For the second time in three years, the Brown Bears are Division I National Champions, defeating Queens, 23-20, Saturday at SaberCats Stadium in Houston, TX. Queens took the lead in the 16th minute, stretched it two scores, and were up until the final quarter. After a try-less first half, Brown dotted down twice in the second stanza to secure the comeback.
Loosehead prop Henrique Gabriel was awarded MVP of the final for Brown’s supremacy in the scrum.
The Bears and Royals traded kicks inside the opening 10 minutes after penalties for not rolling away. Fullback Raphaell Lansonneur drew first blood to give Brown the lead, and scrumhalf Hilton Olivier responded shortly thereafter, drawing level at 3-3.
Queens broke the stalemate in the 16th minute. Flyhalf Zach Colson stabbed a kick toward the corner of the try zone, and the ball bounced right over Lansonneur’s head and into the arms of Everett Boyd for the go-ahead try.
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Brown had the chance to have Lansonneur chip away at the lead with a kickable penalty in the 19th minute, but opted to go for the try instead, kicking to the corner. The maul attempt was blown up by Queens, and the Royals were caught offside again. Coach Dave LaFlamme called for a shot at goal from the sideline, but the players opted for a scrum. Brown ultimately walked away without points.
Lansonneur finally put the ball on the tee again after a Queens penalty in the 31st minute, cutting the deficit to four points for just a couple of minutes.
Queens then made it a two-score game with a try from Olivier after a Boyd chip kick. The Royals won a rare scrum penalty in the Brown end, and Olivier quick-tapped to put Queens on the front foot. Boyd popped a kick over the Bears’ line, Brown bobbled the ball in the try zone, and Olivier dove on it to push the lead to 15-6.
Queens picked up a yellow card toward the end of the half after repeated scrum penalties, but Lansonneur missed a penalty kick before the break. He slotted one during the power play on the other side of halftime, cutting the lead to one score at 15-9.
The Royals continued trading tries for Brown’s penalties, scoring off a kick counter. Boyd collected the ball on the bounce, made Brown wing Marco LaPierre miss, scorched up the touch line and feeding Olivier for his second score of the game. The conversion was missed, making it 20-9 to Queens after 50 minutes.
Brown’s scrum was dominant all day, but the Bears struggled to threaten the Queens line with ball in hand. After numerous collapsed scrums ending in Queens penalties, inside center Leo Clayburgh finally quick-tapped a penalty and dove over from point-blank range. Lansonneur converted, cutting the Queens lead to four after an hour – 20-16.
The Bears’ second try didn’t take as long, with No. 8 Antonio Esteves sneaking over just after another downhill scrum. The All-American knocked on, but Queens was penalized for not wrapping in the tackle. A penalty try was rewarded, putting Brown up, 23-20, and a Royal forward was sent off with a yellow card.
Brown did well to milk much of the remainder with possession, but the Royals won the ball back with no time left on the clock. Boyd knocked the ball in contact, but the tackle attempt was a high, resulting in a yellow card on LaPierre and giving Queens one last chance to win the game.
Queens opted for a lineout near the attacking 22, and after four slow phases were held up in the tackle, ending the game as a Brown victory.
Rewatch this epic matchup on The Rugby Network+.
