USA

The Missoula All-Maggots Rugby Club finished off the field of would-be-challengers for the 4th consecutive year in taking the MRU Cup over the Billings Bulls 46-19 in the Grand Final.

The Maggots have now won 6 cups in this decade hoisting the Hardware in '01, '02, '05, '06, '07 and now '08.  The Maggots were convincing in doing so in two of their three games this past weekend.  Their road to the final started with a rout of the #8 seed Flathead Moose 6 Trys to 1.  Then it was on to the Bozeman Cutthroats in the semi's who downed the U. of M. Jesters handily in the other quarter-final.

Billings had the much easier road to the final dominating Butte Crabs in their quarter-final to set up a rematch with the Spokane Razorbacks.  Billings had gone down earlier in the season to the Hogs 17-5 in Spokane conceding the #2 seed to them.  Spokane drew a first round bye as Helena All-Blues were unable to field a side due to injuries.  They may have needed a warm-up game though as Billings ran away 50-0 winners with revenge served cold.  No quarter was given by the Bulls as Reggie Hague and Justin Howley shined for Billings scoring Trys.  Howley adeptly kicked conversions in a very business-like beating of their cross-conference foe.  No shouts of Joy or adjulation though as Billings waited to see what fate would befall them on Sunday.

The second semi-final was anything but a convincing win as the Maggots were nearly knocked off by the home team Bozeman Cutthroats.  Missoula outlasted a passionate Cutthroat side 10-8 in game they trailed for nearly 60 minutes.  Bozeman came out firing on all cylinders and kept the Maggots pinned against their line most of the first half.  With the wind and a large crowd of Cutthroats supporters, Bozeman could only manage an 8-0 lead at the break to the delight of the home town crowd. 

The first points were off the boot of Cutty Fly Half-Eric Wade, who put them out 3-0 with a penalty kick at 18 minutes.  The next score came off a solid counter attack that saw Bozeman Center-Jamey Dougherty take the last pass to go the final 15 meters to the corner.  Wade's kick was wide, but left Bozeman out to a shocking 8-0 lead.  Wade had a chance with a 50 meter penalty with the wind also in that half, that had plenty of leg, but missed just left.

At halftime the Maggots regrouped and changed their pattern a bit to neutralize Bozeman.  They now had the wind and plenty of pressure-game experience.  Blake Meyers subbed in at the break and immediately made in-roads through the Cutthroat defense with darting runs and a few long breaks.  Bozeman's momentum began to dwindle a bit when a high pass touched off Maggot's fullback Brian Taulbee's fingers, but was adeptly gathered by Wing Scott Miller.  Bozeman looked unsure if the pass had knocked-on or gone back. Australian Referee Peter Buchanan never whistled as he was on-line with the pass and Miller made the corner for the dot-down with a couple of Cutty's scratching their heads.  Pat Ryerson missed the tough kick, but Missoula was alive at 8-5.

Then the Maggots found some space and began to hammer the Bozeman line but were repelled two or three times, until Maggot Flanker Matt Clark went over to cash in, with a bruising 20 meter run at 60 minutes.  The kick again failed, but the Maggots had the narrow lead at 10-8.  It was all they'd need.

The last 20 minutes was a see-saw battle for territory.  Missoula nearly broke through when Meyers cut the defense again and linked with Scott Miller, but a Try saving tackle pushed Miller into touch deep inside the Cutty 22.

Bozeman were not done.  Wade had two more chances with Penalty kicks late in the contest.  The first missed right on a tough, touch line attempt, but the second one was in front of the post at 30 meters.  Missoula thought they'd breathed their last.  With only 4 minutes to go, Wade could've put Bozeman out 11-10 with an easy kick.  But whether the wind or the pressure, he missed wide left both to cheers and groans from opposite side lines.  The last four minutes saw Bozeman pound at the Maggot line to no avail.  Missoula withstood the massive pressure until the end.  Then finally, a penalty for hands in the ruck, saw Pat Ryerson clear the ball to touch for the Maggot win at full-time.

So Sunday saw the #3 Seed Bulls squaring off against the #1 Maggots in a rematch of the '07 Grand Final.  Billings looked dangerous in attack with Fly Half Brandon Harper spinning the ball wide to Greg Koszuta, Hague, Howley and brother Shannon Harper on the wing.  But Missoula's stretched defense held time and again.

Brandon Harper's boot tested the Maggot deep-three with pop kicks and high balls in the first half and Missoula could find no space to run, counter or clear.  However a break by #8 Brent Meyers finally saw Missoula hammer down inside the Bull 22 to sustain pressure there.  Billings were very organized on defense and were able to take all the Maggots had to throw their way and the kitchen sink.  It was Maggot captain Pat Ryerson who finally opened Missoula's account with a 30 meter penalty at 20 minutes.  Then, just before the stroke of half-time, Missoula Halfback Brad Saville took a quick-tap on a penalty over the Billings line in the corner for a Try.  Ryerson nailed a very tough kick and the Maggots were up only 10-0 at the break.

Blake Meyers entered the fray for an injured Beau Pallister (Inside Center) at 36 minutes.  That was the boost Missoula needed as the 2nd act got under way.  Meyers again found space in Billings' line and the Maggots scored two Trys straight away.  Then the wheels fell off for Billings.  Missoula subbed three more fresh Pack players and the scrums began to wheel and Missoula took two balls off the Head.  Maggot Trys from Dave Morrison, Andy Snowden, Lance Osler, Blake Meyers and Brian Taulbee had Missoula with a comfortable 41-0 lead with 20 minutes left.

Billings hit back with some pride and flare, with Flanker Jeff Benzigg putting down a brace for Billings near the end and Fullback Justin Howley added a third.  Howley converted two of the three, but it was too little, too late.  The final score of 46-19 was not indicative of how tight a contest it was for 65 minutes.  But in the end, Missoula were just too disciplined and skilled to not win after a near fatal semi-final.  The Men in Black retained their Crown for another year and now have an even bigger target on their back for next season.

Maggots 1st XV - 2008 Championship Side

1. A. Snowden
2. J. Baker (R. Sonderman @ 55 min.)
3. B. Schilling (B. Merrill @ 55 min.)
4. P. Ryerson ©
5. K. Headlee
6. M. Clark (J. Wagget @ 55 min.)
7. C. Shields
8. Br. Meyers
9. B. Saville
10. A. Baer
11. S. Ekerness
12. B. Pallister (Bl. Meyers @ 36 min.)
13.D. Morrison
14. S. Miller (L. Osler @ 38 min.)
15.B. Taulbee

Reserves

J. Wagget, R. Sonderman, L. Osler, M. Davies, B. Merrill, C. Cline, Bl. Meyers,