Fairfield Prep defeated Greenwich Friday night in Rugby Connecticut league play, to advance to 3-2 in the state and give the Cardinals their first league loss of the season.
It was senior night at Fairfield Prep and certainly it was a good night for senior Rob Murphy, who punished Greenwich with five penalty goals for 15 points. Both teams defended very well, with the Jesuits holding Greenwich and their snappy flyhalf Ignacio Piccione to just two tries. Greenwich held Fairfield to one try, but those penalty goals were the difference.
The game would start with Prep's offense playing a physical and high-tempo offense that was repelled by a calm and steady Greenwich defense. Eventually a Greenwich penalty would result in Rob Murphy's first penalty kick.
A back-and-forth battle followed for the next 10 minutes which took a physical toll as each team making early replacements. A Greenwich infringement (and yellow card) would provide Murphy a second shot at goal which he converted.
Greenwich would not need much time to get their first try as Piccione pounced on a Prep mistake to get the Cardinals over the line. Piccione's conversion put Greenwich ahead 7-6.
Late in the fist half Prep's fast physical rucks would provide opportunities out wide that a smart Greenwich defense was able to cover. Eventually Prep found some open ground in the 5-meter channel for senior fullback and co-captain Liam O'Hara to bulldoze one defender for a try. Murphy would convert from a tough angle and the Jesuits had a halftime lead at 13-7.
