Norwich Wins NEWCRC 7s
Norwich Wins NEWCRC 7s
The Norwich University Men's Rugby team took home their fifth straight 7s Conference Championship Saturday by sweeping all four games they played, outscoring opponents 126-17 in the process.
In the NEWCRC championship tournament, the Cadets took on the University of New Hampshire for the first game of the day which they took home a 38-7 victory in pool play. Senior Aiden Maher scored two tries in the first half and Logan Perry getting in a late try before the first half closed. Senior captain Leo Clayburgh converted all three tries.
Rashawn Fraser opened the second half with a lengthy solo run up the middle off the kick-off for another score. Fraser and Clayburgh tallied two more tries apiece in the half.
Norwich had one more opponent in pool play, Boston University. After a slow start, Marius Edwards (Unity, N.H.) had a strong run to swing the momentum. Clayburgh and Perry each tallied one more try before the half closed with Clayburgh only converting one of them. In the second half the Cadet defense took over as the only allowed one unconverted try for the Terriers. Kurt Sayers scored one more try for with Ben Steen converting the try making 24-5 the final score.
After a weather delay for thunderstorms, Norwich resumed competition with their most dominant performance on the day against Bentley in the Semifinals. Fraser and Maher both scored tries in the first half with Clayburgh converting both. Edwards and Yandres Cintron both had strong showings in the second half, scoring two tries each. Edwards converted three of them in a 40-0 shutout.
The Norwich defense continued to stand tall in their championship game matchup against Coast Guard, holding the Bears to only one unconverted try. Fraser started the game with two consecutive tries with Clayburgh converting both putting the Cadets ahead 14-0 at the half. Clayburgh and Edwards would strike again in the second half to go ahead 24-5 which held until the end and sending Norwich to the National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) National 7's Tournament. A tournament where the top twelve Division II teams will compete for National Championship April 28-30.
Norwich NEWCRC Championship Run:
NU 38- UNH 7
NU 24 -Boston U 5
NU 40 Bentley 0
NU 24-Coast Guard 5
—Report by Norwich U. Rugby
