Queens University won the inaugural Pathway Classic collegiate match Friday night in Charlotte, defeating Ohio State.
That’s a simple way of putting what was an extremely complex match. Both sides fielded quite young sides—Queens more by choice while OSU are just like that these days—and in wet conditions both sides made several little and sometimes big errors.
Ohio State had a stronger scrum but conceded far too many penalties in that area to leverage that strength. Queens showed skill in stealing several OSU lineouts, only to find the Buckeyes able to disrupt the Royals’ possession in that area as the game went on.
Queens may have been young, but many of their players had more years of rugby under their belts … and yet they still made some young player errors. Ohio State came in as a club team, albeit elevated club, not given a lot of chance to win, and yet they fronted up massively, especially on defense, and almost pulled it off.
Ohio State took an early lead, punishing a Queens penalty to run a maul and then working their close-yardage system to inch toward the line. With everyone locked in on dealing with the forwards, the Buckeyes sent it wide to an unmarked Jack Dulik on the wing and the captain was over.
Queens capitalized on several OSU penalties to get into attacking position several times, but the Ohio State defenders repeatedly sacked the ballcarrier on the maul. It wasn’t until the fifth attacking lineout close to the Ohio State line well into the first half that Queens was able to score—scrumhalf Jake Rice tapping and going over to tie it up 5-5.
In a scrappy game where the ball popped loose on multiple occasions, the Buckeyes were probably better at diving onto those balls and making something out of it.
Still, Queens was able to get close as halftime approached to score a second try and lead 10-5 at the break.
It didn’t last long, as early in the second half lock Jayden Williams snaked over from short range. Tommy Kilbane would convert that try and later add a penalty goal for a 15-10 Ohio State lead.
Then came perhaps the most crucial sequence. Ohio State had put together some good work thanks in part to their center pairing of Charlie Naughton and Gavin Krock. They had a penalty, but with their lineout not quite firing opted for a tap penalty move. That didn’t come off; Queens got the ball back and cleared. The Royals then got two penalties in quick succession and soon were on the OSU line. They scored, and instead of leading 22-10, Ohio State was behind 17-15.
They were shaken, and that might have been the ballgame right there. More penalties and Queens scored another try, and while Ohio State did respond, it was too late.
Queens 24, Ohio State 20.
