CNMI wins Manila int'l. rugby tourney
The CNMI Rugby Club won the “plate” competition of the prestigious annual Manila Rugby Tens Tournament over the weekend of March 18-19. The local boys went 2-1 on Saturday, March 18, defeating Kowloon, a strong team from Hong Kong, 7-0, losing to the British Bangkok Team 17-7 and defeating the Old Herpetonians, another Hong Kong team 22-0.
On Sunday, March 19, the CNMI had to win two games in a row in order to reach the tournament finals. The first game was against the Taipei Baboons from Taiwan. The CNMI’s Bruce Berline, who plays at the “Lock” position took a pass from Alfred Roberts, stiff-armed one Baboon, raced around two others and scored under the posts. Taniela Raumikita converted the try and the CNMI was up 7-0. With the pressure off, the CNMI team ran roughshod over the Taiwan team, with tries scored by Samisoni Pomee, Eka Veamatahau and Semisi Beduvua running the final score to 24-5.
The second match on Sunday was against Guam, the CNMI’s inter-island rival. The Guam team, lacking a few of their regular starters, were surprised early with tries scored up the middle of the field by Semisi Beduvua and another of the CNMI’s recently acquired players, Amani Lalabalavu. After the CNMI went up 21-0, the Guam defense stiffened and a try was scored by Guam’s Allan Morrison, who was blasted in the try zone by the CNMI’s David Banes and Dale Roberts. Guam’s Matt Otto almost ran the ball in for another try, but was caught from behind by Bruce Berline at the 10-meter line. After Mike Bishop and Tim Matthews scored tries for the CNMI, the final score was 33-5, and the CNMI were through to the finals.
The championship game against the Black Watch, a military squad from Scotland, was one for the ages. In what was largely acknowledged as the most exciting match of the 28-team tournament, the CNMI had to go overtime to secure the plate. The CNMI’s Jim Hollman appeared to score the first try of the game after scooping up the ball from the pitch and running over two defenders. However, the referee ruled that Hollman had not pressed the ball onto the ground after reaching the try zone, and the game remained scoreless.
The Black Watch then scored first but missed the conversion for a 5-0 lead, which remained the score after the first half. After an impassioned speech at halftime was delivered by Mike Gourley, the CNMI’s team sponsor and mentor, the CNMI gents came out in the second half on fire. They quickly pushed the ball toward the Black Watch try line, using the play of forwards Banes, Hollman, Berline and Greg Koebel to move steadily forward. As the ball broke away from a maul near the try-line, CNMI’s Veamahatau grabbed it and fell into the try zone for a score. The conversion went wide and the score was tied at 5-5.
A few minutes later, some skillful passing amongst back Matthews, Buduvua, Bishop, Raumikita, Roberts and Lalabalavu created an overlap which Bedevua exploited to score a try in the corner of the try zone. Raumikita narrowly missed the conversion from an devilishly demanding angle and the CNMI led 10-5. The game then turned into a defensive struggle. The Black Watch spent close to six minutes inside the CNMI’s 10-meter line, but was unable to push the ball in for a try.
Eventually Beduvua was able to kick the ball out close to mid-field and the threat of a go-ahead score by the Black Watch was briefly foiled.
However, the ensuing line-out was won by the Black Watch who quickly scored on the weak side of the field. Again, the conversions attempt was missed, and the score was tied 10-10. Just before the end of regulation time, the Black Watch look poised to score a break-away try to win. However, the ball carrier was caught from behind the CNMI’s Mark Merline, who obliterated the Black Watchman with a vicious tackle. The ball popped loose, was recovered by Banes and the game was at full time.
In the sudden-death overtime, the CNMI’s exhausted players took the pitch knowing fully well that they needed to score quickly against the younger, fitter Scotsmen. The CNMI kicked off and the Black Watch threw the ball back and forth across the pitch looking for an opening. They passed the ball once too often, however, and Bruce Berline given an angle to tackle the Black Watch’s fastest player, Jock Mckinnelly, which he did with enthusiastic elan.
McKinnelly let out a squeak, the ball squirted loose and the CNMI’s Pomee grabbed it on the run. As Pomee was tackled, he pitched Beduvua, who pitched to Bishop. Bishop beat the last Watchman between him and the try line with a nifty stutter step, and scored in the left corner. Final 15-10. After a wild celebration, accompanied by an ardent ovation by an appreciative crowd of 3,500, the victorious CNMI squad repaired to the tent provided by its generous sponsor, CGU Insurance to consume a few dozen well deserved oat sodas while waiting for the awards ceremony, where they were presented with the Plate.
