PANTHERS

2003

Host site: Raleigh, NC

Participants: Franklin and Marshall, Stonehill, Wake Forest, Furman

Semi-finals: Furman 31 Franklin and Marshall 13; Stonehill 37 Wake Forest 0

Consolation: Franklin and Marshall 15 Wake Forest 0

Championship: Furman 12 Stonehill 3

Most Valuable Player, Chris Cawood, Furman

The Furman men's rugby team defeated Stonehill College 12-3 Sunday to capture the Division III college national championship. Chris Cawood, the Paladins sophomore scrum half, was honored as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

The Raleigh Viper Rugby Football Club hosted the Division III "Final Four" Tournament. Furman advanced to the finals with a dramatic 31-13 victory Saturday over Franklin & Marshall (Lancaster, Mass).

The Paladins trailed F&Marshall 13-0 at halftime. Sophomore flyhalf Greg Dover scored in the 12th minute of the second half to cut the deficit to eight points. Ten minutes later, senior outside center Charles Webster found the try zone to cut F&M's lead to 13-12 after the successful conversion by junior Peter Chamberlain.

Cawood put the Paladins ahead for good with ten minutes remaining in the contest when he powered into the try zone from a rolling maul on the F&M five-meter line. Sophomore wing Michael Parker scored two trys in the final five minutes to preserve the victory over the
gritty F&M squad.

With the victory, Furman advanced to the Division III championship game to face Stonehill, a team that had defeated Wake Forest 37-0 in the other semifinal contest. Stonehill, a larger, forward-dominated squad, scored the contest's first points on a 30-meter penalty kick five minutes into the game. Cawood scored his second try of the tournament from a five-meter line-out 30 minutes into the first half to put the Paladins ahead 5-3.

With 25 minutes remaining in the contest Chamberlain, a fullback, burst through the Stonehill defense and outran defenders for a 40-meter scoring dash that put the Paladins ahead 12-3 after his successful conversion. Stonehill advanced deep into Furman territory twice during the game's waning minutes, but were turned back by a determined defense.

Stonehill College and F&M are champions of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic rugby football unions, respectively. Like Furman, Wake Forest is a member of the 10-state Rugby South Football Union.

More than 75 Furman rugby fans, including parents, alumni and members of the Furman women's rugby club, traveled to Raleigh to support the team.

With the win, Furman closes the fall and spring seasons with a combined 16-3 record. Founded in 1998, the Furman team boasts three conference championships and are 2003 Division III champions of the 10-state USA Rugby South Union.