MAC Latest BG, Dayton and MoreBowling Green remains top dog in the MAC after a 67-5 defeat of Central Michigan Friday. CMU were able to hold off BGSU for long periods in the first half, but the stress of constantly defending the Falcon attack cost them. Bowling Green scored two tries just at the end of the first half to lead 34-0. BGSU scored two tries in the first six minutes of the second half, and cruised from there. Hooker Phil Bryant scored three tries, as did scrumhalf Mitch Sora. Western Michigan got their first standings victory with a 61-22 defeat of Ball State to go 1-0 in the North, Meanwhile Dayton moved to 2-0 in the South with a 48-0 shutout of Louisville. Center Seamus Morgan scored two tries, as did wing Davis Arnold.
Colorado College Downs SLU
Colorado College upended St. Louis University 28-24 Saturday in a rematch of a national playoff game from last year.
The result was a big boost for Colorado College, which has been trying to make its way through a DII schedule without many, or any, DII opponents. This match against SLU - in which SLU and CC shared SLU’s travel costs - was Colorado’s first DII game of the year. They have been playing DI opponents through this fall.
Colorado College’s effort was led by Ricky Boebel, an American who grew up in New Zeaand. Boebel’s kicking was the difference as he was successful in all four conversions, while St. Louis was only 2-for-4. Nick Pearson played a very good game at inside center. The freshman, a recent graduate of Belmont HS in Massachusetts, is one of several players at CC with good high school rugby experience.
LSU Rugby Team Suspended
The LSU Men's rugby team has been suspended for the balance of the fall semester following a recent post-game social.
The team apparently violated university rec sports policies at the social, which included a visiting team and parents from both teams. During that social, a player (who is over 21 ) and one of his parents bought some beer, which was made available to those over 21. The University found out about this and suspended the team.
According to reports, the team could have received tougher sanctions - a year's suspension, or revocation of funding - but got a comparatively lesser punishment of the remainder of the semester. They are appealing, but their remaining games in the SCRC are forfeits unless the University reduces the punishment.
Va Tech Announces Scholarships
Blacksburg, Va. – The Virginia Tech men’s rugby program announced today two new scholarships valued at $1,000 each to be awarded for fall 2015.
The scholarships are funded by an endowment managed by the Virginia Tech Foundation.
“In just over two years, the Tech Rugby Alumni Association and parents have contributed more than $40,000, allowing the team to establish the endowment fund, which makes these scholarships possible,” Andrew Richards, chairman of the endowment committee, said. “This sizeable amount is a testament to the spirit of Hokie rugby players as true student-athletes.
“The $1,000 scholarships are intended to help students cover academic incidentals such as books and supplies. As the endowment fund grows, so will its ability to help the team,” Richards added.
Towson, Salisbury Still Top in PotomacTowson University kept their momentum in the Potomac Men’s DII college conference with a 69-12 defeat of George Washington. Towson controlled the game fairly well, using their forwards a little more than they normally do and punching holes in the GW defense. Greg Dreibelbis opened the scoring as he took and offload and was over. GW worked to equalize but a patient Towson defense held them and produced turnover ball. Using their forwards again, Towson marched downfield and then hooker Jason Laraia set up scrumhalf Eric Sweeney for the second try. Prop Jason Wolf was soon in at the corner, and then after George Washington punished some Towson penalties to get their first try, No.
James Madison Downs ODU
James Madison moved into sole possession of first place in the Cardinals Men’s DII College Conference Saturday with a 23-3 defeat of previously unbeaten Old Dominion.
ODU drops to 2-1, in third behind 3-0 VMI, who were idle this weekend.
JMU Head Coach Mark Lambourne said he was pleased with the relatively comfortable nature of the victory, but also felt that his team lacked some composure in the red zone, leaving some points on the field.
“We should have won by more,” Lambourne said. “The boys looked at the game and we graded out at a B, and in some areas a B-. This is where we are at sort of mid-term, and we know we can be a lot better.”
JMU ran out to an early lead, but in the second half Old Dominion managed to better disrupt Madison ball at the ruck.
South Carolina Defeats Florida
Gainesville, Fla. - South Carolina Rugby traveled to Gainesville this past weekend and came out victorious over the Gators of the University of Florida in SCRC league play.
SC received the kickoff but turned the ball over the Florida almost immediately. This gave the Gators an excellent early scoring opportunity, but the Gamecocks defended well in the forwards and then stymied a backline move. Eventually Carolina was able to break through and get an attacking lineout. They mauled the ball from there and senior hooker Drew Busbee went over for the opening try, converted by junior scrumhalf Brian Keown to give the Gamecocks an early 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks have little time to celebrate, as Florida, took advantage of another mismanaged kick return by the Gamecocks. This time they made no mistake and scored to make it 7-5.
St. Joe's, WVU Still Lead KeystoneSt. Joseph’s and West Virginia remain atop the Keystone Conference, while Pitt is close behind. The St. Joe’s Hawks defeated Rutgers 50-7 Saturday. Scrumhalf Jimmy Wolfer scored all four ways as a try, three conversions, two penalties, and a drop goal netted him 20 points. Mike McGee scored two tries and Greg McTiernan, Dan Deal, Matt Burdsall, and Brendan Murphy all also scored for St. Joe’s as they improved to 3-0. They lead the East with 1-1 Temple in 2nd. In the West, West Virginia also won big, beating Millersville 62-7 to move to 3-0. This conference was exceedingly close last year and it promises to be so again.
Vassar Men to 4-0
Thirty-nine years and one week after Vassar men's rugby team played their first game ever, a 4-0 loss to Union; Saturday Vassar played Union and moved to 4-0 in Tri-State Conference play with a 43-0 shutout.
Led by three tries from center Eli Vargas and two from fullback Joe Simon, Vassar scored seven tries and were never really seriously threatened on defense. It was a strong defensive effort from the Brewers that held Union in check, and that defensive front produced turnovers that paid off with tries, especially for Vargas.
Vassar was without regular starters Louis Khourey and John Winton so freshman George Sheppard had a first start as did John Loree. Both filled in well.
The game was marred by a red card for a Union player for a punch that missed its mark and struck only air, and after that any thought of a Union comeback died.
Lindenwood Handles Another Club
Lindenwood University made it three major men's clubs in a row as they beat the Glendale Raptors Saturday in St. Charles, Mo.
Glendale led early on but a penalty from Lungi Tshuma put the Lions within two, and then a nice backline movement put Sione Fangaiuiha in for the first Lindenwood try. Tshuma converted for the 10-5 lead. Ten minutes later when captain Michael Gierlach, a Colorado Springs product, went over.
In the second half Glendale was once again the first to score, but Gabe Farley chased down a kick from Maanihera Kapa to put Lindenwood ahead 24-10. They held on 24-15.
Glendale did not field their absolute best side, but they did have some familiar faces mixed with some younger players.
This result follows on a convincing defeat of the St. Louis Bombers last week, and a close 19-14 defeat of Palmer in Iowa September 13.
Maryland Escapes Va Tech - More on ACRLWhile Clemson rolled on and Wake Forest got their first victory of the season, the big game in the Atlantic Coast Rugby League was likely Maryland against Virginia Tech, and in many ways that matchup did not disappoint. Maryland, averaging over 80 points a game, were stymied by a very strong Va Tech defense, and managed only two tries on the day. But the Hokies only got one, and the Terrapins emerged 15-5 victors. Maryland began the game running into the teeth of a stiff wind, but they handled it well and scored a try from Josh Marotske, which flyhalf Matius Cima converted. Cima also added a penalty, while Va Tech scored a lone try to make it 10-5 at halftime. “We played quite well into the wind,” said Maryland Head Coach Jeff Soeken. “We controlled the ball well and controlled territory.
Utah, WWU Win 7s TourneysThe University of Utah won the Boise State 7s, winning the Round Robin Cup Round, and thus not having to play their own 2nd team. That was a good thing since Utah's ends ended up finishing as Runners Up. Boise State took third. "This is all part of our development for the Battle in the Bay and the PAC 7s," said Utah Head Coach Mark Drown, who has seen his roster balloon from under 30 to more than 60 since last spring.
Ivy League Wrap - Dartmouth and More
Dartmouth remains unbeaten in the Ivy League with a comprehensive 44-10 defeat of Penn Saturday in a weekend that will see both Dartmouth and Princeton play twice.
The Big Green got tries from Ryan Maguire, Zack Fowler, Benji Hannam (who scored two), Chris Oberg, Ollie Engelhart Max Parker and Michael McDavid.
Meanwhile Princeton won over Yale, but it was a close-run thing. The teams were almost tied 12-11 before a Princeton try made it 19-11. That was just enough as Yale scored late, but couldn't haul the Tigers in. Final score 19-16.
Cornell got their first win of the season, beating Brown 23-16, and Columbia made a big statement, beating Harvard 41-8. Max Martin, Karim Amr, Taha Wiheba, Alex Arsenault, and Hudson Kuras all got in on the scoring act for Columbia.
AIC, BC on Collision Course
AIC and Boston College remain the top two in the East Coast Rugby Conference after both won convincingly Saturday.
Meanwhile, UConn notched their first league win of the season, edging Northeastern 15-14.
BC defeated Albany 36-7 as they continued to showcase a hard-nosed defense and excellent command of their set pieces. AIC, meanwhile, had to deal with a tough defense in UMass, and a wet, muddy ground on a rainy day in New England.
"They made some adjutments on the fly, which was good," said AIC Head Coach Josh Macy. "They moved to a more territorial game, using the box kicks and kicks from the hand at flyhalf, and it worked well."
With the AIC backs chasing down the kicks, UMass had problems. Chrisitan Adams scored three tries on the day as AIC won 34-8.
Sooners, Longhorns WinOklahoma and Texas are 2-0 in the Red River Conference after the Sooners scored half a hundred on Texas A&M, and the Longhorns defeated Baylor. Texas beat Baylor 48-13, in a game that Head Coach Chris Hopps said was underwhelming. “We were inconsistent with flashes of solid play,” said Hopps. Meanwhile, the Sooners did well to beat a tough A&M team 50-32. Wing Olusegun Ayadi, flanker Braeden Hood, props Eric Wiggin and Dickson Garnett, flyhalf Matthew Theodore, and sub forward Hunter Graham all scored tries. This marked the first time in several years that Oklahoma had upended the Aggies. “Today we were able to turn the tide early and play the physical yet dynamic rugby we have been working toward since
