Brooklyn Boro

Brooklyn Rugby: Women win Social Division, men finish second at Hells Gate 7s

July 16, 2015 Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Rugby Club
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The third leg of the Empire Rugby Sevens Series, the Hell Gate Sevens Tournament, was contested last weekend at Randall’s Island, and both the men and women of Brooklyn Rugby Club faired very well. The women captured the Cup Championship of the Social Division, while the men finished in second place in the Empire Division to maintain their lead at the top of the Series standings.

The women opened their day with back-to-back victories over New Paltz and Princeton Athletic Club respectively, allowing only ten combined points between both games. In their third pool play game, Brooklyn fell to New York Rugby Club by only two points, but followed that up with a victory over HEAT Rugby to close out pool play with a 3-1 record, earning an automatic spot in the Social Division Cup Final.

In the Cup Final, Brooklyn was able to redeem their only loss of the day, facing off against New York Rugby Club. Brooklyn was able to piece together a number of great phases that resulted in tries, giving them the victory and the Cup Championship.

On the men’s side, Brooklyn once again went unbeaten in pool play for the third consecutive tournament. The team began the day with a 21-5 win over New York Rugby Club, followed by a 28-17 victory over 2014 Series winners Princeton Athletic Club. In their third and final pool play match, Brooklyn defeated Montclair 28-5 to secure a top seed heading into the Cup Semifinals.

In the semifinals, Brooklyn faced a tough opponent in the Connecticut Yankees. The match was marked by solid defense on both sides, and despite a late try by the Yankees, Brooklyn was able to come away with a well-earned 14-10 victory, securing a spot in the Cup Final. In the Cup Final, Brooklyn faced Princeton Athletic Club, a team they had already beaten earlier in the day. Princeton was able to rely heavily on their depth off the bench and Brooklyn was never able to develop a rhythm on offense, ultimately falling to the defending Series champions, 28-10. The second place finish still leaves Brooklyn at the top of the Series standings with two tournaments left to play.

The 2015 Empire Sevens Series will continue this Saturday when the Brooklyn men and women travel to South Brunswick for the New Jersey Sevens Tournament.

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