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Battleship Shells Harlequins
By Alex Goff
Scoring one for Alabama, Battleship defeated the
Westside Harlequins 23-12 to win the USA Rugby Division III
championships.
"Unfortuantely we did not
prevail," said Westside president Joe Kloiber.
The Harlequins led early, answering a Digby Watt
penalty goal with a try from Jason Kaylor. Westside tapped a penalty and
ran up the middle with their centers. After a ruck, Kaylor took it weak
from seven meters out.
Watt added another penalty goal, this from about 40
meters, and the halftime score stood at 6-5 Battleship.
Thirty seconds into the second half it was Watt again
with a PK, and four minutes later Battleship finally got their try. A
weakside run from fullback Eric Dayton set up a ruck at his own 22.
Battleship whipped it wide, where center John Friend went into contact,
fed Dayton who freed speedy winger Jesse Nicholes for a pretty 65 meter
run. Watt's conversion made it 16-5.
"Their kicker was superb," said Kloiber of
Watt. "And that was the difference."
Watt added a try after Battleship opted for a scrum
instead of a penalty 28 meters out. Watt took the pass, dummied, and was
in. His conversion made it 23-5.
The Harlequins were back, though, turning pressure
finally into points with about eight minutes to go. A long, multi-phase
movement lasting about five minutes finally ended when prop Art Sears
powered over. Boyd's conversion finished the scoring.
This was the last Division III game for the
Harlequins, who will move up to Division II in 2002.
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