San Mateo recovered from a less than stellar performance on Saturday to defeat the Tempe Old Devils in the final of the 1998 USA Rugby National Club 7's Championships in Conshohocken, PA. Let by two-time MVP Vuka Tau, San Mateo denied possession to Tempe while scoring five tries to one enroute to a 29-7 victory. Matt Dallow led Tempe in scoring his club's lone try, and he nearly scored another in the second half. But he pulled a hamstring while streaking past the halfway line, and that seemed to characterize Tempe's derailment after five consecutive wins prior to the final.

San Mateo nearly didn't get into Sunday's Cup bracket..Three teams posted 2-1 records in Pool A - NOVA, San Mateo, and Milwaukee. NOVA was seeded first after completion of pool play and San Mateo was seeded second on the basis of the published tie-breaker rules - total points scored. San Mateo scored 71 points in their three pool matches, while Milwaukee scored 69. Milwaukee must have felt the sting even more since they were the team to defeat San Mateo in pool play 26-19, a game in which San Mateo looked to have lost what it takes to be in the Final Eight, let alone win the championship. The absence of Anitoni, Saulala, and Mounga evened the playing field considerably, or so everyone thought.

But on Sunday morning, San Mateo looked every bit the defending champion. Captain Vuka Tau gave an inspiring talk the night before, put his teammates to bed early, woke them early, and had them running at the stadium while everybody else was still thinking about what to have for breakfast. Winning the championship was the only thing on their minds, and they wouldn't be distracted.

First, they dispatched Kansas City 14-7 who posted a 3-0 record on Saturday and looked to be a challenger in scoring 107 points against only 24 given up. Then Old Puget Sound Beach fell hard 43-5 after OPSB had defeated former national champion and perennial final four team NOVA 21-14. Finally, Tempe had their turn. Tempe was undefeated in pool play on Saturday, running up a 3-0 record and scoring 102 points while giving up only 19. Only Kansas City did better by one try. Then Tempe matched San Mateo's defense Sunday morning by giving up only two tries. So the stage was set for a barn burner.

And the crowd was treated to some thrills from the start. Hard, crushing tackles from Tempe would have discouraged some teams, and the crowd voiced their appreciation. Constant possession by San Mateo would have frustrated others, yet Tempe hung tough. San Mateo was rewarded with two tries by Leaupepe and Latu before Tempe's exciting Matt Dallow put one over for Tempe to close it to 12-7. A try near the end of the half from Pateta made it 17-7. Tempe hardly looked out of it, and Dallow and captain Salty Thompson tried to save the day. Two more second half tries by Latu and Tau put plenty of spread in the score before Dallow suffered his injury and ended a stellar weekend for him and Tempe.

Not since OPSB's reign from 1988 to 1992 when they won the title four times and the last three in a row has there been a repeat champion. The only other repeat champions (not back to back, though) are OMBAC whoi won in 1985 and 1995, and the Duck Brothers who won in 1987 before their cousin NOVA won in 1996 (if you want to count that as a repeat). This was only the second time in ten years that NOVA hasn't been in the final four (or third in 14 years if you count the Duck Brothers). San Mateo (aka the Tongan Yankees) are on a streak to match that by being in the final four for four years running.