By Allen Poon
EBC Florida Bureau
JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Eagle News) — In a grudge match to determine USA Rugby League’s best team on the turf, the Jacksonville Axemen hosted the Brooklyn Kings in the USARL Championship. Both teams went undefeated in the regular season and playoffs prior to their match.
The Axemen were first to land on the board with a try at the 12-minute mark. They continued to plow the Kings defense with four more tries, ending the first half with a 34-6 lead.
In the second half, the Axemen’s Australian Hooker, Lachlan Bristow, continued to be the driving force for the team’s dominant offense, which would prove too much for the Kings.
With less than five minutes left in the second half, the Kings had a late push, with back-to-back tries but the Axemen never let up. In the last two minutes of the game, Jacksonville put the dagger in the Kings comeback effort and scored one more try, running away with a 58-16 victory.
The dominant performances by Bristow and team captain, Jon Purnell, helped the Axemen clinch their second championship in their franchise’s history.
Jacksonville natives cheered on their home team, as they raised the USARL Championship Trophy. Club owner of the Axemen, Drew Slover, was proud of their victory and was eager for the team’s future success.
“[To] win another one, it’s what we got, to start a dynasty. We are one of the biggest rugby brands in the USA, which will help bring that reputation [for rugby]”, said Slover after the win.
The victory also marked the second time in team history to go undefeated in the whole season.
(Eagle News Service)