PHILADELPHIA -- A repeat wasn't in the cards for the University of Utah rugby team on Sunday, but third place was a nice consolation.
The Utes lost to Army 12-10 in the semifinals of the USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship on Sunday afternoon, leading to a bronze-medal showdown with Central Washington that the U won 12-10. Utah won the 2010 sevens title.
In an ironic twist, Utah beat Cal earlier Sunday to advance to the semis, 21-5. It was Cal that knocked Utah out in the semifinals of the full-sided College Premier League tournament in early May, after the Utes had beaten Army in the quarterfinals.
Army lost to Dartmouth 32-10 in Sunday's final, shown on NBC (the semifinals were shown on Versus).
Dartmouth's Chris Downer scored a pair of tries as the Big Green stayed on the attack from the outset and proved that sevens is vastly different from the more traditional 15's that schools play.
"We stepped on the gas from the get-go and never gave them an opportunity to get going," Downer said. "To do that and keep them on their heels all day was really something special."
Army didn't go home empty handed, however, winning the women's tournament, by beating Penn State 14-5.
The men's final was tied 5-5 before Dartmouth scored 17 unanswered points to end the half with a 22-5 lead.
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