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Syracuse Captures NYSRC Men's Club Championship - Dec 7, 2002
Chargers Down Rochester, 10-6, in Title Showdown SYRACUSE, NY

The Syracuse Chargers jumped out to an early lead, and then held
off a furious rally to defeat the Rochester Colonials, 10-6, in the
New York State Rugby Conference (NYSRC) Upstate NY
Division III Club MenÌs Championship game here on Sunday
afternoon in front of 250 spectators.

A hard-fought match throughout, Rochester converted a penalty
goal in the gameÌs early moments to jump ahead 3-0. Using a
tough grinding style, Syracuse worked the ball down the field
with a series of scrums and offensive kicks. With the ball down
for a scrum about three meters from the try zone, Syracuse
pushed the pile forward toward the line, and converted the try
to go ahead 5-0. The conversion kick, taken from a tough angle, failed.
Syracuse (9-1) scored a second try before the half on a similar
play. Free the from the back of a scrum, Pat Kilian received the
ball on the right flank and pitched to a wide open Dave Sebast,
who touched the ball down for the ChargersÌ second try.
Rochester (8-2), who tied Syracuse atop the regular-season
standings, did not go away however. With just under five minutes
remaining in the contest, the ColonialsÌ Bob Keller nailed his
second penalty conversion of the afternoon, brining Rochester within 10-6.
Syracuse gained control of the ball deep in Rochester territory
with about three minutes to play, and used a series of scrums,
rucks, and kicks, to run out the clock.

Christopher Robyn of Syracuse was named the tournamentÌs MVP.

The New York State Rugby Conference governs over 70 clubs at the menÌs and womenÌs club, menÌs and womenÌs collegiate, and youth levels.

NOTES: Syracuse had advanced to the championship game by
defeating the Binghamton Barbarians, 41-15, on Saturday
... Rochester beat Lockport Gang Green, 27-3
÷ JRÌs Bar-B-Q and Bakes played host to the two-day tournament ... JRÌs is the home pitch for the Syracuse Chargers ... The Post-Standard, SyracuseÌs daily newspaper, featured the Chargers and the NYSRC MenÌs Club Championship with a front-page spread in the CNY Saturday section

... Syracuse will advance to the NRU Championships, to be held in the spring at a site to be determined.