In fact, it was Hill-Garvin’s interception and try that put his side ahead 29-28. However, right afterward Air Force scored and they kept playing a wide open game that worked well for them.
When SVU kept it simple and straightforward, they pressured Air Force and scored tries. When they tried to force it or get too fancy, it bit them in the backside. Air Force got two tries from No. 8 Cody Lambert, both tries very impressive open-field runs. Fullback Griffin Anderson didn’t miss on his kicks and Air Force pulled away 42-29.
Penn State and Air Force
The first women’s Bowl Game saw Penn State beat a tenacious Air Force Academy side 48-17.
Penn State was physically a little bigger and their defense allowed them to stop Air Force when they got close.
Penn State led 31-0 at halftime and while the two teams scored the same amount in the second half, that was only a consolation for the Air Force Academy.
This was a good showing for Penn State, led by flyhalf Jaida Rudkin and with a strong forward showing.
Life vs Saint Mary’s
In somewhat of a surprise, Life University eschewed a conservative approach and ran on Saint Mary’s. The Gaels were a bit taken aback and had to scramble to contain some impressive power running.
Life came close to scoring thanks to a lineout-and-maul. When they got another chance they ran a fake maul and weakside move for hooker Adam Chadwick to score. Moments later Chadwick was scoring again, this time capping off a series of phases down near the Saint Mary’s tryline.
The Gaels hardly saw the ball in the first half as Life won every restart and kept the ball. They were able to run the phaees despite losing scrumhalf Bautista Araujo to an injury early. Flyhalf Bradley Crane moved from flyhalf to scrumhalf, with freshman Jonty Lee stepping in at flyhalf. As it turned out, Life had been preparing for this scenario and the new halfback pairing worked well together.
A brilliant surge into the Saint Mary’s 22 and then quick hands put wing James Rose over. A cut up the middle put center Kade Cunningham in. Crane converted two of his side’s four tries and Life led 24-0.
Saint Mary’s pulled one back, with SIale Ofa going over in the corner, but overall struggled with making their connections come together.
In the second half it was a different story. Saint Mary’s kept the ball, even when they were sending wild offloads, and it was Life that had to defend. They got a try to make it 24-10, and continued to come close to scoring. Red zone mistakes plagued Saint Mary’s but finally a perfect connection between Dom Besag and prop John Wilson put Wilson through for a try. That made it 24-17. As the clock ticked away Sione Ofa followed up on work from Mario Storti and Siale Ofa to pick up and score.
Suddenly it was 24-22. Saint Mary’s had a shot to win it with a very long-range penalty attempt in cold weather, but it was not to be.
“Too many lost opportunities,” said Storti after the game, but he praised his side for battling back.
“Oh we knew they would come back,” added flanker Seth Kramlich.
It was a classic and a thriller, and capped off a brilliant day at the Fall Classic.
The games are viewable on The Rugby Network, and there are three more games to come Sunday:
Ohio State vs St. Thomas
Penn State vs Arkansas State
Arizona vs Mount St. Mary’s
