Tennessee High School Rugby

Brentwood Claims 2002 Cup Championship

May 05, 2002
Murfreesboro, TN- The final matched Brentwood A against Murfreesboro Oakland. Brentwood had stopped the Fighting Irish from Father Ryan 40-0 in a semi final match with Oakland edging Knoxville Bearden 20-17 in the other.

Brentwood’s size and quickness to the breakdown would make the difference in
the Cup Championship. Brentwood A got on the board just a few minutes into the match after going weak off a 5-meter scrum with wing David Ellis touching down in the corner for a 5-0 lead. About 20 minutes into the half, the ball went wide to Ellis and he cut back inside before dishing to fullback Trammel Hoehn who zipped into the try zone. But touch judge Keith Burnett had spotted a penalty and referee Jerry McLemore called the try back because of obstruction. But four minutes later the Brumbies would get their score as flanker Kevin Hartley burst through the heart of Oakland’s defense off a lineout. Hartley cut back left and outran Mud Dog fullback Josh Yates to touch down. Inside center Jon Deveau’s conversion put Brentwood up 12-0.

Just after the second half started, Deveau was yellow-carded for an infraction
as the Brumbies were backed up near their try zone and Oakland took advantage
as prop Brandon Zimmerman crashed through for a score to make it 12-5.
Both teams slugged it out through the rest of the game but couldn’t breach the
defenses. Deveau’s penalty kick with six minutes left ended the scoring at 15-5.

Hartley was chosen the Cup division’s Most Valuable Player.

A-panel referee McLemore said the difference in play between the 2001 and 2002 championship games was very noticeable, with this year’s game flowing right from the beginning instead of being a stop-start affair.

Referee: Jerry McLemore (Mid-South)
Touch judges: Keith Burnett, Phil Thielke