# 1989 National Rugby Championships

The 1989 National Rugby Championships were a series of tournaments organized to determine a national champion in several divisions for United States rugby teams. The divisions included Men's/Women's Club, college, high school, Military, Sevens, and Interterritorial.

## Men's Club

The 1989 National Club Rugby Championship was sponsored by Steinlager and took place at Englewood High School in Denver, CO from May 13–14. The teams featured in the tournament were the champions of the four sub unions of USARFU. The Old Mission Beach Athletic Club of San Diego, CA won the title for the second time by defeating Philadelphia Whitemarsh in the final. The host team, Denver Barbarians who were in their sixth national tournament placed third. Mike Siano of Whitemarsh was Most Valuable Forward and Mike Saunders of OMBAC was Most Valuable Back.
| Regional Semifinal | Regional Semifinal | Regional Final | Regional Final | | National Semifinal | National Semifinal | | National Final | National Final |
| April 23 - Long Beach, CA | April 23 - Long Beach, CA | | | | | | |
| OMBAC | 15 | | | | | | |
| OMBAC | 15 | April 24 - Long Beach, CA | April 24 - Long Beach, CA | | | | | |
| Old Blues | 9 | April 24 - Long Beach, CA | April 24 - Long Beach, CA | | | | |
| Old Blues | 9 | OMBAC | 23 | | | | |
| April 23 - Long Beach, CA | April 23 - Long Beach, CA | | OMBAC | 23 | | | | |
| April 23 - Long Beach, CA | April 23 - Long Beach, CA | Belmont Shore | 21 | | | | |
| Belmont Shore | 22 | Belmont Shore | 21 | | | | |
| Belmont Shore | 22 | | | | May 13 - Denver, CO | May 13 - Denver, CO | | |
| San Jose Seahawks | 3 | | | | May 13 - Denver, CO | May 13 - Denver, CO | |
| San Jose Seahawks | 3 | | | | OMBAC | 27 | |
| April 29 - Boulder, CO | April 29 - Boulder, CO | | | | | OMBAC | 27 | |
| April 29 - Boulder, CO | April 29 - Boulder, CO | | | | Milwaukee | 12 | |
| Denver Barbarians | 31 | | | | Milwaukee | 12 | |
| Denver Barbarians | 31 | April 30 - Boulder, CO | April 30 - Boulder, CO | | | | | |
| Kansas City Blues | 0 | April 30 - Boulder, CO | April 30 - Boulder, CO | | | | |
| Kansas City Blues | 0 | Denver Barbarians | 21 | | | | |
| April 29 - Boulder, CO | April 29 - Boulder, CO | | Denver Barbarians | 21 | | | | |
| April 29 - Boulder, CO | April 29 - Boulder, CO | Dallas Harlequins | 9 | | | | |
| Dallas Harlequins | 33 | Dallas Harlequins | 9 | | | | |
| Dallas Harlequins | 33 | | | | | | | May 14 - Denver, CO | May 14 - Denver, CO |
| St. Louis Bombers | 9 | | | | | | | May 14 - Denver, CO | May 14 - Denver, CO |
| St. Louis Bombers | 9 | | | | | | | OMBAC | 19 |
| April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | | | | | | | | OMBAC | 19 |
| April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | | | | | | | Whitemarsh | 9 |
| Milwaukee | 6 | | | | | | | Whitemarsh | 9 |
| Milwaukee | 6 | April 30 - Minneapolis, MN | April 30 - Minneapolis, MN | | | | | | |
| Cincinnati Wolfhounds | 3 | April 30 - Minneapolis, MN | April 30 - Minneapolis, MN | | | | | | |
| Cincinnati Wolfhounds | 3 | Milwaukee | 13 | | | | | | |
| April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | | Milwaukee | 13 | | | | | | |
| April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | April 29 - Minneapolis, MN | Eastside Banshees | 0 | | | | | | |
| Eastside Banshees | 15 | Eastside Banshees | 0 | | | | | | |
| Eastside Banshees | 15 | | | | May 13 - Denver, CO | May 13 - Denver, CO | | | | |
| Akron | 8 | | | | May 13 - Denver, CO | May 13 - Denver, CO | | | |
| Akron | 8 | | | | Whitemarsh | 18 | | | |
| April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | | | | | Whitemarsh | 18 | | | |
| April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | | | | Denver Barbarians | 9 | | Third place | Third place |
| Philadelphia Whitemarsh | 34 | | | | Denver Barbarians | 9 | | Third place | Third place |
| Philadelphia Whitemarsh | 34 | April 23 - Conshohocken, PA | April 23 - Conshohocken, PA | | | | | May 14 - Denver, CO | May 14 - Denver, CO |
| Providence | 12 | April 23 - Conshohocken, PA | April 23 - Conshohocken, PA | | | | | May 14 - Denver, CO | May 14 - Denver, CO |
| Providence | 12 | Whitemarsh | 15 | | | | | Denver Barbarians | 43 |
| April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | | Whitemarsh | 15 | | | | | Denver Barbarians | 43 |
| April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | April 22 - Conshohocken, PA | Atlanta Renegades | 12 | | | | | Milwaukee | 12 |
| Atlanta Renegades | 12 | Atlanta Renegades | 12 | | | | | Milwaukee | 12 |
| Old White | 3 | | | | | | | | |

### Semifinals

* 13 May 1989
| OMBAC | 27–12 | Milwaukee |
| Try: Kevin Higgins 71' c Jon Lee 75' c Steve Forster c Con: Steve Forster Pen: Steve Forster 1', 35' Drop: Steve Forster 10' | | Try: Rich Beckmann 14' c Con: Simon Bailey (1/1) Pen: Simon Bailey 50', 59' |
* Denver, CO Referee: Kieran Geoghegan
* 13 May 1989
| Philadelphia Whitemarsh | 18–9 | Denver Barbarians |
| Try: Mike Siano 72' c Marsh Pennington 77' c Con: Scott Lance (2/2) Pen: Scott Lance 19', 65' | | Pen: Mike DeJong 2H' Drop: Mike DeJong 9', 2H' |
* Denver, CO Referee: Don Reordan

### Third place

* 14 May 1989
| Denver Barbarians | 43–12 | Milwaukee |
| Try: Mark Smith c David Philpott Greg Lang c Mark Smith c Dave Tresemer c Steve LaPorta c Con: Mike DeJong (4/5) David Philpott (1/1) Pen: Mike DeJong 2 Drop: Mike DeJong 60' | | Try: Sean Cummings c Con: Simon Bailey Pen: Simon Bailey 1H', 49' |
* Denver, CO Referee: Kieran Geoghegan

### Final

* 14 May 1989
| OMBAC | 19–9 | Philadelphia Whitemarsh |
| Try: Mike Saunders 33' Pen: Steve Forster 8', 2H', 76', 80' Drop: Steve Forster 26' | | Try: Mike Siano 47' c Con: Scott Lance Pen: Scott Lance 13' |
* Denver, CO Referee: Don Reordan
Champions: Old Mission Beach Athletic Club Staff: Bing Dawson (Coach), Mr. Rolls (Manager) Captain: Mike Saunders (Scrumhalf) Roster: Colin Cole (Scrumhalf), Rick Crivellone (Flanker), Pete Deddah (Flanker), Graham Downes (Prop), Steve Forster (Flyhalf), Dennis Gonzalez (Flanker), Kevin Higgins (Center), Ben Hough (Flanker), Mike Johnson (Wing), Peter Kuttel (Flanker), Jon Lee (Wing), Bill Leversee (Lock), Chris Lippert (Prop), Greg Lumping (Center), Duncan Lumsden (Wing), Charlie Montgomery (Fullback), Dennis Panish (Center), Dwayne Parker (Hooker), John Phillips (Flyhalf), Gary Stasco (Prop), Marty Trinkino (Hooker), Sam Vaka (Center), Brian Vizard (#8), Ron Zenker (Lock).

## Women's Club

The 1989 Women's National Rugby Championship was a tournament sponsored by Steinlager and was played at Lafreinere Park on May 27–28 in Metairie, LA. The Bay Area Shehawks won the title by defeating Florida State 9–4. Beantown took third place. Other teams that took part were Chicago, Colorado Old Girls and Colorado University Rainbows.
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | | |
| Bay Area Shehawks | | | | |
| Bay Area Shehawks | | May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | |
| | | Bay Area Shehawks | 13 | |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | Bay Area Shehawks | 13 | |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | Beantown | 9 | |
| Beantown | | Beantown | 9 | |
| Beantown | | | | | May 28 – Metairie, LA | May 28 – Metairie, LA |
| | | | | | Bay Area Shehawks | 9 |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | | | | Bay Area Shehawks | 9 |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | | | Florida State | 4 |
| Florida State | 8 | | | | Florida State | 4 |
| Florida State | 8 | May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | | |
| U of Minnesota | 0 | May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | | |
| U of Minnesota | 0 | Florida State | 26 | | | |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | | Florida State | 26 | | | |
| May 27 – Metairie, LA | May 27 – Metairie, LA | Berkeley All Blues | 6 | | Third place | Third place |
| Berkeley All Blues | | Berkeley All Blues | 6 | | Third place | Third place |
| Berkeley All Blues | | | | | May 28 – Metairie, LA | May 28 – Metairie, LA |
| | | | | | Beantown | 20 |
| | | | | | Berkeley All Blues | 6 |

### Final

* 28 May 1989
| Shehawks | 9–4 | Florida State |
| | | Try: Kathy Flores |
* Naperville, IL
Champions: Bay Area Shehawks

## College

The 1989 College championship was won by Air Force. Long Beach was runner-up. In the College All–Star tournament at Colorado Springs the Eastern All–Stars came in first, the Western took second and Pacific finished third ahead of the Midwest.

## Military

The 1989 National Military Rugby Championship was a tournament that featured sixteen teams in the Club division and six in the Open division. It took place at Wright Patterson Air Force base in Dayton, OH from May 9–14 and was won by Camp Lejeune Misfits with a 21–4 win over the Pensacola in the Club Division while the President's XV won the Open Division defeating the Hahn Panthers 28–7. A 'boot competition' was played by teams finishing third in their group and Fort Sill defeated Seymour Johnson 21–3 to win that honor. In the Chairman's Cup competition for kickers Mike Ferguson of the Marine Corps won the drop kicking contest, and Steve Lavoye of Davis–Monthan was the best place kicker.
Path to championship: Camp Lejeune 6–4 Fort Sill Camp Lejeune 29–7 F.E. Warren Camp Legeune 6–0 Wright–Patterson
Path to final: Pensacola 15–0 Seymour Johnson Pensacola 15–4 USUHS Pensacola 13–0 Fort Knox
| Quarterfinals | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | | Final | Final |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | | |
| Camp Lejeune | 11 | | | |
| Camp Lejeune | 11 | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | |
| Fort Campbell | 6 | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | |
| Fort Campbell | 6 | Camp Lejeune | 24 | |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | Camp Lejeune | 24 | |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | Fort Bragg | 3 | |
| Camp Pendleton | L | Fort Bragg | 3 | |
| Camp Pendleton | L | | | | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH |
| Fort Bragg | W | | | | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH |
| Fort Bragg | W | | | | Camp Lejeune | 21 |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | | | | Camp Lejeune | 21 |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | | | Pensacola | 4 |
| Pensacola | 8 | | | | Pensacola | 4 |
| Pensacola | 8 | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | | |
| Wright Patterson | 0 | May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | | |
| Wright Patterson | 0 | Pensacola | 4 | | | |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | | Pensacola | 4 | | | |
| May 14 – Dayton, OH | May 14 – Dayton, OH | Fort Benning | 0 | |
| Fort Benning | W | Fort Benning | 0 | |
| Davis Monthan | L | | | |

### Final

* 14 May 1989
| Camp Lejeune Misfits | 21–4 | Pensacola |
| Try: Glenn Graham 20' c Wally Bugler 50' c Glenn Graham 65' c Con: Brett Bowlin (3/3) Pen: Brett Bowlin 30' | | Try: 75' |
* Dayton, OH Referee: Ted Serfs (USN)
The 1989 Interservice Rugby Championship was held at Fort McNair in Washington D.C. from 9–10 September. The teams involved were select sides of each service branch. From these teams a selection was made to field the Combined Services Rugby team for tours. Round robin
* Navy 13-12 Marines
* Air Force 14–9 Coast Guard
* Coast Guard 16–12 Marines
* Army 24–16 Navy
* Marines 0–18 Air Force
* Coast Guard 18–13 Army
* Navy 27–7 Coast Guard
* Air Force 16–15 Army
* Army 20–0 Marines
* Air Force 12–12 Navy
Third place
* Coast Guard 23–7 Navy
Championship
* 10 September 1989
| Air Force | 31–0 | Army |
| Try: Tom Miller c Brent VanderPol c Joe Neely c Con: Mark Bissel Pen: Mark Bissell (3) Drop: Mike Sergeant | | |
* Fort McNair, Washington DC Referee: Binning
1. Air Force (4–0–1) 2. Army (2–3) 3. Coast Guard (3–2) 4. Navy (2–1–1) 5. Marines (0–4)

## Sevens

Club The 1989 National Club Seven–a–side championship, was played at Lee District Park in Alexandria, Virginia on August 26 and 27 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest. There were eight teams featured which included two representatives from each of the four territorial unions. Akron and QC Irish qualified from the Midwest. Maryland Old Boys and Northern Virginia qualified from the Eastern regional. OMBAC and Old Puget Sound represented the Pacific Coast. Denver Barbarians and New Mexico represented the West. The Maryland Old Boys defeated Northern Virginia to win the championship. Denver Barbarians finished third. The teams played round robins in two groups of four teams each. The top two teams advanced to the semifinals.
| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final |
| Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA |
| MOB | 18 |
| MOB | 18 | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA |
| Old Puget Sound | 10 | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA |
| Old Puget Sound | 10 | Maryland Old Boys | 26 |
| Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | | Maryland Old Boys | 26 |
| Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Northern Virginia | 12 |
| NOVA | 20 | Northern Virginia | 12 |
| Denver Barbarians | 4 | | |
| Denver Barbarians | 4 | Third place | Third place |
| | | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA | Aug 26 – Alexandria, VA |
| | | Denver Barbarians | |
| | | Old Puget Sound | |

### Final

* 26 August 1989
| Maryland Old Boys | 26–12 | Northern Virginia |
| Try: Vince Granger (3) Chris Petrakes Will Brewington | | Try: David Dean Mark Gaetjen |
* Alexandria, VA
Champions: Maryland Old Boys Roster: Vince Granger, Mark Benson, Shaun Western, Andy Truesdale, John Redmond, Steve Burnham, Brian Gallagher, Mark Miller, Don Lawrence, Chris Petrakes, Will Brewington.
All Star The 1989 National All-Star Sevens Rugby Tournament was an eight team tournament with two representatives from each territory. Similar to the ITTs, the other purpose of the tournament was to select members for the U.S. Eagles Seven–a–side team. This years tournament took place at Lee District Park in Alexandria, Virginia on August 26 and 27 in conjunction with the Potomac Ruggerfest. The East I team won the final over the Pacific I team. Midwest I came in third.

## ITT

The Inter Territorial Tournament involved the four regional rugby unions comprising the United States RFU: Pacific Coast RFU, Western RFU, Midwest RFU, and the Eastern Rugby Union. The region teams are formed with players selected from the sub regional rugby unions. Subsequently, the USA Eagles are selected from the four regional teams after the ITT concludes. In 1989 the tournament, sponsored by Steinlager, took place at Robb Field in San Diego, CA from May 27–29. The East and West tied for first.
Results:
* 27 May 1989
| Pacific Coast | 31–7 | Midwest |
* San Diego, CA
* 27 May 1989
| Western | 18–12 | Eastern |
* San Diego, CA
* 28 May 1989 3:00PM
| Pacific Coast | 18–23 | Western |
* San Diego, CA
* 28 May 1989
| Eastern | 16–4 | Midwest |
* San Diego, CA
* 29 May 1989
| Pacific Coast | 12–25 | Eastern |
* San Diego, CA
* 29 May 1989
| Western | L–W | Midwest |
* San Diego, CA
| Team | Team | W | L |
| 1 | Eastern Colonials | 2 | 1 |
| 1 | Western Mustangs | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | Pacific Coast Grizzlies | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Midwest Thunderbirds | 1 | 2 |
Junior ITT The 1989 Junior ITT tournament took place at Robb Field in San Diego, CA from May 27–29. The Pacific Coast won for the fourth time in six years.
Round one:
* Pacific Coast 19–23 Midwest
* West 13–13 East
Round two:
* Pacific 17–13 West
* East 37–0 Midwest
Round three:
* Pacific 31–14 East
* Midwest – West
Women's ITT The third edition of the Women's ITT was played from January 28–29 in Metarie, LA and held in conjunction with the Battle of New Orleans tournament. The tournament ended in a three-way tie.
Round one:
* Pacific Coast 27–0 West
* Midwest 7–4 East
Round two:
* East 20–0 West
* Pacific Coast 18–6 Midwest
Round three:
* Midwest 21–0 West
* East 18–3 Pacific Coast

## High School

The 1989 National High School Rugby Championship was an eight team tournament took place 20 May at Cottonwood High School in Salt Lake City, UT. The Highland squad from Utah won the championship by defeating Burlingame of California in the final. Xavier of New York took third.
| Quarter-finals | Quarter-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | | Final | Final |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | | |
| Highland (Salt Lake) | 15 | | | |
| Highland (Salt Lake) | 15 | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | |
| Druids (St. Louis) | 0 | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | |
| Druids (St. Louis) | 0 | Highland | 28 | |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | Highland | 28 | |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | Whitemarsh | 3 | |
| Whitmarsh (Philadelphia) | 4 | Whitemarsh | 3 | |
| Whitmarsh (Philadelphia) | 4 | | | | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT |
| Overland (Aurora) | 0 | | | | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT |
| Overland (Aurora) | 0 | | | | Highland | 14 |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | | | | Highland | 14 |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | | | Burlingame | 6 |
| Burlingame (California) | 22 | | | | Burlingame | 6 |
| Burlingame (California) | 22 | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | | |
| West End (Fairfax) | 4 | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | | |
| West End (Fairfax) | 4 | Burlingame | 14 | | | |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | | Burlingame | 14 | | | |
| May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | Xavier | 12 | | Third place | Third place |
| Xavier (New York) | 7 | Xavier | 12 | | Third place | Third place |
| Xavier (New York) | 7 | | | | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT |
| Liberty (Issaquah) | 4 | | | | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT | May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT |
| Liberty (Issaquah) | 4 | | | | Xavier | 16 |
| | | | | | Whitemarsh | 6 |
Consolation Liberty 22–11 West End Druids W–L Overland
Seventh place
* West End 11–6 Overland
Fifth place
* Liberty 20–4 Druids

### Final

* 20 May 1989
| Highland | 14–6 | Burlingame |
| Try: Paul Ellis 19' c Kurt Hawes 23' Siope Matakiongo c Con: Derek Becker | | Pen: Totoa Pohahau 5' ?' |
* Salt Lake City, UT Attendance: 1500