Championship Match: Dartmouth 24, Arizona 5

2012 College Rugby Sevens Champions, Dartmouth. Photo: Kevin McGuire

Dartmouth did it again! Last year the Ivy League rugby sevens team made a bit of a surprise run to a championship, but this year was a different story. Dartmouth completed an undefeated run through the Collegiate Rugby Championships this weekend, capping their run with a second straight championship celebration after defeating Arizona, 24-5.

With a man down on the field being tended to with an injury, it may have only been a matter of time before Dartmouth could take advantage. At the five-minute mark, Dartmouth’s Kevin Clark worked his way in to the end for a try, and Derek Fish kicked the conversion for a 7-0 lead. The defending champs extended their lead to 14-0 with a Will Mueller try and another Fish conversion. From there Dartmouth was in full control. A late first half try by Will Mueller pushed the lead to 19-0 and left Arizona in need of catching their breath and figuring out what went wrong. Before the half, Brett Thompson put the Wildcats on the board, in hopes things could still be salvaged in the second half, down 19-5.

The second half saw smothering defense, keeping Arizona far from threatening the entire remainder of the game, and Dartmouth adding a bit of insurance with a Will Lehmann try at the 15-minute mark to put a cherry on top of Dartmouth’s Sunday.

Collegiate Rugby Championship Results

Dartmouth

Match 3: Dartmouth 31, Delaware 5
Match 11: Dartmouth 31, Maryland 7
Match 18: Dartmouth 28, Florida 0

Championship Quarter: Dartmouth 35, Wisconsin 5
Championship Semi: Dartmouth 21, Cal 19

Championship Match: Dartmouth 24, Arizona 5

Arizona

Match 5: Arizona 31, Oklahoma 12
Match 13: Arizona 33, Texas 7
Match 21: Arizona 38, N.C. State 0 

Championship Quarter: Arizona 26, Navy 5
Championship Semi: Arizona 19, LIFE 12
Championship Match: Dartmouth 24, Arizona 5

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Challenger Final: Florida 20, Maryland 14

Florida had a rough going in pool play, but they managed to beat Maryland in their first match of the weekend. Perhaps fittingly, the Gators wrapped up their weekend with another victory against the Terps. In a rematch of Saturday’s game, Florida and Maryland met in the Challenger Final, playing solely for pride at this point. Florida took the challenger’s final, 20-14.

Maryland’s Matthew Quigley opened the scoring with an early try and a conversion gave the Terps a quick 7-0 lead in the first minute. But Florida’s Joshua Nicdao put the Gators on the board in the third and seventh minutes with a try to take  a lead in to the half. Michael Breske’s try in the tenth minute extended the Florida lead to 15-7 in the second half. Maryland’s Karl Rempe dashed down the left sideline for a try late in the half for the final score of the match.

Collegiate Rugby Championship Results

Florida

Match 4: Florida 19, Maryland 7
Match 12: Delaware 17, Florida 10 
Match 18: Dartmouth 28, Florida 0

Challenger Quarter: Florida 29, Temple 24 (OT)
Challenger Semi: Florida 31, N.C. State 0
Challenger Final:  Florida 20, Maryland 14

Maryland

Match 4: Florida 19, Maryland 7
Match 11: Dartmouth 31, Maryland 7
Match 17: Delaware 38, Maryland 14

Challenger Quarter: Maryland  28, Penn State 26
Challenger Semi: Maryland 34, Oklahoma 12
Challenger Final: Florida 20, Maryland 14

Bronze Medal Match: Cal 26, LIFE 7

Cal defeated LIFE for the bronze in the 2012 Collegiate Rugby Championship, by building up a huge lead against the Eagles and never giving LIFE much chance with bruising defense. Cal won the third place match 26-7.

Cal struck twice in the first half, first with Seamus Kelly scoring a try in the second minute, with Paul Bosco adding the conversion, and Connor Ring scoring four minutes later on a try, with Bosco again adding the conversion for a 14-0 lead. The halftime lead was pushed to 21-0 following a controversial call.

Down 26-0 midway through the second half, LIFE finally put a dent on the scoreboard with a try by Cornelius Dirksen and conversion by Joseph Cowley, but it would be too little, too late for the Eagles.

Cal finishes their season with a 20-3 record. Life wraps up their season with a 10-5 record.

Collegiate Rugby Championship Results

Cal

Match 8: Cal 21, Navy 10
Match 20: Cal 29, Notre Dame 0
Match 24: Cal 29, Army 5

Championship Round Quarter: Cal 54, Texas 5
Championship Round Semi: Dartmouth 21, Cal 19
Bronze Medal Match: Cal 26, LIFE 7

Life

Match 1: LIFE 19, Penn State 17
Match 9:  LIFE 33, Temple 7
Match 16: LIFE 36, Wisconsin 12

Championship Round Quarter: LIFE 12, Delaware 5
Championship Round Semi: Arizona 19, LIFE 12
Bronze Medal Match: Cal 26, LIFE 7

Challenger Bracket Semi Finals: Florida 31, North Carolina State 5

Florida will move on for one more match after smashing North Carolina State in the challenger round semi finals, 31-5.

Florida scored three times in the first half, with Michael Breske, Robert Roux and Jordan Manning accounting for one try each, and Lucas Baistrocchi picking up all three conversions for the 21-0 halftime lead. Matias Groetaers and Brett Stubbs each scored in the second half to pile on in the rout.

Brandon Alvey’s try at the end of regulation broke up the shutout attempt by Florida.

Florida will face Maryland in the final round of the challenger bracket.

The Gators took the pool match against Maryland on Saturday, winning by a 19-7 score.

Challenger Bracket Semi Finals: Maryland 34, Oklahoma 12

Maryland used speed to pick up a win in the semifinal round of the challenger bracket. The Terrapins were the fourth team out of Pool B but look like a different squad on Sunday. A 34-12 win against Oklahoma moved Maryland in to the final round of the challenger bracket.

Oklahoma’s William Pham opened the scoring in the second minute, but Maryland took the lead with two straight scores, but no conversions, by Trevor Tanifum. The Sooners took a lead to the break after Michael Al-Jiboori scored a late try and Peter Santos made the conversion for a 12-10 halftime lead.

Tanifum took advantage of an Oklahoma turnover on their own side of the pitch, running in with nobody in front of him for a try to put Maryland on top 17-12 following a successful conversion for more two points. The Terps picked up another try, by Matthew Quigley, after another mis-play by Oklahoma deep in their own end. Maryland used speed to their advantage when they kicked the ball forward and Tanifum outran everybody for another try.

Maryland will play the winner of the match between North Carolina State and Florida.

Championship Bracket Semi Finals: Dartmouth 21, Cal 19

The defenses continued to be the story in the championship round semifinals. Dartmouth and California had put up plenty of points this weekend but found themselves on even ground in their semifinal match. Cal took a 12-7 lead in to the half, but Dartmouth used some late scores to pick up the tight 21-19 win, advancing to the championship round with a chance to successfully defend their national championship.

Dartmouth took a lead midway through the first half when Derek Fish made the conversion on Madison Highes’ try, giving the Ivy Leaguers a 7-5 lead, but Ahmed Chehade scored a try at the end of the first half and Alex Aronson picked up the conversion to put the Bears back in front at the break.

Cal and Dartmouth exchanged tries and conversions t open the second half, with Cal holding on to a 19-14 lead midway through the half. A costly midfield turnover by Cal gave Dartmouth a fantastic coring opportunity and after some hard work Dartmouth finally picked up the try in the final minute of the match, to take a 21-19 lead after the conversion of Kevin Clark’s try.

Dartmouth advances to the championship match, where they will face Arizona. Cal will take on LIFE in the consolation match.

Championship Bracket Semi Finals: Arizona 19, LIFE 12

They say in football that defense wins championships. Perhaps the same may hold true in rugby as well. LIFE and Arizona, who had shown some high-powered offense this weekend, played a tight first half, with Arizona taking a 7-5 lead in to the half.

In the second half though, Arizona picked up the scoring with Jack Arnold and Peter Tiberio getting the scoring going, helping Arizona open a 19-5 lead. LIFE’s Darien Woodson giving LIFE a little momentum. A late ally was stalled when the carrier dropped the ball, sealing the match for Arizona as the buzzer had already gone off.

Arizona advances to play the winner of Dartmouth and California in the championship match. LIFE will take on the loser in a consolation match.

Challenger Bracket: North Carolina State 22, Army 7

North Carolina State’s stay in Philadelphia will continue for at least one more match. The Wolfpack, the fourth seed in Pool C, put together a sound performance against Army in the final match of the challenger bracket quarterfinals, winning by a score of 22-7.

N.C. State took a 17-0 lead in to the half. Bryan Maxwell opened the scoring with a try and his own conversion, and Dominick Goldston scored twice with a try before the half, but missed his conversion attempts each time. The second half was more about controlling the possessions rather than scoring

N.C. State will face Florida in the second round of the challenger bracket later Sunday. The winner will advance to the final round of the challenger bracket to play either Maryland or Oklahoma.

Challenger Bracket: Oklahoma 21, Notre Dame 19

The Oklahoma Sooners held strong as Notre Dame attempted to pick up a late try, and the Sooners moved on to the next round with a 21-19 victory.

In a back-and-forth tilt between the two, Notre Dame and Oklahoma traded scores from start to finish, but a missed conversion by Notre Dame ended up coming back to hurt the Fighting Irish. Oklahoma’s Bobby Impson provided the bulk of the scores for the Sooners, scoring one try and three conversions for 11 points.

Oklahoma will face Maryland in the next round. The Terrapins stunned Penn State late in their earlier match.

Challenger Bracket: Florida 29, Temple 24 (OT)

Florida and Temple played one of the more entertaining matches of the weekend, needing sudden death overtime to settle the score in a wide open match. Florida’s Peter Mulville finally found the open field to give the Gators a victory in the 19th minute of the match.

Brett Stubbs opened the scoring for the Gators in the first minute, with Lucas Baistrocchi kicking one of two conversions in the match. The Owls answered a few minutes later when Devon Sugg broke lose for a try to get Temple on the board, starting the seesaw battle. Temple took a 19-14 lead but the Gators looked to gain control with two straight tries to take a 24-19 lead. Temple scored after the buzzer with Peter Mulville punching in for a try, but a missed conversion left the game tied up at the end of regulation.

Florida will play the winner of the North Carolina State vs. Army match in round two.