In a bit of a barnburner on Sunday afternoon, Notre Dame College came back from a 16-7 to take the lead only to see Davenport secure a tie in the closing minutes.

This was a crossover meeting between the Rugby East (NDC) and Mid-South (Davenport), with NDC ranked #12 by D1A Rugby and Davenport ranked at #8 after beating Penn State last week.

The Falcons started off poorly, as starting hooker Jordan Viray left the game injured in the first three minutes. The teams battled to a standstill in the first 15 minutes, but finally Davenport broke the deadlock 16 minutes in when Panthers flyhalf Mathew DeVilliers slotted a penalty goal.

(Photos by Allison Bradfield)

Right from the restart, flanker Joshua McAdam went over, and with the conversion from DeVilliers, Davenport led 10-0 after 18 minutes. DeVilliers added anther penalty late in the first half, and the teams went into the lockers rooms with the Panthers up 13-0 and seemingly in command.

Not so fast. NDC flanker Andrew Guerra crashed over seven minutes in and with flanker Archie Paterson's conversion it was 13-7. DeVilliers added a penalty to make it 16-7. But then wing Michael Yeboah was in for the Falcons. Paterson converted to make it 16-14, and about ten minutes later lock Calum Haddock was over for NDC and the Falcons led 19-16.

Time ticked away and Davenport had one more shot. They got a penalty in a kickable position and DeVilliers put it over to tie the game 19-19.

Davenport 19
Tries: Viray
Convs: DeVilliers
Pens: DeVilliers 4

Notre Dame College 19
Tries: Guerra, Yeboah, Haddock
Convs: Paterson 2