In a meeting of two trophy-laden teams from last season, Army West Point beat St. Bonaventure 24-7 Sunday at Anderson Rugby Complex at the US Military Academy.
The scoreline belies how close and difficult this game was. Bonnies hit very hard and were a constant threat to Army if the Black Knights faltered at all on defense. But the Knights didn't falter much, and did a superb job of forcing St. Bonaventure to play a long field.
This was a game between the D1A champs Army and the winners of NCR's first-ever D1 playoff last fall in St. Bonaventure. Army had beaten Bonnies 27-0 last season in Rugby East play, and were certainly looking for a similar result playing at home.
Army scored first, punishing a Bonaventure penalty and mauling it over—Max Brown doing the honors. They followed that up with another and a 12-0 at halftime.
"I think the first hlf we dominated territory," said Army Head Coach Matt Sherman. "I thought we defended really well. I was really happy with the defense and territory; I think on attack they gave us a hard time at the breakdown."
In the second half St. Bonaventure was determined to continue doing that, and even as they found themselves pinned in their half again, they fought for every ball and looked adventurous in trying to run it out.
But it wasn't always to be, and perhaps a little bit of luck was on Army's side. Bonnies was making ground toward halfway when a juggled ball landed in Nate Gould's hands. The outside center immediately popped a kick down to the St. Bonaventure line. It bounced, and bounced kindly for wing Adam Bazan, who cruised in for a crucial try. St. Bonaventure had players to cover the kick, but the rugby ball is a funny shape.
What the play did outline was that Army is thinking aggressively and a bit more wide open these days, and their kicking game was fairly solid.
"We got a turnover ball and put it behind them and great finish," said Sherman. We've really worked hard the last couple of years to be a good transition team; it's an important part of the game. I think we handled some transitions well in the first half that helped us out as well."
Up 19-0 Army looked in good shape, but if they thought it would be easy to get that fourth try, they had another thing coming.
