Knoxville Rugby Football Club

Thanks to all the teams that attended TN7s. The weather cooperated and the play improved throughout the day as Nashville won the day. MTSU won the Skills competition.

Water and December weather in East Tennessee don’t mix.

A Middle Tennessee State University player found that out the hard way at the third annual Santa Claus 7s on Dec. 3, 1994.

Seems the poor fellow drank a gallon of water trying to make the necessary 200-pound weight requirement.

He didn’t - and felt miserable the rest of the day. His teammates ended up feeling fine, dispatching Nashville in the championship.

Prelims

Nashville emerged from pool play as the top seed, going 3-0 and outscoring its opponents 97-5. MTSU was seeded No. 2 after going 2-0 in the prelims.

Nashville had a quarterfinal bye and then dropped the University of Tennessee in semifinal play by a 29-12 count. MTSU slugged Knoxville’s first side 26-7 in the other semi.

Final

MTSU struck first when prop Jay Johnson fed hooker Brandon Sentell off a loose ball to go up 5-0.

Moments later, MTSU center T.J. Westerman exploited an overload and put wing Brian Savasta away for a 40-meter try. Flyhalf Clete Ledford converted for a 12-nil lead.

Westerman chipped ahead following the kickoff, allowing Sentell to beat the cover and touch down his second try. Ledford converted as MTSU led 19-0 at the break. Savasta later added his second score and Ledford converted to end the final in MTSU’s favor at 26-0.

MTSU                      Nashville

Johnson         1       Caviness

Sentell            2       Johnson

Lee                  3       Gregory

Hensley           4       Huffstickler

Ledford           5        Haverstick

Westerman      6        Craig

Savasta            7        Brooks

Ref: Rick Knowles

Johnson City tripped up Knoxville’s second side in the consolation final.