The Grinnell Griffins rugby team took a 9-1-1 record in to the All-Iowa rugby tournament last month in Iowa Falls.
Based on last year’s finish, the Griffins entered the 8-team “C” division as the No. 4 seed.
In the first round, Grinnell matched up with the No. 5 seed, Luther College.
Minutes into the match, Luther scored its first points of the series when they kicked a penalty goal after a Grinnell infraction. Grinnell answered minutes later with a long winding run by Steven Boggess. Dan Bright made the conversion for a 7-3 lead. Luther added another penalty kick and the score at half was 7-6.
Boggess scored again five minutes into the second half with a great grab of a tough pass 5 meters from the try line. The conversion failed, but the Griffins extended the lead to 12-6. Tony Farmer scored next on a well-executed switch that had the Luther defenders keying on Boggess.
Farmer placed the ball between the posts and Bright added the conversion giving the Griffins a 19-6 lead. Chad Nath added the next score when he looped winger Andrew Lehn and Bright again made the conversion to end Grinnell’s scoring at 27, and they went on to win, 27-13.
In the semifinals, Grinnell faced the Des Moines Old Boys.
Grinnell got the scoring started 15 minutes in when Ned Flanders ran the ball down the right sideline into the zone and brought the ball to the center of the posts before placing it down. Winger Kevin Mcconnaughy added to the lead when he chased a kick to the zone and put it near the right boundary. Bright made one of two conversions and the Griffins held a 12-0 lead at the half.
In the second half, the other wing — Andrew Lehn — got in on the scoring with a nice run after a series of quick passes got him the ball in the open field. Bright’s kick was good and the Griffins led 19-0, and they went on to win, 19-7.
In the championship, the teams played a scoreless first half until Steven Boggess took it in during the final play of the half. Dan Bright’s conversion kick was good and the Griffins led 7-0 at the break. Boggess added to the lead 10 minutes into the second half,.
River City answered quickly to pull within a score but missed the kick leaving the Griffins with a 7-point lead, but a score later by Nath pushed the advantage back to 12.
A couple of yellow card penalties left Grinnell two men short for 10 of the final 15 minutes, allowing River City to get back in the match.
As the game was tied with time winding down, River City was called for a penalty 35 meters from the post.
Knowing time was about to expire, the Griffins called for post and a chance to earn the victory.
Steven Boggess was called on to do the kicking duties despite never having kicked in a rugby match before and he came through with a successful attempt as the Griffins claimed their first all-Iowa tournament championship.
The Griffins finish the season 12-1-1 with four tourney championships.
“It was a total team effort,” Tony Farmer said. “Our depth carried us through injuries.”