Kutztown Rugby

The Kutztown University Sevens Team traveled to College Station,Texas and competed in the inaugural USA Rugby National Collegiate Sevens Tournament on December 16-17, 2011. The tournament consisted of twenty four collegiate teams from across America. Kutztown and eleven of the teams qualified for the tournament by winning a regional qualification tournament. The remainder of the field was chosen as at-large bids, by a national competition committee. The majority of the at-large-bids were teams finishing second in their respective regional qualifier. The tournament was divided into six competitive pools. Kutztown was seeded number one in their respective pool. It consisted of Kutztown, Florida State, Cal-Davis and Florida. In order to advance into the second day of competition, which is the quarter-finals or Elite Eight, a team had to win their respective pool.

The Golden Bears started the tournament in high gear. They defeated Florida State 33-19 and Kutztown freshmen Niku Kruger tallied thirteen individual points in the win. The second match of the day pitted Kutztown against an excellent Cal-Davis side. The winner of this game would most likely be the pool de-facto champion and advance to the Elite Eight. Last year in the Las Vegas Invitational, Kutztown and Cal Davis advanced to the semi-finals of that tournament. Cal-Davis fell to Central Washington but Kutztown defeated Delaware. Kutztown was very aware of the high caliber side they were about to face. Neither side disappointed the fans, as the match was decided by a conversion. All-American Tim Acker, scored all three of Kutztown’s tries and the Golden Bears triumphed 19-17. The final pool match of the day saw Kutztown take on a very physical side from the University of Florida. Earlier in the day, Florida nearly defeated Cal-Davis but the Aggies scored on the last play of the game to eke out a 10-5 victory. Kutztown had fits with the big Gators and it took six minutes before anyone scored. Kutztown worked very hard to secure the pool championship and an Elite Eight position. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read Kutztown 17 and Florida 0.

The evening consisted of a team meal at the Australian Outback, strategy talks and lights out at 9:30 P.M. The tournament’s competition committee seeded the Elite Eight and Kutztown awoke to find themselves seeded third overall. Their first test in the quarter-finals, would be the Tennessee University Volunteers. The match was a seesaw affair with Kutztown dotting down the only try at the end of the first stanza. Tennessee pressured the Golden Bears with the majority of possession but couldn’t penetrate the Kutztown defense. Midway through the second half, Tennessee committed two turnovers and Kutztown pounced on the opportunities to score twice, ending the match on top, 17-0. Kutztown, had advanced to the National Final Four.

Their opponent would be Central Washington University. The same Central Team that defeated Kutztown in the Las Vegas Invitational Finals 12-0. This would be a very stern test for both sides. The Wildcats were definitely up for the task, as they scored two tries in the opening three minutes and took charge, 14-0. Kutztown shook it’s head, dug in and proceeded to claw their way back to the opposite goal line. The Bears scored at the end of the first stanza, going into halftime, down 14-5. The start of the second half was all Kutztown. They looked sharp scoring two more tries and taking the lead 15-14, with little more then a minute on the clock. They kicked off to Central but the unthinkable occurred. The referee declared that the ball hadn’t traveled ten yards and Central was awarded the ball at mid-field. This was a deciding factor in the outcome for the Golden Bears. The difference between a national championship appearance and a semi-final exit. Why, because Kutztown has a 6′7 South African player by the name of Michael Lawrenson, who excels in fielding his team’s kick-offs or in the least, disrupts the opposing team’s reception. Enough, for a teammate to pick the ball up off the deck. So, that kick-off travels one more yard in the right direction and Kutztown gains possession and runs out the clock. A play they had been preforming the entire tournament. No, the ball is now in the hands of Central Washington and after several attacking phases, finds Central Washington All-American, Tim Stanfill, diving over the goal line by inches. The Kutztown quest for a national championship ends on that play and Central advances to the national championship final, on a last minute 19-15 victory.

Later in the afternoon, a discouraged and injury laden Kutztown team takes the field in the consolation match against Arkansas State. Kutztown captain and All-American Tim Acker, leaves the game early, with an ankle injury. All-American Jamie Gregory cannot play due to a torn left quadriceps muscle and Mike Lawrenson is breathing through clenched teeth, due to a rib injury. Speedster Gareth Lourens can’t tackle with a shoulder “stinger” and leaves the game as well. The Golden Bears limp through the game with one try held up and another called a knock-on in the end zone. It is over, an excellent Arkansas State team dominates an emaciated Kutztown side, 27-0. When it’s all over and time is taken to reflect on the effort, one cannot help but to feel proud of how these players represented their university and one another. By the way, Central Washington went on to lose in the finals. Life College of Marrietta,Georgia, scored on the last phase of the game to tie in regulation and eventually win in sudden death overtime. The Golden Bears have solidified their sevens reputation as one of the best in the nation. The fourth best in 2011, as a matter of fact and after returning home, they will once again set their sights on the national sevens championship In 2012. They have every reason to be positive about their quest. Of all the players that just traveled to Texas, only one is a senior.

RUN WITH THE BEARS!