WARRENSBURG, MO – The Principia Thunder Chickens rugby team traveled to the University of Central Missouri to play in the Gateway 7s Conference Tournament. Principia was the favorite coming in and cruised to a 4-0 record on the day to win the 2022 championship. The Thunder Chickens last won the Gateway 7s title in the spring of 2019, the most recent year it was held. This marks Principia's third tournament victory of this spring season!
With seven teams in this year's tournament, a double elimination bracket was held. Principia's first opponent was John Brown University. After the Thunder Chickens received the opening kickoff, captain Sjaen Lucas tapped the ball back to Bradley Mayekiso who picked it up, took on a tackler, and offloaded to Elvis Ajuoga. When Ajuoga drew two tacklers, he offloaded to Emmanuel Atiko setting up a 25 meter run. Atiko then drew John Brown's sweeper freeing Jack Beckett to receive a pass for the try. The consistent heavy winds of the day played a role on the ensuing Principia kickoff leading to John Brown bobbling the ball into touch. Lucas took a quick lineout to Mayekiso who, after breaking a tackler, was able to offload to Atiko. Lucas then got the ball back from Atiko and would beat a defender to the corner for a try. Another try in the first half gave Principia a 21-0 lead which they extended to 35-0 by the end of the game.
The Thunder Chickens' second match was against tournament host University of Central Missouri. The Mules scored first after breaking Principia's back line blind and fending off a closing sweeper. Principia got on the scoreboard next and was able to go up 7-5 after a sharp attack by scrumhalf Celino Petersen and flyhalf Damir Conci off of a Principia scrum. The Thunder Chickens didn't look back and finished the game with a 28-12 win.
Unbeaten Saint Louis University was Principia's draw for the semifinals. Dammy Odunuga caught SLU's opening kickoff, and after several steps forward, he provided a grubber kick through a hard-launching SLU defensive line which Petersen picked up off a bounce for the opening try. The Thunder Chickens' second try came off of a Principia scrum when Lucas passed to Odunuga who then drew a tackler. Mayekiso took the pop pass, outran two tackers, and scored in the corner. Principia kept the pressure on throughout and ended the game with a 47-0 win.
SLU was able to win their next game to avoid elimination setting up a championship game rematch. Principia had yet to lose, so SLU would have to beat the Thunder Chickens twice to take the title. The heavy winds stuffed SLU's opening kickoff, and Lucas took the ensuing free kick at the halfway line. After Lucas passed to Petersen, he drew two tacklers allowing Odunuga to attack against a lone SLU winger. Odunuga was able to beat the winger before stepping the sweeper and making it into the in-goal. Just like in the semifinal, Principia kept its foot on the gas until the final whistle, winning the championship game 33-0.
Conci went 20 for 21 on conversion kicks for the tournament, while Jay Clifford went 1 for 2.
Up Next: Principia will carry their momentum into the Collegiate Rugby Championships in New Orleans at the NOLA Gold Stadium over Memorial Day Weekend. Go Thunder Chickens!
