Kutztown Wins Ariel Re Bermuda 7s
Ryan Mather, head of the Bermuda office of Ariel Re, and Waisale Serevi, the greatest sevens player ever, presented awards to the winners of the 2017 Ariel Re Bermuda 7s.
Photo: Kutztown University poses with Serevi and Ariel Re's Ryan Mather.
Ariel Re Bermuda 7s College Division
In the college division, Kutztown University took the Cup. St Joseph's University placed third. Stony Brook took the Plate and the West Chester Black Foxes took seventh. In the High School Division West Chester dominated all takers defeating the Ariel Re All-stars 35 - nil in the final.
In the end Kutztown dominated all weekend defeating West Chester, Albany and St. Joes in pool play before defeating the Black Foxes in the quarters then meeting their second side in the semis. In the final Kutztown avenged a tough third place loss in the 2016 Ariel Re Bermuda 7s with a sound 33-5 defeat of the host Bermuda Ariel Re All-stars.
St. Joes looked impressive in their 3rd place match against Kutztown II, winning 31-10. St. Joes will make their mark this spring for sure (Impressive rugby squad).
Stony Brook was shocked in their last pool match on Saturday night with a loss to a perenial fifteen-a-side power Iona College. Final score in the pool competition Iona 19 - Stony Brook 12. Stony Brook came back to show their true form winning the Plate, in true ironic fashion, over the same Iona team by a score of 12 to 7.
The Ariel Re All-stars, the Bermuda U23 national team, were stellar in their 10-5 defeat of Kutztown II in the final pool match of the evening. Final score: Ariel Re 10 - KU II 5.
Ariel Re High School Division
In the High School Division, West Chester breezed through pool play and then did a yeoman's job in the semis and finals defeating the High School Ariel Re All-stars by a score of 35-0. West Chester and head coach Lou Raymond were spectacular all weekend long. Even a beefed up Beyond Rugby select team (with players from the top Ariel Re team) could not stop the talent and finesse of the West Chester High School team. Hats off to the high school champions.