2004 LAU’s Report

13th November, 2004
Host club: Furman University (Palmetto)

Florida 21 Mid-South 22
Palmetto 24 North Carolina 12
Deep South 3 Georgia 39

Florida 29 Palmetto 28
Deep South 64 North Carolina 5

Championship: Mid-South 20 Georgia 40

Competitive rugby was played by all sides, with good sportsmanship shown throughout the day by all involved. The only disappointment of the day was the North Carolina select side only showing with thirteen players. The first game of the day went from end to end with the number one seed; Mid-South scraping home with a one point victory in the dying minutes over Florida.

The second game of the day saw the much improved, Palmetto side from 2003, again turn in another strong performance to defeat North Carolina by twelve points. The surprise side from last year; the Deep South was soundly beaten by Georgia by thirty -six points. The Palmetto side almost pulled off a second victory on the day losing by one point to Florida in their second game. The Deep South bounced back from their earlier defeat in the day to soundly beat the disappointing North Carolina side by fifty-nine points.

The championship game pitted old adversaries the Mid-South against Georgia. Georgia jumped out to a six point lead early into the game, before the Mid-South hit back with a converted try and a penalty to lead at half-time 10-6. The second half was as competitive as the first with both sides scoring tries early on, the Mid-South converted their try and added a penalty to lead 20-11, a lead they held until the final fifteen minutes. Georgia found another gear and scored an unanswered twenty-nine points, to finish deserved championship winners.