A ball carrier for the Georgia aliens is tripped by an Old White defender in the Georgia Games Championships rugby finals Sunday. CHRIS THELEN/STAFF

"I had the ball, and someone came around and slapped me in the nose," said Servy, who shook off the slight setback with a smile and continued playing. "You've just got to keep going. I didn't want to sit on the bench and watch my teammates play."

The Augusta team was playing a split-squad contest in place of the third place game, which was canceled because of the early departure of the Atlanta Tornadoes.

The Georgia Aliens defeated Old White, of Atlanta, in the championships, 26-21, while the Piglets, from University of Georgia, finished third.

Augusta lost both of its official tournament games Sunday, falling 14-5 to the Piglets and 14-7 to Old White. They would have been done for the day after that, but the club saw an open time slot with the cancellation of the third place game and snatched the chance to get in one last game before the finals.

Although his wiry frame might not suggest it, Servy, 21, is a typical rugby player. He has the right mentality for the game, overlooking all his bumps and bruises in the name of fun and camaraderie.

Old White player Tiann Schutte (center) is taken down by Georgia Aliens D.J. Kruger (left) and Kendrick Blackstock in the rugby championship game at Evans Middle School on Sunday. the Aliens defeated Old White 26-21.

Servy was a wide receiver on the Aquinas football team for one year, before his family moved to Paulding, N.Y., where he continued his high school football career. They returned to Augusta, and he joined the rugby team shortly thereafter.

Dr. Edouard Servy, Alexi's father, began playing rugby as a youth in France, and helped start the Augusta team in the 1970s. He now serves as one of the club's old boys, practicing with the team on occasion and giving advise to the younger athletes.

Jeremy Barton, a soldier stationed at Fort Gordon, joined the rugby team in April.

"All the teams that came out today put their all into it," said Barton, who scored Augusta's only try (5 points) in the second game against Old White. "It's just been good, hard rugby. Everybody came out to have a good time and win."

Reach Lane Kramer at (706) 823-3221.