Rhode Island, Norwich, and Vermont were all victors in the Men's DII New England Rugby Conference this past weekend.

The University of Rhode Island opened NERC Conference play Saturday with a resounding 51-26 victory over Boston University in Kingston, RI. The Rams wasted no time in opening the scoring, taking advantage of a BU miscue on the opening kickoff to attack the BU line off the ensuing scrum, and though BU repelled the first few attacks, Kevin Almond was able to crash over from the back of a ruck for the game’s first try two minutes into the game.

Boston University responded strongly, however, taking turnover ball at a ruck and pressing several phases down the right sideline capped by a try by Austin Yarnell to tie the score at 5-5 eight minutes in. URI then mounted a relentless attack through the middle part of the first half that broke the game open. Saverio Varca began the run with a try, converted by Anthony Kennedy to make the score 12-5 after 12 minutes. Kennedy followed with a penalty kick from 40 meters three minutes later to stretch the lead to 15-5, and Almond finished the burst with another well-chosen pick-and-go for his second try of the half at the 19-minute mark. Kennedy’s conversion from near the left sideline made the score 22-5 midway through the first half.

BU’s defense stiffened after that, but the URI forward pack began to exert pressure in the sets and on defense, leading to a try by flanker Julio Tavarez when BU lost control of the ball after winning their own hook. And minutes later, wing Vinnie Liguori completed a long run by the URI backline with some evasive running to score a try shortly before halftime, with Kennedy’s conversion leaving the halftime score at 34-5.

URI returned BU’s favor on the kickoff opening the second half, knocking on deep in its defensive end, and BU took advantage, pressing the URI defense and finding room for Fernando Torres to score a try, converted by Carlos Salizar, in the first 2 minutes of the half. Seemingly rejuvenated, BU continued its comeback, taking advantage of errant handling by the URI backline to send Arshan Tarapore away for a long run for a try just nine minutes into the half, Salizar again converting, to close the score to 34-19. The URI forwards began to exert greater control over the attack, and 10 minutes later, drove a well-formed maul off a lineout to within 5 meters of the goal line where rob Salter finished the drive with a pushover try to extend the lead to 34-19. URI pretty much controlled the play thereafter, with fullback Tom Morini scoring two tries at the 65 and 72 minute marks, with Brian Shott converting once to put the game out of reach at 51-19. BU showed no quit, however, and fought back, pressing the attack back into the URI end and crashing Sean Richards over for one last try to secure a bonus point with no time left, Salizar converting yet again to make the final score 51-26

In Tonington, Conn., Norwich University defeated a tough Coast Guard Academy team 24-15. Thomas St. Pierre, Dan Burkhart, Shaquille Malcolm, and Michael Dowling each scored a try to lead Norwich to what was a big victory.

Dowling added two more conversions to round out the offense as Norwich won the first time at Coast Guard in head coach Bob Weggler's 14th season.

Meanwhile, Vermont shut out New Hampshire 47-0, scoring six tries, but, perhaps more impressively, playing very tough D on their own goal line to preserve the shutout. UVM travels to Norwich next weekend.