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Davenport University Athletics

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY PANTHERS
JP Eloff at Rugby 7s Nationals

Men's Rugby By: Taylor Hodge | thodge7@davenport.edu

Davenport Rugby Goes 3-0 on Day Two to Take Home Shield Final

Rugby National Tournament Page | National Tournament Final Results

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – After a disappointing first day at the USA Rugby Sevens National Tournament that saw the Panthers go 0-3 in pool play, Davenport came out on a mission on day two to claim the Shield Final. Davenport went 3-0 on the day defeating North Carolina State, Middlebury College, and Western Washington to finish 17th for the tournament that featured the best college sevens teams in the country.
 
The Panthers got off to a much better start to Saturday's session than they did on Friday. Taking on North Carolina State in the Shield Quarterfinals Adam Ries put the Panthers on the board with a try and Nick Glocke made the conversion to put the Panthers up 7-0. Jean Pierre Eloff made the final two trys for the Panthers with Glocke picking up both conversion. The Panthers defeated NC State 21-0.
 
In the Shield Semifinals, Davenport and Middlebury College played a scoreless first half. Early in the second it was Middlebury who would take the first lead of the game after a try and successful conversion. But JP Eloff would respond with a try for the Panthers to tie the game at seven. With no time remaining on the clock Roman Mares was able to break through the Middlebury defense for a try. Glocke made both conversions for the Panthers to give Davenport a 14-7 win.
 
Facing Western Washington in the Shield Finals it was once again JP Eloff setting the pace for the Panthers. Eloff scored the game's first two trys to give Davenport an early 12-0 lead. After Western Washington scored a try to cut the Davenport lead to five, Nick Glocke came back with a try of his own in the last few seconds of the half to put the Panthers up 17-7. Early in the second period, Western Washington scored another try to pull within three. Midway through the second half, Brady Gent picked up his first try of the tournament to give the Panthers some breathing room at 22-14. Eloff scored his third try of the game in the last couple of seconds of the game to put the Panthers up 29-14.
 
Davenport finished the weekend with a 3-3 record. After dropping their first three games in pool play, Davenport responded by sweeping their games on Saturday to claim the Shield Championship.
 
 
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