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CHRIS CODUTO/Arizona Daily Wildcat
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Junior Wildcat wing Josh May breaks away from a defender this weekend during Arizona's seventh straight Memorial Invitational win.
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By Shane Bacon
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Monday November 24, 2003
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The UA men's rugby team won the Arizona Wildcat Rugby Memorial Invitational this weekend after defeating San Diego State on Saturday and St. Mary's yesterday.
The Wildcats (3-1) plowed through a San Diego State team on Saturday at Estevan Park 38-17, a day before downing St. Mary's, 27-21, in the title game.
Fullback Aaron Land and wing Marcus Johnson carried the team with two and three tries, respectively, after San Diego opened the game 5-0.
"Our team is very poised with great leadership," head coach Dave Sitton said after the Sunday match. "We have good athletes that went to work and chipped away at the other teams all weekend."
Yesterday's matchup with St. Mary's ÷ a team that made it to last year's Sweet 16 ÷ looked like the end of the Wildcats' chances after Gaels fullback Nick Hammonds scored a try and two conversions to put the Wildcats behind in their second straight game.
"(St Mary's) has a very explosive backfield," Sitton said. "Those three guys, including the fullback, are close to the three best in college rugby. I thought we were in a world of trouble (yesterday)."
With the Wildcats down 14-0 and five minutes left in the half, Marcus Johnson burst to the corner for the try.
Halfback Andrew Brischke converted to make the score 14-7 at the half.
The Wildcats came out in the second half and finished off the Gaels, winning by six for their first title of the year.
Players of the Tournament this weekend included Brischke, Johnson, Nate Eggman, Justin Kuntz and Mark Handin.
Handin scored his first try as a Wildcat this weekend and, with Brischke's conversion, finished the Wildcats' strong second half with what ended up being the game-winning score.
"The guys played great this weekend," Sitton said. "I give a lot of credit to the guys on the field yesterday."
The Wildcats won their seventh straight Memorial Championship and are next set to hit the field in January against San Diego.
