Navy Defeats Life in Marietta
Navy Defeats Life in Marietta
Navy held off Life University 20-14 in a top-of-the-rankings clash Saturday in Marietta.
And "held off" is the right turn of phrase here as Life was bagging on the front door of the tryline with time winding down, poised to score the try that could have set them up to win. In the end, the Mids managed to turn the ball over and run out the clock with their forwards, working hard to run though phase after phase to finish the game—punctuated by a dodging, slippery run by flyhalf Landon Opp the one time he got the ball. Opp found himself surrounded by eager Life defenders but somehow got out of trouble and in a place to where, when he got tackled, his teammates could win the ruck.
Eventually Opp got the ball again and kicked to touch to end the game.
The game itself was, no surprise, a defensive one and one that centered around set piece. Navy did finally put Life under some sustained pressure about 12 minutes into the game and then good work from loosehead prop William Webb forced a penalty in the scrum, and from a lineout and maul, Navy ran the backs with outside center Jack Aleman cutting through for the first try of the day. Roanin Krieger, playing inside center this game, kicked the conversion, and Navy led 7-0.
Life held off a couple more chances by the Mids but the run of play was generally in favor of Navy. Still, they couldn't score any more and the teams changed ended with the score still 7-0.
Life penalties put the Running Eagles on the back foot and while they were able to stop Navy's maul for the most part, eventually the penalties took their toll and Krieger was able to slot a fairly straightforward penalty to make it 10-0. The Running Eagles answered almost immediately. They worked their way into the Navy 22 and looked to have a try on a quick tap. But that play was called back. So Life opted for the scrum and some really good carries inched Life closer, they got another penalty and despite some strong tackling from Navy, lock Tristan Hübsch stayed low and powered himself over. Bradley Crane converted and it was 10-7 with 24 to go.
A silly no-wrap penalty gave Krieger another chance at a penalty and the center was good once again to make it 13-7. Moments later Krieger would attempt one from 50 meters out, but that one drifted wide.
Life was finally able to play a bit more open. A smart counter from Jeron Pantor and Gabriel Michnya got them going and several big carries from Shaun Matthysen, Adam Chadwick, and Logan Ballinger got them close enough for Matthysen to pick up and go over. Crane converted and Life had the lead 14-13.
After that, Navy caught a bit of a beak with a penalty for a tip tackle that didn't seem to have much tip in it. Still they took the lineout, and when Matthew Carrion collapsed the maul he was rewarded with a yellow card.
Once more to the well for Navy with the lineout and maul. Life slowed the maul but scrumhalf Sean MacLaney fooled everyone by a) taking the ball out of the maul early and b) faking a pass that opened up a huge gap through which the #9 scampered to score.
Navy 18, Life 14, and Krieger slotted the tough conversion to make it 20-14.
Much of the final few minutes were spent in the Navy 22 as Life tried desperately to get that final try. But Navy's astonishing ability to defend their tryline, an ability they demonstrated so well in the D1A final this past spring, was in full voice and they held on for their first-ever defeat of Life.
"I'm immensely proud of our team effort today," said Navy Director of Rugby Gavin Hickie. "We had a late withdrawal of our captain Ben Baugh but Sean MacLaney stepped up massively as our leader today and deserves huge credit for the way he led his team."
Hickie also has praise for his team's set piece, decision-making, and ability to close out the game.
MacLaney continues to be in excellent form and Opp was huge in that decision-making piece as well as helping Navy have the better share of field position. No. 8 Vaughn Schmitz ran Navy's lineout and attack and he was a force, while lock Austin Taylor was also outstanding.
Navy is now 3-0 and is set up nicely to face off with 3-0 St. Bonaventure.
