Moose host state rugby championships

Flathead squad faces Spokane Razorbacks in quarterfinal play at 10 a.m.

Call it a reward for coming back to the fold.

The Flathead Moose Rugby team is hosting the Montana Rugby Union State Championships this weekend at the Armory Fields in Whitefish.

The Moose will be one of six teams battling for the coveted season-ending title, which will be determined Sunday at noon.

The championships begin today with pool play action, which will run from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

The Missoula Maggots are defending state champions and have won the title 17 times beginning in 1977.

"Getting a chance to host this is very important for us," said Moose captain Eric Taber. "The union believed in us enough to give us a chance to do it."

The Moose compiled a 2-2 mark in league competition and 5-10 overall in its first full season. A remarkable feat considering the team was defunct two years ago.

Last year the Moose played just two matches.

"A lot of guys (were already here) who wanted to play," said Taber of rugby's resurgence in the valley.

"We scraped two games together (last year). This year we have gotten it together."

The Moose now has 20-plus players on its roster. Two members are former University of Montana football players - Chris Hepner was a standout kicker for the Grizzlies and also kicked in the NFL while Rylan Jollymore played linebacker.

"We have guys from all over," said Taber.

"Guys from back east who played super league ball in Maryland who now live in the valley. We have a 17-year-old home schooler. He learned how to play in boarding school back east. He lives on the family ranch and plays with us."

Neil Delimata is that teenage player and he's from Nyack Flats.

Louie Delimata, age 20, is also from Nyack Flats. He's the team's scrum half, or if you will, the quarterback.

Trever Florscheinger travels from Great Falls to play with the Moose.

Eric Flink, a forward, and Carl Hansen, a prop (plays in the front row of a scrum), have had strong seasons for the Moose.

The roster was been built largely by word of mouth. The team has practiced twice a week all spring at the Hillcrest Fields.

"Whoever wants to play," said Taber.

"We're surprised that we have had as much positive play as we've had. Coming in, we knew we were a good team. (Rebuilding a program) is a very difficult thing."

The two high points to the season were home victories over the University of Montana Jesters and the Spokane Razorbacks. The Moose face the Razorbacks at 10 a.m. today in the championships. If the Moose win, they will play again at noon; if they lose, they play at 1 p.m.

"Perennially, they have a strong club," said Taber of the Razorbacks.

"Very big. They have some fast, exciting players. We match up well against them."

In the earlier meeting, the forward play by the Moose turned out to be the difference in the match.

"Our big guys controlled the ball very well," he said.

"We pushed them around."

One of the pushers was Dave Kenkel.

"He played exceptionally well in that game," said Taber.

Taber, 26, played rugby with the Missoula Maggots and in California before moving to the valley. He graduated from the University of Montana in 2003.

The team is coached by Yuji Morisaki, who played top level rugby as well. He also coached high school rugby.

The team president is Bob Foley, a former Moose player.

"We'll do a lot of recruiting in the offseason," said Taber, already looking ahead to next year.

"We know the Flathead Valley has a lot of good athletes. It's just a matter of teaching them about rugby."

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Individuals interested in rugby, or playing for the Moose, should call Bob Foley, 261-0460, or Taber, 270-0512