Shakeups in Who gets NAI 7s Hardware
Shakeups in Who gets NAI 7s Hardware
The NAI 7s ended up with a few surprises.
SacAIR Islanders pipped three-time champs Rebel Rugby Academy in the Boys U18 Elite final 10-7 on Saturday. That was perhaps the most notable result of the weekend.
U18 Elite Boys
On a weekend where attendees reported a more chill vibe at the event after some very regrettable events last year, SacAIR was electric. With Sacramento area's Koi brothers, including Cal freshman speedster Masi Koi, who helped the Next Phase Rugby team to the NAI 7s final two years ago.
For Rebel, defense was crucial as they held pool play opposition to just three tries in three games; however, SacAIR allowed just one try in pool play.
They went on to shut out Gorilla, and beat San Mateo 31-17, while Rebel edged a very capable Kahuku side 17-14 before pulling away from Belmont Shore 35-12.
Kahuku had an up-and-down Day One, losing a game to Team Related that they probably wanted back. However, the Hawai'ian team did just enough to come into the quarterfinals as the #8 seed. The Red Raiders almost upset the defending champs before taking the consolation bracket and 5th place with wins over Team Related and Rebel Academy's White squad.
San Mateo took 3rd by a conversion over Belmont Shore.
Boys U18 Open
Ronins dominated their run to the final, giving up one try in pool play and holding off very potent sides Cavemen and LCA to make the championship match. There, it was one step too many. A brilliant and exciting EPA Razorhawks team put 42 on Rebel Rugby Academy, 27 on the Ronins 2nd side, and 45 on the Ronins 1sts to win the tournament.
Washington Academy of Rugby won their pool and did superbly to hold LCA to just three tries, but lost that quarterfinal match 19-17. They then pipped Cavemen 22-21 to make the 5th-place final, and rolled past Rebel to take that consolation bracket, going 5-1 on the weekend.
Ronins 2nds took 3rd.
Boys U16
Rebel Rugby Academy did get some hardware, sweeping all six games, including a 29-24 nailbiter in the semis over San Mateo, to win the title. San Mateo took a creditable third.
In Tier II of U16s, LCA outpaced their opponents 151-34 to win it all and get a trophy for a local team.
Girls U18
In the Elite bracket five teams merged with 19 Open teams in a combined pool play. So five of the six pools had an Elite team in there. The question was, did someone perhaps opt for playing in the Open competition who could have been an Elite contender? Reluctance to play at the higher level has been an issue in girls tournament play.
And the answer was ... yes. While most of the pool games involving the Elite teams were lopsided, San Mateo (Open Division) beat TOA (Elite Division) 24-19. Lakewood Lady Patriots out of California pushed The Rugby Advantage 24-15. Utah Cannibals pushed Southwest Rugby out of Canada 19-10. The Rugby Advantage had another close one, 19-10 over Blaze Rugby.
So, yes, certainly more than five teams could have competed well in the Elite division.
The five Elite teams tracked to one quarterfinal (#4 The Rugby Advantage vs #5 TOA), and TOA emerged 24-14 winners. Majestics beat Southwest and Belmont Shore beat TOA in the semis to create a final that was the HS Club 15s final matchup, too. But this time it was the Majestics, blowing everyone away with a 39-0 win the championship match.
In going 5-0, Majestics outscored their opposition 192-12.
The one team not to have an Elite team in their pool, SacAIR Amazons, were the one team to win the championship in the U18 Girls Open. SacAIR was consistently powerful and athletic in cruising to the win, defeating Utah Cannibals 33-5 in the final. Eagle out of Idaho impressed in taking 3rd, while San Mateo shook off a 17-7 loss to the Amazons (the closest anyone got to them) to beat Eastside and Atlantis to take 5th. The Wolverines were 5-1 on the weekend, becoming the only Open team to beat an Elite team, and only losing to the eventual Open champs.
U16 Girls
Utah Cannibals took the hardware with a tight 24-19 win over Lakewood Lady Patriots. Provo took 3rd and Belmont Shore 5th.
U23 Men
With two pools of five teams there was no playoff, and instead 1st from Pool A played 1st from Pool B, 2nd from Pool A played 2nd from Pool B, and so on. Belmont Shore U23s edged the PNW Selects 22-17 to take it all.Silicon Valley beat TOA for 3rd.
