NSCRO Championship

California Maritime Academy v Salve Regina University

The finals match of National Small College Rugby Organizations championship

weekend at Infinity Park Rugby Stadium in Glendale, Colorado was a spirited

battle featuring well-regimented and powerful maulwork by the Keelhaulers

forwards combatted by sublime offloads and scrappy opportunism of the

three-time, last-four attendee Seahawks.

Salve pressured early inside Maritimes 22, but a pair of penalties assessed for

not releasing the ballcarrier at tackle permitted Keelhauler standoff Kevin Raff

to clear his lines.

Maritime were on the front foot in the tenth minute inclose to Salves tryline,

crossing twice though they were unable to ground. Salves desperate defense kept

the Keelhaulers at bay until they were caught laying on the ball and

quickly-tapped ball swung wide had outside center Quinn Turner put wing Alfred

Knapp in space for 50 down the right touchline.

Salve got onboard in the 16th minute when wing Albert Tougas flippered himself

into space and closed the last thirty to ground the matchs initial try: 5-nil

to Salve Regina.

Cal knotted scores just past midpoint in the half as fullback Will Fitzpatrick

shot through a gap and sped to Salves 22 before offloading to inside center

Paul Stetson who closed well to touch down and everyone had five.

Salve got theirs back after five strenuous raps on the Keelhaulers door had

8-man Ryan Shilalis on a darting line into goal from five meters out to ground

for his own conversion and it was 12-5 to the Seahawks after 30 ticks.

No more scores in a first half that featured wee canny lookers over the top of

the scrum by Maritime halfback Jason Herring countered by fine, cutting returns

by Seahawks fullback Glen Miles, and multiple meters-gained from maul

slippage-and-crashes by Keelhauler backrow lock Lonnie Shankling against the

banging openfield running of Seahawks lock Jesse DiTullio and sure-handed

lineout grabs of engine mate, Zack Moreau.

Maritime openside Kyle Lewis saw yellow for a late and dangerous hit on Miles at

minute 52 and Salve realized a penalty goal five minutes later with Turners

sticksplitter from 36 meters outside the right post and it was 15-5 in favor of

Regina.

Lewis, whod been a magnet for Maritime lineout tosses, returned to the pitch

with vigor, grounding in the corner at the 62nd minute and Maritime had drawn to

within five as electricity in the Stadium popped, crackled and fizzled. The

crowd of near 1,000 alternately held their collective breaths and hollered

encouragement to their heroes on the pitch.

Maritime lock Alex Krauter got an enforced ten minute rest after a late hit at

the 65th minute, and the match rocked on with tightly-worked mauling by Maritime

and the exciting distribution of the Seahawks three-quarter line keeping

everyone in its thrall.

Seahawks extended their lead at minute 75 when loose ball gotten to Tougas from

breakdown five meters from Maritimes goaline allowed him to cross-and-dot: with

Shilalis towering conversion from just inside touch, it was 22-10 as everybody

checked their timepieces and reminded each other to breathe.

California Maritime were able to close to within a converted goal near time, as

#11 and captain Kevin Hawke knifed through the defense for a try which put

scores at 22-15, but that was the match as referee Tim Luscombes last blast

indicated time and for Salve Regina University Seahawks RFC, third time was

indeed a sublime and significant charm.

Scoring

Keelhaulers Try: Stetson, Lewis, Hawke

Seahawks Try: Tougas (2), Shilalis; Con: Shilalis (2); Pen: Shilalis

Match Officials: Tim Luscombe, Larry Johnson, Craig Tarr