Air Force repeats as Armed Forces rugby champion

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Air Force cruised past Navy 46-14 in the championship match of the 2005 Armed Forces Rugby Championship Oct. 21. 

The match was a repeat of the 2004 championship, in which Air Force defeated Navy 23-12.

The competition was wide open after the first day of round-robin play Oct. 19. Air Force had been the favorite heading into the tournament after winning the 2004 championship. The Marines rewarded their hometown fans with a 16-15 victory over the Falcons. Later in the day, the Marines were took on a fresh Army team that was playing its first game. Though the Marines dominated most of the game, a few mistakes cost them dearly as Army prevailed 14-6.

In other first-day action, Navy defeated Coast Guard 24-19. Air Force sunk Navy, 22-6, in their initial encounter. In the final game of the day, Coast Guard and Army played to a 12-12 draw.

The second day of competition started just like the first. The Marines again took the first match. This time the Marines defeated Coast Guard, 5-0. Air Force crushed Army, 40-8, in the second match, and Navy defeated the Marines, 35-17, after leading 35-0 at the half.

The championship stage was set after Air Force clobbered Coast Guard, 37-0, in the final match of the day. The Marines would play the Army in the consolation match, and the Air Force would be matched-up against the Navy for the championship.

The Marines avenged an earlier loss by defeating the Army, 32-7, in the consolation match.  

(Courtesy of American Forces Press Service)