GRR: College Men
In a game that had pretty much everything, Notre Dame College put a stamp on an excellent fall with an emphatic 33-10 defeat of St. Bonaventure to win the National Collegiate Rugby D1 championship.
Kentucky secured the 2023 NCR D1AA title with an impressive showing Saturday in Houston, defeating Louisville 43-26.
Kentucky was in command into the final 20 minutes before a stirring Louisville comeback caused some frazzled nerves, but in the end playing fast, controlling the field position, and being tenacious on defense put the Wildcats in position to lift the trophy.
In one of the most exciting and competitive DII semifinals you’d ever want to see, Memphis defeated Northern Iowa 43-39 to advance to NCR’s DII national final.
The lead changed eight times in this game, which featured some thrilling attacking rugby and, despite the final score, some tough defense as well.
In a game that really didn’t go to plan for either team, IUP weathered a tenacious University of Vermont side 19-6 to advance to the Men’s DII national championship game.
Wayne State College mounted a stirring, wind-aided comeback to overhaul a 15-0 deficit and defeat defending small-college champs Cal Poly Humboldt Friday in the NCR Men’s Small College semis.