Vegas take all the glory

GLENDALE, Colo. � The USA Rugby Emirates Airline Men�s Club National Championships wrapped up on Sunday at Infinity Park in Glendale, Colo., and coincidently, each Divisional Championship saw a first-time winner walk away with it all.
In the Division I finals, Las Vegas took home their first Championship title after its convincing victory over Belmont Shore.
The 36-22 victory was redemption for Las Vegas, who earlier in the season had gotten crushed by the perennially strong Belmont Shore Team.
�They beat us by 60 points,� Las Vegas Head Coach Jason Kelly said. �But, that ended up being the best thing for us. It made everyone rededicated to the cause. We wanted to meet them again in the final and turn the tables on them.�
Although this was the first title for Las Vegas, they also made the finals in 2009, adding to the team�s desire to get another chance at the trophy
�We knew first hand what losing the championship felt like, so coming back this year and proving ourselves made this win extra special,� Kelly added.
With the USA Sevens event relocated to Las Vegas, the Team is passionate about really developing the program and the sport in the city.
�Although we aim to be the top in the nation every year, we are really trying to grow the sport as a whole,� Man of the match, Andrew Lowe said. �(Inside Center) Vaha Esikia has put on clinics that work on developing younger players, and we are really looking to get the city and some sponsors involved to get the sport to where it needs to be in Las Vegas.�
Returning to Nevada Division I National Champions should help the cause a bit, as Las Vegas proved it is definitely the team to beat in the U.S. moving forward.
In the consolation round, the Life redeemed themselves with a thumping 61-17 victory over a tired looking Palmer side. Palmer put on a brave display in yesterday evening�s game, but they were undone late on against Belmont Shore. Victory over Palmer ensured a third place finish for Life in Division I.

Las Vegas Avenges Losses, Lifts Trophy

June 06, 2010

By Pat Clifton (Butch Lietz photos)

GLENDALE, Colo. - Without much dispute, the two best teams in DI played for a national championship Sunday at Infinity Park where Las Vegas defeated Belmont Shore 36-22 to take home the crown that evaded them in the same game and venue a year ago.

Las Vegas, a club that�s become renowned for their aggressive style and, to some degree, lack of discipline played a great 80 minutes, mostly devoid of penalties. �We were good. Discipline was good,� said Blackjacks coach Jason Kelly.

�We struggled a little bit in the first half with our discipline, and that�s really the only reason they got a little bit of their field position, because of our discipline, but the boys played the game of their lives, mate. It was fantastic. They played great.�

Belmont got on the board first with a try in the game�s third minute, when flyhalf Christopher Frara made a great line break and found wing Sinipati Uiagalelei for the score. The conversion was missed, as Belmont�s regular kicker and 7s Eagle Tai Enosa was unavailable for Sunday�s final after suffering what appears to be a cracked rib against Palmer the night before, causing Belmont to struggle mightily in the kicking game.

Las Vegas responded with a somewhat controversial try when David Fangupo dotted one down after receiving a seemingly forward pass. Vegas followed that up with five more points just six minutes later when flyhalf Andrew Lowe found some green after some very nice open-field passing for another try, putting Vegas up 10-5.

�We realized after about 20 minutes they were already walking, and we knew we wanted to move the ball around and go side-to-side on them and just exploit that and kick behind them when we needed to to keep them moving, and the boys stuck to the game plan; we did great,� said Kelly.

�Patience was great offensively. There was a few 50/50s in there, but that�s to be expected the way we play, but the boys really stuck at it and really played with patience most of the time.�

Faatoese Luga scored Belmont�s rebuttal try between a pair of Las Vegas penalty goals by Zabard Greening, making the halftime score 13-10 in favor of the Blackjacks. The headline at intermission wasn�t the great play or good discipline of Las Vegas, but really the penalty discrepancy.

At seemingly every other breakdown, Belmont Shore was penalized � on offense for diving over the ruck and defensively for not rolling away from the tackled player. The field position and possession gained by Las Vegas through Belmont infractions was a major factor in the Blackjacks' lead.

�The penalties were an issue for us,� said Belmont coach Greg Commins. �I�m still going to debate the fact that they were all legitimate penalties. I don�t know if I�d like to speak out against them, but I really think that it was a little one-sided.�

Sometimes it takes a team a half or so to get used to the way a ref interprets different laws, especially at the breakdown.

�We understand that as well, but the thing is, at the same time, we did figure it out, but we still weren�t going over, we still weren�t doing it, but we were still getting pinged,� added Commins. "Unfortunately, even when we did pull back, we were still getting hit with it. It has to go both ways. It�s impossible a penalty count could be so viciously outnumbered in one team�s favor. It�s impossible.�

As evidenced by Las Vegas� two penalty goals to open the second half, sandwiched by a try, either Belmont learned nothing from the first half or the ref had an involuntary reaction causing him to award an exceeding amount of penalties the Belmont's way.

Either way, Las Vegas took advantage of the opportunity in front of them by racing out to a 14-point lead early in the second half. Belmont attempted to bounce back with a Peter Sio try in the 63rd minute and their lone conversion of the game, but a converted Tom Carter try extended Vegas� lead back out to 14.

Eight man Peter Dahl surged in for one more Belmont score in the 77th minute, but a desperate kick led to a thrilling Mike Palefau counter and subsequent Zabard Greening try to put the final nail in Belmont�s coffin. The first couple dozen nails were driven in by breakdown infractions, be they warranted or not.

With the win, Las Vegas avenged a disheartening loss to Aspen in last year�s final and a brutal 60-point loss to Belmont earlier this season in league play, which will undoubtedly make the celebratory bubbly taste that much sweeter.

�It�s been a big year, especially playing Aspen in Texas and then this now,� said Kelly. �It feels extra special. It kind of helped us too, because the boys had been here before they knew what it was all about, and the boys didn�t want to feel the same way again.�

Las Vegas Survives, Advances

June 05, 2010

By Pat Clifton (Butch Lietz photos)

Glendale, Colo - Somehow, Las Vegas did it again. They managed to overcome all their shortcomings � lack of discipline (two yellow cards), questionable stamina, inability to maintain possession � and get a win over a very good team in Life University.

�It was a bit too close for comfort. It was really, really, really tough. It was tough to watch,� said Blackjacks coach Jason Kelly.

�Obviously, their pack was really dominant. They dominated the scrum. The scrums struggled big time. We knew they were going to try and hang on to the ball a lot and they did. They kept it around the fringes and the boys dug deep on defense at times, and we were very fortunate to get away with the win.�

Las Vegas played a strong first half offensively, notching three tries.

�The first half I thought we played pretty well,� said Kelly. �Offensively, we were great. We were patient and took our chances when we should. Offensively, I thought we played really well. Some of the best rugby we�ve played in terms of hanging on to the ball for longer periods.�

Despite a solid opening act, Vegas trailed 21-19 at the break. The 40 total first-half points made for a thrilling show. However, there wouldn�t be a sequel in the second, as Bryan Savelio�s unconverted try in the 48th minute would be the only score.

Life dominated possession in the second stanza, but could not turn it into points.

�Second half, we hardly touched it, said Kelly. �When we weren�t able to even win our own scrums or got poor position off our own scrums, it really sort of kind of set the tone for everything else. We struggled to get out of our won end, and we got a bunch of turnovers from it.�

Las Vegas and Life duked it out like the heavyweight contenders they are in the second half, and with time dwindling down and the Blackjacks in possession, it appeared as though they had Life on the ropes. That was, until they were whistled for not releasing deep in their own territory. Life had a straight-ahead shot at post and a tie. Just as the kicked sailed wide left, Vegas breathed a final sigh of relief; the Blackjacks are back in the title game for a second-straight year.

That relief won�t last long, as they�ve got to recoup for Sunday�s title match where they�ll either face prohibitive favorite Belmont Shore or a Palmer side that beat the prohibitive favorite. Neither one will make for an easy opponent.

�Very happy to be back. It�s kind of strange. I�m not happy about the performance. I�m happy to win, but I�m not happy about the performance,� said Kelly. �We�ve got a lot of improvement to do to win a national championship. I don�t like coming in second, and I don�t want that taste in my mouth, so we�ve got to recover if we can do better tomorrow.�

Opposites Collide As Life Meets Las Vegas

June 02, 2010

By Pat Clifton
(Can Life contain Mike Palefau? Pat Clifton photo)

Las Vegas vs. Life is setting up as perhaps this weekend�s most intriguing Saturday match, at least as far as the club semifinals are concerned, as Las Vegas is the only returnee form last year�s DI semifinal round, and Life�s DI side is a one-year wonder. (They intend to field just Super League and collegiate sides next season.)

The contrasts don�t stop there, either; Life loves possession and thrives off starving their opponents of it, while Las Vegas hardly needed any possession to oust Olympic Club in the round of eight. Life�s DI crew, in the club�s first year fielding both a Super League and DI side, is considered an unknown, while the Blackjacks boast two very well-knowns -- fullback Mike Palefau and center Seta Tuilevuka.

If Las Vegas can find a way to maintain possession for long periods of time against Life, the Running Eagles could be in some serious trouble.

�Looking back at the games against Olympic Club and all that, we didn�t play particularly well, to be honest,� said Blackjacks coach Jason Kelly. �Things we�ve been working on are obviously our own ball retention and being able to hold on to it for as many phases as we can. Once we started to do that against Olympic, that�s when we scored our two tries going up to halftime. We�re pretty lethal when we do hang on to the ball. It�s pretty important for us to do that.�

If Life can limit the touches of Tuilevuka and Palefau, they�ll most likely be in pretty good shape.

�They�re weapons and they�re solid, obviously, players, but we just know we have to keep an eye on them wherever they go. We have a game plan set up around trying to keep the ball from the as much as possible, but you can�t do that for 80 minutes in a fluid game of rugby, so we just have to adjust when they get the ball,� said Life director of rugby Dan Payne.

�Their attack is centered around those guys for obvious reasons and we�ve got some things in place from a defensive standpoint to not just be reactionary, but put some pressure on them. They�re tremendous players that are going to make plays, we just have to react to it when they do.�

Perhaps one of the biggest keys to Saturday�s game will be what happens if/when Life has to clear the ball deep, because the ever-dangerous Palefau will be waiting for a chance to bring it all the way back.

�Our phrase has been �three-rows-deep� the last week-and-a-half, meaning we�ll put the ball three rows deep,� said Payne. �We might give up some distance, for sure, but we�d rather put the ball into the stands and give up a little bit of length than risk putting it in their hands.�

Another factor to keep an eye on is fatigue. Fitness was an Achilles heel for Las Vegas last year in the final, and it played a role in keeping the O-Club game so close a couple of weeks ago in Austin, so is Kelly confident his boys have the fitness they�ll need to overcome Life?

�We�re better than where we were last year, for sure,� he said. �It�s an improvement; It�s good, but I don�t think it�s ever as good as you want it to be. I think any coach would say his team could improve on it. It�s something that you can always improve on, but we�re happy with where we�re at, for sure. We�ve definitely worked hard on it.�

As has Life, and Payne credits the recommitment to fitness that took place after Life�s narrow 24-15 defeat of Cincinnati in the round of 32 for the two blowout victories they�ve enjoyed in the subsequent rounds of 16 and eight.

�We try to play that as a big part of our game in every contest we go into, so we�ll work to push the pace and play multiple phases and keep possession as we normally do,� said Payne. �We�ve not changed really anything from what�s gotten this group of guys here, so we�ve taken a lot of pride and put a lot of work into the fitness side of things, so it�ll definitely still continue to be a big part of our game.�

One thing that should not be considered a factor is an overhaul of Life�s DI lineup. Anytime a club fields a team in two separate levels of play, there�s always the worry the bottom team will be stacked with upper-level players, especially when the upper-level side has completed play. But Payne assures that won�t be the case for Life this weekend.

�There�s not a person that was on any of our playoff rosters for the Super League that will play this weekend,� he said. �We made the decision about a month or five weeks ago to go with two separate pools of players and just see where we get with each, and this group has been separate form the Super League group.�

Whoever emerges from this semi victorious better hit the ice bath and then their pillow with enthusiasm, as they�ll await the victor of Belmont Shore vs. Palmer in Sunday�s final.

May 23, 2010

By RUGBYMag.com Staff

If a chiropractic school from Southern California shows up, watch out. The final four teams left in the national DI club championships are either Chiropractic schools, or teams from the Southern California RFU.

Life University absolutely belted Mystic River 58-3 to move into the semis. Meanwhile Palmer Chiropractic College defeated Norfolk Blues 36-24 to advance. Meanwhile Las Vegas blazed past Olympic Club in a game of possession versus speed. Speed won 31-16. And Belmont Shore defeated fellow former Super Leaguers Santa Monica 32-23 to make the final four.

Las Vegas is the only one of those four to have been at last year�s semis. The Blackjacks finished second behind Aspen.

Vegas will face Life, which won the DI title in 2008 before moving up to the Super League (this current DI team is basically their 2nds), and Belmont Shore will face Palmer.

May 23, 2010

By Pat Clifton
(Blackjacks struggled early, but fought through long droughts without possession.Pat Clifton photo)

How do you slow down the backline tandem of Seta Tuilevika and Mike Palefau? You don�t let them have the darn ball, that�s how. O-Club dominated possession, starving Vegas of the ball for elongated stretches of time, and it wasn�t your normal 60/40 or even 70/30 domination, but true domination.

�The first 40 we hardly touched the bloody ball. I think we had about 10 percent possession,� said Las Vegas coach Jason Kelly. �They kind of had their way a little bit with us, and when you�re kind of passive in defense, you�re never going to turn the ball over�They hog the ball, man. That�s what they do. They hog the ball and grind it down.�

Playing keep away allowed Olympic Club to exploit a chink in Las Vegas� armor � discipline. Exhibit A: In the seventh minute, O-Club was awarded a penalty kick early in the match, and flyhalf Peter Galicz missed, but because some Vegas defenders misbehaved, he was awarded another shot, and this time he nailed it.

Galicz hogged the spotlight in the first half, scoring two penalties, a dropgoal and a try, which he converted. He accounted for all of Olympic Club�s points, and if it weren�t for those roughly two minutes in the first half where O-Club goofed up and gave Vegas the ball, Galicz would have no doubt been man of the match, and perhaps also the man of the weekend.

The first mistake came directly after Galicz�s first penalty goal. O-Club received the ball in its own territory and promptly cleared it out. However, the kick did not find touch, and Palefau, on his and Vegas� first possession of the game, raced 80-plus meters untouched for a try.

�That�s what I thrive for, to just hang back and counterattack. That�s my favorite part; that�s why I love playing fullback,� said Palefau. �They had some pretty big guys, so I was just trying not to get smashed. We knew their forwards were really good, so we backs had to step it up.�

O-Club seemingly learned its mistake, and deprived Vegas of any meaningful possession for another 27 minutes. They also reaped the benefit of more Blackjack bad behavior (Consider this Exhibit B), when Tuilevuka was sin-binned for slapping an O-Clubber.

�Same old story, and we�ve talked about it many times,� explained Kelly. �When you�re tired, the mind goes first, so poor handling normally, and then discipline is tough when everybody�s tired.�

At this point, the San Francisco club looked really good, better than Las Vegas. They were beating the Blackjacks up front and wearing them out, but O-Club slipped up again, allowing the ball to fall back in Palefau�s hands, and the former 7s Eagle capitalized, dancing in for another try.

�The guys have a license to do whatever they want, basically, on the counters, and Mikey�s obviously a phenomenal athlete,� said Kelly. �We really struggled the first half. We were poor, to be honest, but when we scored with Seta in the sin bin, it was big. I think we denied them points, and then obviously scored one, so it was crucial.�

For all the work, time of possession and slow accumulation of field position, all O-Club had to show was a three-point advantage at halftime. Coming out of the break, Vegas would lay it on them early, as Tuilevika and Zabard Greening scored converted tries in the 41st and 43rd minutes, respectively.

Olympic Club didn�t post another point, as the Blackjack forwards turned up the intensity and started contesting at the breakdown and on defense. Greening added a penalty goal in the 53rd minute, and Las Vegas would emerge with a 31-16 victory and a second-straight trip to the national semifinal.

�To be the only team going back again after last year is pretty special for us,� said Kelly. �We�re obviously disappointed about last year, and we�re out to prove a point this year.�

Vs Gentlemen of Aspen

May 22, 2010

AUSTIN, Texas --
By Pat Clifton
(Tuilevuka's Trio of Tries helps Las Vegas past Aspen. Pat Clifton photo)

Las Vegas had been waiting nearly a year for this day. The Blackjacks� 42-33 loss to Aspen in last year�s DI final was embarrassing, gut wrenching, disheartening and just about every gnawingly painful adjective you can throw out there. Saturday, Vegas turned the tables on the defending champs, outclassing them to the tune of 56-33, and it wasn�t even that close. �It was bloody good mate,� said Las Vegas coach Jason Kelly. �I was very, very happy. I said to the boys we didn�t play our best rugby at times, but we scored some fantastic tries. I knew going in that we had a good feel about the team; we�d been training very well, and it paid off today. We put it on them.�

Las Vegas stunned the crowd on hand at Burr Field from the opening whistle, jumping out to an early 14-0 advantage, and somehow, making Aspen look slow.

�It was key for us to start well, especially against these boys,� said Kelly, �because they tend to dominate possession against anyone they play. We struck pretty well in the first 10 minutes.�

The spectators weren�t the only ones in awe. �It really shocked (Aspen),� added Kelly. �Looking at their faces behind the posts, you could tell they didn�t know what the (heck) hit them.�

Aspen, due to an elongated string of Las Vegas penalties, climbed back into the game with two penalty goals and a converted Andre Nichols try.

�We were struggling with interpretation of the breakdown a little bit,� said Kelly. �We�ve worked hard on it all year. Every ref�s different. It�s about adjusting to them. We didn�t do it well, so tomorrow we�ve got to be very wary of that, obviously. They weren�t really threatening us a lot besides the penalties. The penalties really let them back in the game.�

Seta Tuilevuka scored his second try of the game to put Las Vegas up 21-13 going into the break. Somehow, Aspen had endured Vegas� initial onslaught and reached halftime down just two scores, but the Blackjacks would start the second half just like the first, and effectively put the game out of reach with an 18-3 run.

Tuilevuka was the star of the day for Las Vegas, scoring a hat trick of tries and setting up two more with long breaks. The outside center showed everyone on hand Saturday what had French Top 14 Montpellier, with whom Tuilevika recently signed, clamoring for him.

�He�s been playing very well,� said Kelly of his star. �He�s primed, and he�s playing his best footy of the year.� Tuilevuka & Co. will try to extend their championship bid tomorrow against Olympic Club.