The Classic Eagles finished off their week at the annual World Rugby Classic in Bermuda by falling to France in the Plate final. The tournament has been a gathering spot for former Eagles and this year was no different with the likes of capped Eagles Nese and Ata Malifa, Tai Tuisamoa, Mike Palefau, and Mose Timoteo all playing for the team along with club legends like Taylor Howden and Mathieu Lesgourges. Tiger Rugby director Paul Holmes coached the team. In addition to the matches the team also participated in youth camps on the island as well as visiting Oracle.
The tournament for the team began back on the 9th when the team took on South Africa. The team fought hard but ultimately fell 29-12. That moved them on to the Plate semi-finals against Italy. Louis Tulio put the Classic Eagles up 5-0 before Matt Byrd extended the lead to 10-0. Peter Dahl scored a third for the Americans before Italy was able to grab a try back. Still, the U.S. kept coming with Taylor Howden scoring twice, including a nice intercept try, and Mike Palefau and Mathieu Lesgourgues scoring on the either side of Italian tries. Tulio would add the final try.
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The win over Italy put the Classic Eagles into the Plate final against France. The match came just after the terrorist attacks in Paris and a moment of silence was held and black armbands were worn to honor those killed and injured.
The French struck first roughly ten minutes in to take a 5-0 lead. Both teams played a back and forth game over the next little while until the U.S. finally got on the board as Howden scored. Tulio almost scored to give the Eagles the lead but he was chased down. The match went into the half 5-5. In the second half the U.S. were continually put under pressure with the French scoring twice to bring the final to 17-5.
CLASSIC EAGLES – WORLD RUGBY CLASSIC 2015
1. Dennis Walker
2. Brice Schilling
3. Teki Nau
4. Mark Crick
5. Matt Doubek
6. Tai Tuisamoa
7. Ian Carpenter
8. Fred Wintermantel
9. Nicholas Benvenutti
10. Ryan Chapman
11. Wade McInroy
12. Peter Dahl
13. Mose Timoteo
14. Mathieu Lesgourgues
15. Ata Malifa
16. Louis Tulio
17. Peter Friedmann
18. Nese Malifa
19. Taylor Howden
20. Brian Barnard
21. Matt Byrd
22. Mike Palefau