MARFU Finals :

Brandywine captures 2008 MARFU Championship!!!.

The number one seed in the National Sweet 16’s tournament was up for grabs Sunday as Brandywine faced off against the Norfolk Blues. Norfolk, a perennial southern power would be a tough match for BRFC. They are a hard running, hard hitting team, that moves the ball well, and constantly tests opposing defenses. In a match up in Round 1 of the MARFU playoffs two years ago, Norfolk used their speed to run up the score on a visiting Brandywine squad. For the second consecutive match, the hearts and will of Brandywine Rugby would be tested.

Norfolk opened scoring quickly, moving the ball to their wing who stiff armed a Brandywine tackler, and jogged into the try zone giving the Blues an early 5-0 lead. However, that would be the last time in the first half that Norfolk would come close to the try zone. The Brandywine defense began to take control of the Norfolk team. Hit after hit, tackle after tackle, Norfolk could not make the gain line. Norfolk had used its powerful and versatile 8 man to mount a comeback against Lancaster in Saturday’s semi-final match, but he would be rendered virtually non-existent against Brandywine. The ageless Dave Sawhill kept him in check with bone jarring hits, not allowing him to make any break for positive yardage. With two first half trys by Dair Diremijo and Louis Tulio, Brandywine entered the half with the lead.

As the second half began, stomping the life out of any come back was the first priority for Brandywine. With fresh legs, Tim Wertz converted penalty points before picking the ball from the back of a ruck and blasting over the Norfolk try line for his first try of the playoffs. The Brandywine attack was relentless, penetrating the Blues end of the field at will, and knocking Norfolk backwards with strong tackles. Chris Vely’s energized play helped swing the momentum to BRFC with raucous hits and a wonderfully executed up and under kick (which he ran down himself) that nearly went for a score. Norfolk would not go down without a fight, and continued to battle the entire match.

Even though the Blues were losing players at an alarming rate, they continued to push on. Battle tested; they did not panic, eventually scoring to cut into the Brandywine lead. While it seemed that penalties would doom Brandywine, they dug in, and continued to lay devastating hits on Norfolk. With one final push, the Norfolk flyhalf was forced to dish the ball before he wanted, causing a sloppy pass and eventual turnover. Matt Stauffer was the beneficiary of the Norfolk mistake, and leaving the Blues players in his wake, sealed the victory for Brandywine with his final try of the weekend.

With a total team effort, Brandywine was victorious, emerging from two very physically demanding matches as MARFU champions and the number 1 seed in the National Sweet 16’s tournament in Austin, Texas.



Road to the Championship - 2008 Division II Playoffs

April 12 - Quarterfinals
Game 1 Norfolk Blues 52, Reading 22
Game 2 Raleigh 25, Doylestown 17
Game 3 Brandywine 32, Frederick 6
Game 4 Lancaster 41, Severn River 7

April 19-20 - Location: Doylestown RFC
Semi-finals
Norfolk Blues 34, Lancaster 31
Brandywine 17, Raleigh 7
Consolation
Lancaster 32, Raleigh 24
Championship
Brandywine 25, Norfolk Blues 12

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