A strong second half saw Walsh University pull away from a hard-working Rio Grande side in an early-season runout for both NCR D1 teams.
Played at Rio Grande's home field in southern Ohio, the game was a chance for the Red Storm to bounce back from a 47-0 loss to Queens last week.
A still injury-hit Rio Grande started strong in the match, spending time in Walsh territory early on. Walsh, however, was aggressive on defense and very quick to force turnovers.
With that Walsh was able to weather the attack, got the ball back, and cleared the pressure.
Some minutes after Walsh went wide off a lineout, cut back the other direction, and then back wide again with scrumhalf Elliott McKinney quickly switching direction to set up fullback Ayabongi Mkhokeli. The speedy #15 raced in and was in.
McKinney converted for a 7-0 lead.
Early-on in the match Rio Grande's lineout was very effective, with young lock Ethan Bowden key target for them. With a solid platform from there Rio was able to run a 10 loop move and send a grubber through for scrumhalf Zadian du Preez to chase down for anequalizing try. Thibault Carrere converted.
But Rio was paying for it. Both starting props had to leave injured and a knock to center Preston Rohrer didn't help.
But Rio's tenacity in what was a quite chippy game helped stymie some Walsh scoring chances. Kian Pendlebury at flanker, Quinteze Jones at No.8, and especially center Justin Falken were tough on D.
But the turnovers cost them. A flying tackle from Walsh hooker Josh Groudle knocked the ball loose, and props Luke Dotson and Colton Weber were right there to take the ball forward and turn everything around. But that positivity for Walsh was often undercut by a penalty.
Finally some fancy footwork from Nico Bitossi Corenedi at center got them close. A forward pass called back a potential try, but from the ensuing scrum, Walsh got a penalty. A lineout followed before the ball was shunted wide quickly where Mkhokeli set up James Merrit-Dunn on the wing.
Up 14-7 Walsh had to feel they had missed some chances, but new Head Coach Andrew Martin said the team was calm and confident at halftime. The players knew they just needed to be patient.
For Rio Grande, they had made some strides, but needed to continue to match Walsh's intensity.
In the end, Walsh took control early in the second half. Groudle scampered through a seam and was in before eight minutes were up on the clock.
An excellent run from Mkhokeli put the fullback in for his second. And as time went on, the injuries caught up a bit with Rio. Their lineout stopped working, as key attacking chances saw the timing off and Walsh able to get out trouble. This led to some frustration and twice the Red Storm attempted grubbers through inside the Walsh 22 to no available—no real chasers were there.
Head Coach Brad Sandig said the idea wasn't a bad one, just timed wrong.
One more long-range maul sealed it for Walsh 36-7.
