University of Rhode Island and University of Vermont will have a lot to say to each other in a couple of weeks as they prepare for two games against each other in a row.

 

URI and UVM both won this weekend, one relatively comfortably and one in nail-biting fashion, to move to 4-0 atop the New England Collegiate Rugby Conference standings.

 

Rhode Island defeated Norwich 23-5 Saturday. Lock Kevin Hoelzer scored a try on an overthrown lineout to start the scoring. And while the Cadets tied it up, Sav Varca’s run through a gap and 25-meter gallop to the tryline put URI up to star.

 

A penalty from flyhalf Anthony Kennedy in the first half  made it 13-5. Then a scrum drive allowed No. 8 Jack De Leo to touch down in the second, and Varca capped an outstanding game with another try to seal it 23-5.

 

Playing with power and abandon, URI has been setting defenses on their heels all fall. They exert considerable defensive pressure and run through tackles, as well.

 

But they have a rival. Vermont went into this weekend 3-0 and emerged 4-0 - but just barely. Playing on a rain-soaked and narrow field at the Coast Guard Academy, the normally wide-running UVM offense was bottled up. They gave up a converted try and a penalty, but scored four penalties from flyhalf Ben Kaufman to win 12-10. Kaufman’s final kick was from a tough angle with no time left.

 

“We weren’t worried,” said prop Andres Marin. “Ben’s been so great kicking this season we knew he’d make it. We felt confident we’d do enough to win the game.”

 

Still the hard-nosed Coast Guard pack and the conditions, which favored a tight game, made life a little difficult for UVM.

 

Vermont had put co-captain and No. 8 Matthew Potter on the bench to get some rest, but ran him on in the final 20 minutes. The Scottish-born loose forward was a ball-stealing machine, poaching as many as eight balls from the rucks to get Vermont going.

 

Now UVM looks ahead, as does URI. Rhode Island plays at Coast Guard next week, a game that will be as physical and as draining as Vermont’s experience was. UVM takes onBoston University. Then Rhode Island and Vermont play each other on October 18 and October 25. Those games will likely decide who wins the conference. 

 

“We’ve got to take care of BU first - they are a tough team,” said Marin. “But we know we’ve got those two games in a row with Rhode Island. They are going to be the toughest games of the season for both teams.”