KANSAS CITY, MO - On Saturday night, the Principia Thunder Chickens played in Kansas City Midnight Madness, an overnight rugby 7s tournament played on an indoor soccer field. The tournament is unique, not just because of the small field (which is slightly smaller than the hockey rock size of 85 ft x 200 ft), but because of unlimited roster sizes and the allowance of unlimited player substitutions. Despite this, Principia brought just twelve players, including a hefty compliments of forwards. Scrumhalf Sjaen Lucas captained for Principia, who was playing in this tournament for the first time since 2012.
In the first game, Principia got off to a quick start against the University of Central Missouri alumni team. After receiving the opening kickoff, Principia controlled the ball through several phases before missing a scoring opportunity on a botched punt recovery. However, a penalty by UCM allowed Sjaen Lucas to take a quick tap, draw two tacklers, and make an underline pass to Emmanuel Atiko who took the ball nearly to the goal line before getting tackled. Passes down the backline to Damir Conci allowed him to score from the wing position less than a minute after the kickoff. Three minutes later, Lucas scored his first try of the game after going untouched off a pick and go from a scrum. Next, newcomer Celino Petersen scored after a coast to coast sprint before scoring again a minute later after shaking off two arm tackles. In the second half, Conci, Ben Hanson, and Linus Simam added tries to bring the final score to 45-0.
The Thunder Chickens next matched up in the semifinals with the tough LGM Queens, a new men's 7s team from the KC area. Principia kicked off, but overran the ball's bounce off the ceiling net, giving LGM a strong attack. A quick ruck and turnover allowed Principia to regain the ball. The next three minutes saw multiple turnovers by both teams until Celino Petersen took a pass as first receiver off a ruck and split two defenders who had launched too aggressively. With no time remaining in the first half, Petersen scored again by recovering a well-placed chip kick through the defense by Damir Conci.
The second half contained the same aggressive attack style and rucking that the first half did. The lone try came two minutes into the half when a Principia player in the pillar position attacked the ruck just as LGM pulled it out, giving LGM a three on two which they were able to exploit. The Thunder Chickens gave up an easy try opportunity later in the half when they dove for the in-goal and missed. The Queens would make a critical mistake of their own as time expired when they made a forward pass to an open man in scoring position, giving Principia a 14-7 victory.
Principia's final game was against tournament host Gnarly Hussle, who defeated Benedictine University and the University of Nebraska Omaha on their way to the championship. Both teams showed excellent defense, fast and fierce rucking, and aggressive attacks. The teams were scoreless until just over a minute left in the first half when Gnarly Hussle was able to pound the ball repeatedly inside Principia's 22, finally getting over the goal line. Gnarly regained possession off the ensuing kickoff and were able to score again at the end of the half, taking a 14-0 lead.
The second half opened with Principia pinning Gnarly Hussle against their own goal line for several phases before Gnarly was able to clear the ball with a kick down to Principia's goal line. Principia's counter attack found purchase on the third phase with a pop pass to Damir Conci finding space at the wing to get to the halfway line before kicking the ball, which was recovered by Gnarly Hussle. Gnarly proceeded to lose the ball off a sloppy pass, only for Celino Petersen to miss a scoring opportunity by stepping out of bounds as he recovered the ball during a sprint. Prinicpia won the ensuing lineout, and after a strong goal line stand by Gnarly, Emmanuel Atiko got under two defenders to bring the score to 14-7. Principia then tied the game with 2:30 remaining when Petersen scored his fifth try of the tournament after speeding through two tacklers from the pass off of a penalty quick tap. The game extended several minutes past the end of the game, but neither team was able to score again. In extra time, Gnarly Hussle finally earned the win by a pick and go off a scrum inside Principia's half.
Up Next: The Thunder Chickens will play on March 19th in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in the Moose Man 7s, a National Qualifier tournament hosted by Middle Tennessee State University.
