Boston in dramatic win, snow in Aspen -- US Super League
Brian Lowe
April 21, 2002

A last minute drop goal clinches victory for Boston, while snow mars proceedings in Aspen in USA Rugby Super League action. Round 5 winners were Boston, Life University, Old Blue New York, Old Puget Sound Beach, San Francisco Golden Gate and Aspen.

In one of the closest finishes of the 2002 season, Boston was down by a point against the Olympic Club Blues in the dying stages of the game when flyhalf Jason Trenouth kicked what was probably the most memorable drop goal of his career to clinch a dramatic 26-24 win for his team.

With the game nearing full-time and Olympic Club ahead 24-23, Boston fielded a clearing kick and worked themselves into position where Trenouth banged over the 35 meter match-winner to secure Boston's first W of the season. He also kicked three penalties and two conversions for a personal tally of 16 points. Chris Lofgren and Chris Stone scored Boston's tries, while Torvs Dimblad and Jackson Wagoner crossed for Olympic Club. Scott Clayton slotted four penalties and a conversion.

"Our guys were devastated," said Olympic Club coach Allan Petty. "It was a very exciting finish, but we were disappointed."

Further south in Atlanta, the Life University Running Eagles hosted the Chicago Lions with the homeside victorious 25-16. The Lions were ahead by 2 at the break, but Life shut them out in the second forty.

Life's try scorers were Patrick Bell, Brad Free and Clint Mayer, with Free also booting two conversions and two penalties. "It was a pretty tough game," said Life head coach Mel Smith. "Chicago is a strong side. They're very tough, but we managed to really dig in and came up with a gutsy performance."

In the nation's capital, both Washington and Old Puget Sound Beach (Seattle) were looking to break their ducks and in the end OPSB triumphed 20-15. OPSB's Kurt Pritchard dotted down twice for his team, while Matt Leonard slotted two conversions and two penalties. Washington scored three unconverted tries by Lungisa Kama (2) and Jeff Reiss.

"They came storming back and we held on for dear life," said a jubilant OPSB coach Scott Shepherd. "It was a really well played game and they certainly dominated the second half."

Those sentiments were echoed by Washington's Ron McCready, "They were up 10-0 at halftime and we came back, but didn't quite make it. It was a solid match, particularly in the second half when both teams really opened it up, but once again we came up a bit short."

Over in the Midwest, the Kansas City Blues and Old Blue New York went at it in a Blue Conference top of the table clash and in a low scoring affair the New Yorkers won 13-8. Centre Mike Skahan scored the KC Blues' lone try, while point scoring pivot Scott Kram had a quiet day with the boot kicking just one penalty. Glen Gawronski scored Old Blue New York's only try, with Brian Jackson adding two penalties and a conversion.

"It rained in the second half and the conditions got really sloppy," said the KC Blues' Vince Pastorino. "We scored late and that would've tied it with the kick to come, but the touch judge said it wasn't a try. He ruled that Kansas City and Old Blue players tied in the race for the ball in the in-goal. That's just the breaks of the game."

The flow of the game was marred by the conditions and by numerous infringements by both sides. Several goal line stances by the Old Blue pack thwarted the Kansas City attack. Old Blue's second rows Gawronski and Kaplan concurred that, "Old Blue's tackling won the game for us today."

The other big apple team, the NY Athletic Club, travelled to the Bay Area to take on San Francisco Golden Gate, but were beaten 35-5. SF Golden Gate scored four tries along the way to earning a valuable bonus point. Among the try scorers was former US Eagles sevens player Nick Bell who made an impressive return to the fifteen a-side game.

"It was a pretty good performance played in fairly strong winds, but I think we played well," noted SF Golden Gate coaching director Richard Leslie.

NYAC president Tony Nash said it was a disappointing result, "We had possession for most of the first half, but they defended very well. In the second half they capitalized on our mistakes and made some great line breaks. They're a class team."

The weather played havoc with games in Colorado. The match between the Denver Barbarians and the Potomac AC was called off, it'll be made up on May 11th. In Aspen, it started snowing two hours before kickoff and didn't let up, but despite the near freezing conditions, the Gentlemen of Aspen beat OMBAC 23-10 in a bruising encounter.

It was two tries to one in favour of the Gents, flyhalf Mark Williams adding three penalties and two conversions. "It certainly wasn't a dream game for a winger," said Aspen's Brian Hightower. "There was a lot more kicking than passing, but we're happy to get the win under our belts."

OMBAC manager Mike Tracy said it was one that got away, "It was a game of penalties, turnovers and numerous errors. They did a better job of capitalizing on our mistakes than we did of capitalizing on theirs."

The final match of the round between Belmont Shore and Philadelphia-Whitemarsh will be played in Philly on Sunday. The Dallas Harlequins had a bye.

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