All Army Rugby Team in the Media

USA Rugby Announcement: ASC: West Wins Men's All-Star Title           

TAMPA, Fla. - Dec. 4, 2000 -

The West claimed the 2000 All-Star Championship with a 21-15 win over the Pacific Coast Sunday.

Flyhalf Link Wilfley kicked two late penalties to break a 15-15 tie, and territorial bragging rights returned to the Rockies.

The Pacific Coast held a 10-5 lead at halftime thanks to a try from Dave Piedrahita and a penalty from Grant Wells. However, the West claimed the lead early in the second half, with a 4th minute penalty try and the first of Wilfley's three penalties.

At the 60 minute mark of a see-saw battle, Grizzlies fullback Luke Erenavula drew the Pacific Coast level when he grabbed up a bobbled Mustang pass and went 60 meters for the try.

So it was left to Wilfley to take the West clear on penalties awarded for Pacific Coast infringements at the ruck. The Denver Barbarian had missed several shots earlier in the match, but slotted a 35m penalty in the 73rd minute and a 25m shot in the 79th minute to clinch the All-Star Crown.

Earlier in the day, the Midwest held off the Mid-Atlantic for a 16-10 win and consequently will return to the Championship's 'A' bracket next year. Taking advantage of a dominant scrummaging effort, the Midwest scored two tries and two penalties in the first half. Wing Brendan Brown dashed 20m from broken play for the first try, and flanker Brian Downes claimed the second.

The Mid-Atlantic came back with an early second half penalty and a try to lock Patrick Malloy. However, despite promising attacks from both sides, the Midwest clung to its 6 point margin for the final 30 minutes of the match.

In a day of close finishes, the closest saw the Combined Services nudge out Southern California 20-18 thanks to a 78th minute penalty kicked by Patrick O'Mahoney. The center had two penalties in the first half and the Defenders were holding a 6-3 lead at the break, slim reward for a lot of pressure on the Californians' goal line.

O'Mahoney landed two more kicks early in the second half, and when prop Burnham Mathews barged into the corner after 52 minutes, the Services looked likely to dominate. However, Jason Wood jammed the ball over the line for Southern California to finish a 50m movement, and flanker David Strohman scored after his team took a scrum against the feed near the Services line.

Suddenly it was 17-15, and when Southern Californian flyhalf Sam Gonzales edged his side ahead with a penalty in the 70th minute, it seemed the Services momentum might be faltering. A late rally set up O'Mahoney for the game-winning shot from the left side of the field, about 22 meters out and into a moderate cross wind. The Combined Services will play in the 'A' bracket next year, thanks to the win.

In the first game of the day, the Northeast squeaked past the South 13-10. After a scoreless first half, the territorial teams swapped penalties and, in the 53rd minute, the Northeast's Josh Kaplan crossed for the first try of the match. Flyhalf Dave Burt added the conversion and another penalty before the South claimed an injury time try.

Scores:

Northeast 13 South 10 (halftime 0-0)

Combined Services 20 Southern California 18 (halftime Services 6-3)

Midwest 16 Mid-Atlantic 10 (halftime Midwest 16-0)

West 21 Pacific Coast 15 (halftime Coast 10-5)