St. Mary’s will meet Life University once again in the USA Rugby DIA final as the Gaels defeated a determined and plucky Davenport University 48-32 Saturday in Moraga, Calif.

St. Mary’s dominated in the first half, but had to weather a furious Davenport surge in the second half.

Michael Geib photo.

It seemed like center Dylan Audsley was in the middle of all the action and he slotted an early penalty before setting up a Cooper Maloney try in the corner. Audsley added a try for himself and the open field running of the Gaels just had Davenport scrambling.

St. Mary’s scored three tries in the first half, all converted by Audsley, and with his penalty kick they led 24-3 going into halftime. Davenport powered on and got just to the St. Mary’s line at the stroke of halftime, but the Gaels defense held, they ripped the ball out, and kicked clear to end the half.

In the second half, Maloney one again capped off a nice backline move, but after that it was a lot more Davenport.

Breaks by JP Eloff helped set up three second-half tries to make it 38-20. A turnover in the St. Mary’s 22 led to Audsley being set free to gallop 70 meters for a try, but Eloff set up another for Davenport to make it 43-25. Time was not Davenport’s friend, and flyhalf made sure it was a St. Mary’s victory with a nifty chip and chase for the final try.

It was St. Mary’s at their exciting best in the first half, but they were challenged in the second half as Davenport showed they can score tries and play aggressive, open-field rugby.

But it’s St. Mary’s in to the final.