The WVU Men's Rugby team wrapped-up their Allegheny Rugby Union League
Schedule this past saturday October 6th, when they traveled to
Stuebenville, Ohio to take on divison rival Fransiscan University
Barons.
The WVU ruggers entered the match with a 2-0 record in league play
with the goal of finishing 3-0 in league play and thus securing 1st
place in their division and setting up a 1st round play off match vs.
California Univeristy of Pa.
The boys came out with a beautiful team try executed by linking backs
and forwards for multiple phases capped off by a pick and drive near
the goal line by Lock Kris Callaghan. WVU received the restart kick
and marched down the field off of an explosive run by Center Joe
Callegeri making the score 10-0.
Fransiscan were heavily outmatched in athletic talent and skill but
remained in the match with plenty of hustle,heart, and desire.
Captains Brendan Fitzgerald and Tommy French each added tries on
determined support play which brought the score to 22-10.
As said previoulsy as many times as the fellas tried to bury the
Barons they continued to support the ball and ruck feriously as a team
to keep them in the match and scoring 2 more tries to bring the score
to 22-22.
A beautiful clearing kick by the WVU flyhalf Ricky Palmer pinned
Franciscan deep in their own territory the ensuing throw was stolen by
Brendan Fitzgerald and gave wvu an opporturtuniuty to pin the Barons
deep in there end. Defensive pressure eventually gave the boys a
scrum inside the 22 meter line, where a back row move was executed to
perfection by our loose forwards and allowed Flanker Dan Mazur to
score the winning try at 29-22 and cap off a 3-0 league season.
Despite the victory the coaching staff and players alike were
dissapointed with the efforts and play on the field but satisfied with
the result as it did secure our first set goals: Division Champions
and a host team for the playoffs.
