2016 USA Rugby Emirates Airline Club National Championships
By Grant FeeleyWomen’s D1 Rugby: Seattle Saracens v Chicago North Shore
The Seattle Saracens played in the British Columbia Premier League and represent the West Region. To reach the National Championship Final, they first won 37-17 against the Santa Monica Dolphins in the National Quarterfinals and then 32-14 against Denver Black Ice in the Semi-Finals. Chicago North Shore represents the East Region and won their Quarterfinal match 29-8 against Beantown and their Semi-Final 24-15 against Raleigh Venom.
The Life West Gladiatrix route to the National Championship Final included winning Northern California title 72-5 against San Francisco Golden Gate. They then won the Pacific North Title 112-0 against the Pacific Northwest Champion, the Bend Lady Roughriders. In the National Quarterfinals they defeated the Pacific South Champion the Ventura County Lady Outlaws 62-29 before defeating Red River’s Houston Athletic 97-8 in the Semi-Finals.
Wisconsin secured the Midwest Championship after first defeating Buffalo 100-5 and then Milwaukee Scylla 47-33. They then played Southern Champion, Charlotte in the National Quarterfinals gaining a 67-19 win. In the Semi-Finals they then won 31-17 against the Mid-Atlantic Champion Harrisburg Harlots.
The Austin Blacks met Dallas Rugby in the National Quarterfinals. The Red River Championship was decided by a one point win for the Dallas Reds the last League match of the season. This time the Austin Blacks prevailed 24-19. In the Semi-Finals they then won 30-17 against the Life West Gladiators.
Mystic River came in as the Atlantic North number 2 seed and beat Metropolis 28-3 in the National Quarterfinals. They then faced number 1 Atlantic North seed Old Blue of New York in the Semi-Finals, gaining a narrow 10-5 victory.
Tempe Old Devils entered the Nationals as the Arizona Rugby Union Champion and beat the Arizona number 2 seed Red Mountain Warthogs in the Arizona/Rio Grande Championship. This set up a match for the Pacific South Championship against the Huntington Beach Unicorns which was won 44-5. In the National Quarterfinals they defeated the pacific North Champion Sacramento Capitals 46-15 and then beat the Frontier Champion Provo Steelers 27-6 in the Semi-Finals.
The Detroit Tradesmen secured their spot in the National Championship by wining the Midwest Championship after a 57-0 win against Eastside Banshees and then beating South Side Irish 52-11 in the Final. In the National Quarterfinals they then won 42-1 against the Southern Champion Charlotte. In the Semi-Finals they then won 55-31 against the Atlantic North Champion Village Lions.
The Euless Texans are Western Region Champions entering the National Championship. In the Red River Championships they defeated a tough San Marco Greys team 26-20 and then beat the Austin Blacks D3 team 40-5. In the National Quarterfinals, they won 31-24 against the Frontier Champion St. Louis Royals. In the Semi-Finals they beat the Pacific Champion Napa Valley 31-22.
The Fairfield Yankees enter the National Championships after winning the East Region. They first won the Empire GU Rugby Championship in a narrow,high scoring match against the Rockaway Fishheads 47-46. In the crossover match against New England Champion MIT, they won 45-7. This secured a berth in the National Quarterfinals against Mid-Atlantic Champion Rocky Gorge D3. After a 39-12 win, they then beat the MidWest Champion Bremer County Bucks 45-20 in the National Semi-finals.
Women’s D1: Seattle Saracens v Chicago North Shore 5pm MT