NEW YORK – Over 300 rugby players from four states, the District of Columbia and Canada converged on Randall’s Island in New York to take part in the 2004 East Coast Rugby Invitational sponsored by Champagne Piper Heidsieck and hosted by New York’s own Gotham Knights Rugby Football Club. Former NFL player Esera Tuaolo was on hand to serve as tournament marshal and present the winning trophies.

In the Premier Division, the Gotham Knights and the Washington Renegades took their 2-0 round-robin records into the final match to battle it out for the championship title. The two teams have been friendly rivals since their initial meeting in April 2002 where the Renegades prevailed 31-0. With the Knights powering through the scrums and the Renegades dominating the lineouts, the decisive match was intense, with both teams within reach of scoring but unable to put the ball beyond the try line. Just before halftime, the Renegades attempted a penalty kick but were not able to convert the opportunity, as the field position wasn’t in their favor.

Heading into the second half, both teams made determined drives and the Renegades made a late, prolonged push, led by backs Lucas Moinester and Rob Starling along with 8-man Frank Quick, but were unable to penetrate the Knights’ stingy defense. Gotham’s Dennis Keya took advantage of a prime kicking opportunity and booted the ball to the Renegades’ 5-meter line, putting the Knights deep into the Renegades’ red zone. After successive scrums in front of the Renegades goal posts, a penalty in the Knights’ favor allowed their captain, Luke Martland, to convert a penalty kick with less than two minutes to go in the match to seal the Knights’ victory and the 2004 Premier Division title.

In the Open Division final, the Atlanta Bucks and the Washington Renegades swept their respective round-robin matches and faced each other in the finals. In a match that mirrored the intensity and play of the Knights-Renegades final, the two teams battled each other with determination and desire to pull out the win. Washington took the early 3-0 lead courtesy of a series of good runs by hooker Chris Brunn followed by a converted penalty kick from Roberto Santaigo. But the lone try scored in the second half by the Bucks was more than enough for them to pull out the 5-3 win and give them the Open Division title. The Bucks only allowed one try to be scored against them in their three matches.