Adrian College defeated University of Notre Dame’s seconds is fairly convincing fashion 57-24 Friday night in South Bend.

Played as one of three games celebrating Notre Dame Rugby’s 60th anniversary, this was Adrian’s from the beginning. The Bulldogs scored off a well-executed No. 8-to-inside-center move from the back of a scrum to secure their first try—Petelo Vatuvei doing the honors. They followed that quickly with a series of surges through the forwards for the second. No. 8 Nick Andiarena was in the middle of all of that. 

A dropped ball by Notre Dame set up another attacking scrum and a flat ball to the centers and another try for Vatuvei. Andiarena then crashed over after a long, weaving run from flyhalf Seti Latu, who was very difficult to contain.

Big Michael Pakofe was a terror throughout, scoring a first-half try off a tap move and later running almost the length of the field to be part of an all-forwards charge for another score.

Adrian led 38-5 at halftime but it was a slightly different story in the second half. Some newer players came on for Adrian, and Notre Dame fixed some things and played a much better kicking game.

The result was a 19-19 scoreline for the second period.

“We made little mistakes, little errors,” said Adrian Head Coach Benny Mateialona. “We did well in some places but silly penalties that we didn’t need to give up. And guys still learning that they need to ruck, not stand by and say you go ahead and ruck that—so too many turnovers.”

Adrian was athletic, inventive, and confident, but this was a young Notre Dame 15 they faced. It will be interesting to see how Adrian handles more experienced DII opposition in conference play.