Wheeling Jesuit and Notre Dame College met Sunday in a preseason game between two varsity programs, with WJU coming out 26-7 winners.

It was a game designed to get both teams some on-field time as they gear up for their respective season - WJU is in Rugby East and will shoot for a DIA title this year, and Notre Dame College is in DII.

In a game filled with the predictable early-season mistakes, WJU ran out to a 21-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, Notre Dame were a little more accurate and held the Cardinals to just one try, while center Rodney Thomas scored a try for the Falcons.

“This was a good non-league game designed to help us get ready for the league season,” said WJU Head Coach Eric Jerpe. “We have a lot of new players and this helps develop chemistry. We had kind of a sophomore slump last year and we’ve got a young team - we have only one senior this year - and we’re working through the process.”

It’s the same story for Notre Dame. Head Coach Brian McCue also has just the one senior on his squad.

“We have about 25 new players and are looking at a roster of about 57 guys on the men’s team, and we always want to play up a level,” said McCue. “This year we have three non-conference games against DI teams.”

Led by captain Spencer Duncan and with Andrew Videgar leading the 2nd side well, Notre Dame were allowed to come onto campus a little early to get some training in.

“It was basically a couple of practices to get the kinks out and then three practices to get ready for the game,” said McCue. “I think going by the scoreline of the second half compared to the first half we started to get better.”

Jerpe, meanwhile, welcomes back several returners, even if they are just sophomores. USA U20 player Peter Malcolm is setting up to be a leader, and youngster Cecil Rich showed well, also. On the ends, flyhalf/center Ryan Maquire was probably the pick of the squad. Rich and Maquire are freshmen, as are 17 of the WJU roster.