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Syracuse
Captures Second Straight Title
Chargers
Top Rochester, 20-12, to Claim NYSRC Championship
For Immediate Release ... Oct. 27, 2003
Contact: J.C. Whipple / jcwhip4@hotmail.com / 315.783.6280
SYRACUSE, NY --
The Syracuse Chargers claimed their second consecutive New York State
Rugby Conference (NYSRC) Division III Club championship here Sunday, defeating
Rochester, 20-12, at Burnett Park.
Syracuse, which went a perfect 7-0 in the regular season, prevailed in
a match that was back and forth for the first half and into the second.
It is the second straight season that the clubs have met in the league
final.
Syracuse (9-0) scored the first try off a series of forward rucks with
Todd Lorenc putting it in for a try in the left corner. The conversion
failed, the first of three failed Syracuse conversions on the day.
Rochester (7-2) countered with a try from their end wing on a weak-side
play from the scrum and converted the kick for a 7-5 lead. Syracuse's
scrumhalf, Pat Kilian, countered quickly on a pickup play from a set scrum
to give Syracuse a 10-7 lead.
After the half, with the weather worsening to a steady rain, Rochester
retook the lead, 12-7. A similar scoring opportunity, the Colonials again
scored on a weak side play after creating an overload with a strong push
from their forwards.
It appeared that Syracuse was going to quickly regain the lead when its
strong side endwing, Mike Morschauser caught a Rochester kick from a lineout
in the air and took it in for a try. The try was negated though, as the
referee ruled Rochester was allowed to play the advantage, saying the
ball had been knocked forward in the line-out.
Syracuse took the lead for good a few minutes later. A loose play developed
with endwing Scott Helmer putting the ball in for a corner try off a nice
pass from flyhalf Kyle Thomas, making the score 15-12. Syracuse put the
game out of reach at the 35 minute mark when Syracuse flanker Mark Schermerhorn
took a pass in the loose from Mike Morschauser, off of a Jason Allers
break, and sprinted to the corner for a try making the score 20-12.
Mark Schermerhorn was named the NYSRC Division III playoff MVP.
The Syracuse Chargers contributed to this report.
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