Axemen 2012 USARL Champs in epic encounter
The Jacksonville Axemen are the 2012 USA Rugby League Champions defeating the Boston 13s 28-22.
The final played at MIT Steinbrenner Stadium (Boston) saw a packed house with standing room only witness one of the great finals in American Rugby League history. In near perfect weather conditions, fans rallied around their local team and were treated to an exhibition of Rugby League that is sure to delight both the USA and international officials looking ahead.
The game started at a frenetic pace and both teams were intent on playing mistake free sets while the pregame jitters past with each play the ball. Boston were the first to draw blood as some quick hands by Captain Dustin Cooper spun the ball wide onto a flying Boston scorer in the corner. In similar fashion they tested the Axemen again and found easy gaps with more points on offer. Down 10-0, a shell shocked Axemen outfit were desperate to regroup with Boston maintaining possession and again on the attack. With Boston gaining easy yards, Cooper placed a near perfect kick into a flying wingers hands only to have the ball spilled over the line and possession turned over. It turned out to be a crucial moment in the game and one the Axemen took advantage of.
The experienced Axemen began working the ball up the middle of the field controlling the ruck as each set past. With Boston on the back foot after multiple attacking raids, a tiring defense saw the Axemen over the line in simple fashion from 10 yards out. Within minutes they were over again and the dazed and confused 13s team had their heads down going into halftime 10-10.
The second half continued with Jacksonville well in control and local fans could sense the Axemen still had extra gears while Boston struggled to find their early game form. The Axemen forwards were punishing with their runs and the majority of possession saw continued points added to the board in favor of the visiting team.
Up 24-10 and with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Axemen were dangerously close to putting the game away when a dropped ball was scooped up by the 13s and several plays later they were under the posts. The following set, some costly penalties by Jacksonville had Boston in prime position and seconds before the siren they were over the line backed by a deafening roar from the crowd.
With 20 minutes left on the clock and the score favoring the Axemen 24-22, the crowd was in a fever pitch and fans could sense something special was on offer. Both teams didn’t disappoint and some electrifying attacking plays from both camps had all 26 players on the field digging deep. In the end, experience was the difference and a smart play from Axemen#9 Matt Keely saw a perfectly placed kick into the end zone where a flying Axemen player pounced just shy of the dead ball line.
Despite several more opportunities, the 13s threw what little was left in the tank but they couldn’t crack a determined Axemen defensive line that had no intensions of going into extra time. Final Score was Jacksonville Axemen 28 defeating the Boston 13s 22.
#9 Matt Keely was a deserving winner of the MVP Medal. His quick thinking in attack was noticeable with each touch of the ball but his tireless defense in the remaining 10 minutes proved to be the difference between both teams.
Format
The Jacksonville Axemen are the 2012 USA Rugby League Champions defeating the Boston 13s 28-22. The final played at MIT Steinbrenner Stadium (Boston) saw a packed house with standing room only witness one of the great finals in American Rugby League history. In near perfect weather conditions, fans rallied around their local team and were treated to an exhibition of Rugby League that is sure to delight both the USA and international officials looking ahead. The game started at a frenetic pace and both teams were intent on playing mistake free sets while the pregame jitters past with each play the ball. Boston were the first to draw blood as some quick hands by Captain Dustin Cooper spun the ball wide onto a flying Boston scorer in the corner. In similar fashion they tested the Axemen again and found easy gaps with more points on offer. Down 10-0, a shell shocked Axemen outfit were desperate to regroup with Boston maintaining possession and again on the attack. With Boston gaining easy yards, Cooper placed a near perfect kick into a flying wingers hands only to have the ball spilled over the line and possession turned over. It turned out to be a crucial moment in the game and one the Axemen took advantage of. The experienced Axemen began working the ball up the middle of the field controlling the ruck as each set past. With Boston on the back foot after multiple attacking raids, a tiring defense saw the Axemen over the line in simple fashion from 10 yards out. Within minutes they were over again and the dazed and confused 13s team had their heads down going into halftime 10-10. The second half continued with Jacksonville well in control and local fans could sense the Axemen still had extra gears while Boston struggled to find their early game form. The Axemen forwards were punishing with their runs and the majority of possession saw continued points added to the board in favor of the visiting team. Up 24-10 and with 5 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, the Axemen were dangerously close to putting the game away when a dropped ball was scooped up by the 13s and several plays later they were under the posts. The following set, some costly penalties by Jacksonville had Boston in prime position and seconds before the siren they were over the line backed by a deafening roar from the crowd. With 20 minutes left on the clock and the score favoring the Axemen 24-22, the crowd was in a fever pitch and fans could sense something special was on offer. Both teams didn’t disappoint and some electrifying attacking plays from both camps had all 26 players on the field digging deep. In the end, experience was the difference and a smart play from Axemen#9 Matt Keely saw a perfectly placed kick into the end zone where a flying Axemen player pounced just shy of the dead ball line. Despite several more opportunities, the 13s threw what little was left in the tank but they couldn’t crack a determined Axemen defensive line that had no intensions of going into extra time. Final Score was Jacksonville Axemen 28 defeating the Boston 13s 22. #9 Matt Keely was a deserving winner of the MVP Medal. His quick thinking in attack was noticeable with each touch of the ball but his tireless defense in the remaining 10 minutes proved to be the difference between both teams. Path: