Your Scrumhalf Connection - Women's Rugby Blog

from Mike at the South Carolina Rugby Examiner:

In the end Cape Fear, the Hustlers and the Hoggs outranked all contenders taking the Airborne 7s titles in Fayetteville, N.C., Saturday.

Taking place a sniper rifle’s bullet away from the (alleged) home of Delta Force, Bragg Rugby’s Airborne 7s attracted 18 men’s sides, 6 women’s as well as several U19 squads.

Armed service teams played a major role in the tournament as three Ft. Bragg teams and two from the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

The men’s final saw Fear take down a motley squad from Eastern Carolina University (ECU) that included Bragg ruggers and other mercenaries.

Fear got to the final untouched taking down Lejeune’s A-side and several others.

ECU used their speed to outrun Columbia, S.C. and hosts Bragg.

A tumultuous final saw two red cards, a yellow and a premeditated assault on a set of uprights.

In the final moments, Fear led 14-0, but a physical, intense encounter turned a little dirty with a nasty, illegal Fear tackle. The offending player was sent for an early bath, but tempers flared. On a quick tap ECU’s scrumhalf took off, but was met with a forearm to the chest. Another Fear player was gone, this time on a yellow.

With a two-man advantage, ECU gave the ball to speedy wing Ty Elkins who took of through the 5-man Fear line. However, at the tryline Elkins was caught as he ran at the upright. He knocked the ball on and careering into the post, knocking one side to the ground.

Elkins saw red, tried to fight several people but was restrained by teammates. One of whom thought the best course of action would be to take his rage out on the other post – the referee showed him red.

Play never restarted and the tournament was over.

In the women’s bracket, the dominant Hustlers beat the Raleigh Venom in the final. The Hustlers, a mixed side of North Carolina women, aren’t surprising anyone, this being their third tournament victory of the summer after taking Southern Belle 7s in Columbia, S.C. and the Memorial Day tourney in Charleston, S.C.

The Providence Hoggs took the U-19 title in a division depleted by several no-show teams.

For a listing of other Tournaments this summer and fall, check out the YSC Tournament Listing.