Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg has won the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Men's Division III championship with a 37-12 win over Harrisburg. The victory provides Blacksburg a strong seed in the USA Rugby Men's Division III national tournament rounds in May and hauls the title cup home to the Virginia Rugby Union for the first time since Blacksburg won the same championship in 2002.

Despite losing a few key footballers in the previous day's semifinal win over top-seeded Old Gaelic, Blacksburg game out of the gates on fire and never trailed in the match. Harrisburg, who will also appear in the national rounds as MARFU's #2 seed, was a physical opponent who never let up till the last and scored two second-half tries on the as evidence of their resolve. Blacksburg refused to be denied, though, and put points on the board throughout the match. Pacing the side was a man-of-the match outing from outside center Chris McCann, who scored two tries and was equally firm in defense.

Blackburg will have two weekends without a match now, but the period will be anything but a rest as the side gears up for the national rounds May 16-17. Thanks go to Roanoke Rugby for hosting the territorial finals weekend and to sponsors Pabst Blue Ribbon, the London Underground, and Albright and Bongard for their support.