Furman Claims 2004 East Coast Division III Championship

In the first game Saturday, Furman played perhaps its best half of rugby all year by jumping out to a 24-0 halftime lead over Bentley. Philip Prince -- from outside center -- scored first by picking off a Bentley pass and running 30 meters for the try. Mikael Jacobs and Richard Wrenn also scored trys in the first half. In the second half, Will Brantley scored a try. With 20 minutes remaining Bentley dotted down for their only score. Peter Chamberlain, who sprained his ankle badly in the game, converted on three of four trys and kicked to penalty kicks. Final 32-7.

The Paladins advanced to face Central Connecticutt State, 26-17 winners over Albright, in Sunday's champsionship game. CCS was by all accounts a more athletic and speedy team than Furman. They pushed our scrum, but Furman had the edge in loose play. At the 10-minute mark Furman scored on a designed 5-meter misdirection penalty play that we had been working on all season. Will Brantely sold a fake pass effectively and Scott Greenwood barrelled into the try zone. In the final seconds of the first half, Furman knocked on a try in the end zone, but led 7-0 at the break.

Early in the second half CCS played inspired ball, pressured Furman,scored on a five meter lineout midway through the second half, but failed to convert on the kick. For Furman's part, the boys fought back, pressued for the next 10 mintutes -- camping out it seemed inside the
CCS 20-meter line, but could not push in for a score until Greg Dover, from flyhalf, slipped a tackle, cut into the open and scampered around thier speedy fullback on 40-meter try-scoring dash. Furman had about 40 fans there -- parents, members of the girl's team -- going nuts on the sideline. It was quite emotional. From there, Furman continued to pressure CCS, whose spirit seemed to have been broken. CCS seemed to have more athletic players, but Furman's team play was better.

Richard Wrenn, Furman's senior flanker, was awarded the tournament MVP.

Furman completes the season with a 10-0 record (our first-ever undefeated season) and repeats as Div. III champions.

Event Results

Sat. April 24 - Semifinals
10 AM: MEN: Furman (South #1 ) 32 - Bentley (NRU #2) 7
11:45 AM: MEN: Central Conn State (NRU #1) 26 - Albright (MARFU #1) 17
01:30 PM: WOMEN: Fordham (NRU #2) 32 - Drexel(EPRU #1) 0
03:15 PM: WOMEN: Susquehanna (EPRU #2) 7 - Worcester Poly (NRU #2) 0

Sun. April 25
10:00 AM: MEN: 3rd Place : Albright 29 - Bentley 10
11:15 AM: WOMEN: 3rd Place : Drexel 12 - Worcester Poly 5
12:30 PM: MEN: 1st Place : Furman 14 - Central Conn State 5
02:15 PM: WOMEN: 1st Place - Fordham 40 - Susquehanna 0