AF rugby team wins third straight Armed Forces title

  • Published
  • By Kendahl Johnson
  • 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. (AFPN) --  The Air Force rugby team dominated the Marine Corps in the muddy and rainy championship match of the Armed Forces rugby tournament here, winning 38-3 to continue the Air Force's dominance of the tournament.

"We are fortunate to come away with a well-earned win," said Lt. Col. Kenneth Holliday, head coach for the Air Force team. "The Marine Corps (team) never gives up. They are a fine organization."

Most of the first half was a stalemate and Air Force held a slim 5-3 halftime lead. But despite the slow start, Air Force kicked it into high gear in the second half, scoring 35 unanswered points, and its defense held the Marines scoreless en route to winning its third consecutive tournament title.

The Air Force went 5-0 in the tournament. According to 1st Lt. David Pina, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., the team was the best among the five team field.

"We were the best team out there and clearly our record proves that," Lieutenant Pina said. "It was a very good event and everybody did what they had to do to make us the best team out there."

Lieutenant Pina, who was the leading scorer in last year's tournament, scored just one try, but excelled in the tournament defensively.

"He's an awesome defensive player who never misses a tackle," said Colonel Holliday. "I saw him tackle an opposing player nearly twice his size. He's tough, and pound for pound, he's our best player."

The Air Force team faced the Marines in its first game of the tournament, winning a tough defensive battle 13-5. They then squeaked by the Army team 5-3 in another hard-fought defensive match. Several missed penalty kick attempts caused Army a missed opportunity at defeating the defending tournament champions.

"We got a little lucky against Army as their kicker was off," Colonel Holliday said. "But we are a very skilled team with a nice mix of experience and youth. We have good set of corps leaders with good work ethics, and the players know what needs to get done to win."

Air Force was unchallenged the second day, defeating Navy 52-10 and Coast Guard 37-3 in consecutive blow outs on their way to playing in the championship game against the Marines.

"As a team, we got better and better with each game. By the championship game, we were really clicking," Colonel Holliday said. "Overall, our team depth and fitness really came through."