Competitive as Ever Rugby East Opens Fall

09.14.2024

We’ve got a rundown of the results from Week 1 in the Rugby East.

Here are the results (home team listed second, GRR rankings included):

Mary Washington (D1A #14) 17 Army (D1A #7) 27

Navy (D1A #2) 41 St. Bonaventure (NCR #3) 23

Penn State (D1A #18) 22 Mount St. Mary’s (D1A #15) 26

Southern Virginia 14 Belmont Abbey (NCR #9) 31

Walsh (NCR #1) 15 Kutztown (NCR #5) 21

All five games were either very close or pretty close.

Bears over Cavaliers

After a huge opening win in their new school, the Walsh players found a more difficult circumstance on the road at Kutztown. This is a matchup that is usually close, and in this year’s game it certainly was.

College Rugby Friday Night: Walsh Headlines

“It was a big win for us,” said Kutztown Director of Rugby Gregg Jones. “It was a back-and-forth game and Walsh was down at our tryline for about five or six minutes at the end of the game before we were able to get the ball and get out of trouble.”

Jones said his team was disappointed in their showing last tear, and they worked hard this year on building their unity and continuity.

“In this game we had more of a strategy also and we kicked to the corners so our forwards could chase and get more go-forward,” added Jones.

An interception try from wing Henry Thomas, converted by fullback Benedict Quinn, for KU going, and they added tries from center Archie Grayson and wing Aidan Smith, both also converted by Quinn, to win 21-15.

Lock Luka Jansen van Vuuren was a powerful presence up front and led a good forward effort, while flanker Rowan Sierra was active all day.

Mids Win on the Road

A late penalty goal finished off Navy’s win over St. Bonaventure 41-23, but the game was closer than that. Bonnies scored early when the ball was left unattended at the back of the ruck and wing Troy Heroldt nabbed it and raced more than 50 meters to score.

Penalties and then the ref showing yellow had Navy on the back foot for a while as SBU led.

“We were very frustrated with the penalty count,” said Navy DOR Gavin Hickie. “We will look at that. But we came back and we’re working on our bench making an impact. We have real depth this year and we’re shifting lineups because of that. Whether you’re playing fantastic rugby or not, there’s a good chance you’re coming off because we have an incredible bench.

Several players who start found themselves coming on as reserves, but this is all part of the plan.

Bonnies hung tough, but Navy finishes very strong and they did this time.

Making his debut on the 1st side, freshman Waylon Davis put in a good shift at hooker, while sophomore lock Adam Mertens impressed also.

“Over 80 minutes we can throw a different picture at you at 40 or 60 minutes, and it has worked out pretty well,” said Hickie. “This is the first time in three years that we’ve gotten the bonus point against St. Bonaventure, but we are nowhere near the finished article.”

Mount Holds Off Penn State

Mount St. Mary’s was another team holding onto a very slim lead and defending their line at the end of the game. Under new Head Coach Zac Mizell, Penn State put in a solid effort, but were eventually defeated 26-22.

Mount’s scrum was outstanding and that provided a nice launching pad for their attack. Saige Calvo scored their opening try, converted by Evan Corbett. Penn State answered with a try and while MSM did miss a couple of long-range penalties in the first half, Corbett did connect on one to make it 10-7 with halftime looming.

Penn State tied it 10-10, but just as the half ended Corbett would add his second penalty goal to see his side into the sheds up 13-10.

Mizell Embraces New Challenge at Penn State

Mount took that momentum and made it 20-10 with No. 8 Hayden mcKay’s try and Corbett’s conversion. Corbett would add two more kicks to make it 26-10.

But bolstered by some excellent mauling, the Nittany Lions responded well and scored two tries to make it 26-22, but got no closer. Corbett, who logged 16 points on the day, also contributed a key try-saving tackle late.

Welcome to the Rugby East Belmont Abbey

Jean Teson’s two tries, one early in each half, paced Belmont Abbey to a 31-14 win over Southern Virginia. The Cursaders’ defense was impressive and they didn’t allow any points until well into the second half.

Luke Rochon also scored in the first half and Belmont Abbey led 12-0.

Teson’s second, converted by Hugo Taylor Jones, made it 19-0. Michael Golden’s try, converted by Zachary Jones, inched SVU closer, but when Bryce Hogan went over that was probably the game for the Crusaders.

SVU got a try from Abraham Mallam and Belmont Abbey capped it all off with a score from Will Rimes.

West Point Perseveres

Army defeated Mary Washington 27-17; Head Coach Matt Sherman said he was happy with his team’s composure, as they were under some pressure from the Mothers.

“Mary Washington is a very good team and we committed too many penalties,” said Sherman. “But our attack is showing some real promise and out lineout was strong.”

The Army forwards had a huge day in a number of ways, but Sherman said he didn’t really see his team turn that control into points. They were giving up penalties in the mauls—something a couple of other teams ran into and that could be a result of special attention from refs looking to ensure there’s no obstruction by the mauling team.

The highlight of the day may well have been center Benji Kemp running down a UMW attacker, making the try-saving tackle, getting up, and poaching the ball to complete the play.