By: Davis Barlow: Assistant Sports Information Director
NEED TO KNOW:
Score: Life University 30, Mystic River 24
MARIETTA, Ga. — The Life University men's club rugby team claimed the 2025 American Rugby Premiership Championship on Saturday afternoon, taking down Mystic River Rugby Club by a final score of 30-24. Life U led for the entirety of the contest, though the visitors kept the game close all the way until the end.
Life U wasted no time taking the lead, scoring the first try of the contest in the opening minutes. Tevita Mapa capped off the try while Hugh O'Kennedy knocked through the conversion. Mystic River cut the lead to four just over five minutes later after a successful penalty kick.
Holding a 7-3 lead in the early minutes, O'Kennedy was called upon for a penalty kick in the 18th minute, putting it right down the middle. The Running Eagles once again converted a successful try just minutes later. After a penalty near the try line, Life U hammered away on the visitors, with Donovan Law finally crossing into the try zone. O'Kennedy once again had a successful conversion kick, making it 17-3.
The visitors refused to go quietly, intercepting a poor Life U pass and taking it 50+ yards to the try zone. After a successful conversation, Mystic River trailed by seven.
In the 32nd minute, the Running Eagles made a massive defensive stand on the try line, cutting the momentum out from under the visitors. Mystic River had been marching down the field but were unable to punch in the tying try, with Life U being awarded a penalty in the end.
The momentum continued to shift to the Running Eagles, with Seth Smith scoring a try. Off some line out trickery, Smith found a wide open lane down the sideline to try zone.
Life added one more penalty kick before the half time whistle. After a high tackle and yellow card on Mystic River, O'Kennedy knocked through the penalty kick, making it 25-10. The Dublin native went 2/2 on penalty kicks and 2/3 on conversions in the first half.
Seth Smith struck again in the 44th minute, increasing the Life lead even more. Philani Simamane busted open a huge run, then quickly dropped the ball off to Ishma-eel Safodien who was brought down just short of the try zone. From there, Smith finished off the first try of the second half. Life U received a yellow card just minutes later, with Mystic River taking advantage and scoring its' first try of the second half.
Mystic continued to fight in Marietta, battling to a try after a 5-meter line out. A successful conversion kick brought the score line to 30-24 with 15 minutes left to play.
Both teams continued to scrap, with the action remaining competitive down until the final seconds. A late penalty against the Running Eagles gave the visitors a spark of hope, but the final whistle signaled a 30-24 victory for Life U.
INSIDE THE MATCH:
Key Moment: Life U pulled out the trickery on a line out, leading to a third try in the first half and a 12-point lead.
Scoring Breakdown: Life U tries — Tevita Mapa, Donovan Law, Seth Smith (2)
Conversions — Hugh O'Kennedy 2/4 conversations, 2/2 penalty kicks
