(Rugby Action Photo)

The Black Bears were in front through 60 minutes before the Running Eagles turned on the afterburners to win 27-6.

Two penalty goals by Pearl City’s Craig McMahon, one in each half, gave the Iowa team a slender lead that it held on to until about the 60-minute mark, and that’s when the wheels fell off. Life proceeded to run in a series of tries to stitch up the victory.

Pearl City traveled to Georgia with a small squad and two full 80-minute games within 24 hours proved to be a little more than the Bears could handle.

“I think the word of the day was fitness,” Pearl City head coach Roy Carver told ARN. “We traveled too thin, but it’s the nature of the CR3 crossovers. It was one of those deals where we had no subs.”

CR3 final seedings (unofficial):
1 Life
2 Pearl City
3 Palmer College
4 South Side Irish

All four teams have qualified for the men’s DI national Round of 16 next month in Austin, TX.