Rugby Update
Issue date: 10/8/08 Section: Sports
|
Community Submission
Women's Rugby Knocks Off Virginia Tech
In three game this fall the Longwood women's rugby team has outscored its Virginia Rugby Union (VRU) Division II opponents 160-22, with Kaelynn Nill leading the way with nine tries. This past Saturday at the First Avenue field, the team was tested by Division I Virginia Tech. Tech has a long history of success, with four VRU Division I championships. This game started out like many others for Longwood with an early score in the first five minutes by Bridget Dykes. Most of the first half was played with VT on the defense. With pressure mounting, the result was a score by captain Ashley Hartley after a ball-handling error by Tech. The conversion by Katie Jo Prince left the halftime score 12-0.
But Tech did not come from Blacksburg to lose. The second half was a struggle for control of the game and possession of the ball. With Nill kept in check, Alea Newman provided probing runs to keep LU on the attack. LU had three players leave the game with injuries, and excellent play from replacements Courtney McGill, Amanda Willis and Gabby Gillis proved essential in the overall team effort. Tech got one score back to make it 12-5 and were pressuring the LU goal line as time ran out, giving LU its fourth straight win against no losses for the season. Newman and Dykes were named women-of-the-match for their excellent efforts.
LU will next travel to Fredericksburg to take on perennial Division II champion Mary Washington University on Oct. 18. At stake is the #1 seed heading to the playoffs which will be held Nov. 1-2 in Richmond. For more information and results go to longwoodrugby.org
Men's Rugby Moves to 4-0 with Win over CNU
Three weeks ago, the Longwood men's rugby team traveled to Newport News to take on the Christopher Newport University rugby team. That game was a battle in the 95-degree heat that LU won 8-7, with James Rasnake scoring the winning try late in the second half. Saturday at the First Avenue field, the rematch was set. The game proved to be almost an identical twin of the first. LU dominated the first half and had several scoring opportunity but could only convert one penalty kick from Chris Davis for a 3-0 halftime lead. As the afternoon heat built, both teams struggled to keep up the attack. Ben “Bender” Adams made the most ground with runs up the middle, but once again Rasnake beat the CNU player to the out side and scored what proved to be the winning try with 12 minutes left. With the score 8-0, CNU pressured and got a score but missed the conversion. A final goal-line stand by LU made the final 8-5. Adams was named man-of-the-match for his outstanding efforts and leadership on the day.
The team’s next game is against Washington and Lee in Lexington on Oct. 18. The victory over CNU left LU with a large lead in the VRU standings and needing only one victory in the last two games to secure the #1 seed for the heading to the playoffs, which are Nov. 1-2 in Richmond. For more information and results go to longwoodrugby.org.
Be the first to comment on this story