Men and Women Clinch Regular Season Rugby Titles
Issue date: 10/22/08 Section: Sports
By John Graham
Community Submission
Women Defeat Mary Washington 14-13 with last-second heroics
In the fall of 2007, Mary Washington came to Farmville for a game to determine the regular season title for the Virginia Rugby Union (VRU). After 80 minutes nothing was decided, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw. This year the rematch was held in Fredericksburg, and the game was a thriller to the last whistle. LU was very nervous and the defense was shaky for the first 25 minutes of the game, but UMW could only manage a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead. The remainder of the first half was a tough defensive battle with the only scoring threat an attempt at goal from Katie Jo Prince that went wide.
The second half was a very different game with both sides playing a very hard and physical game. During the game LU lost four players to injuries including Captain Ashley Hartley and leading scorer Kaelynn Nill. Ten minutes into the second half Lekiah Witcher put LU into the lead 7-3 with a run from 20 meters out. UMW responded with two scores (no conversions) to take a 13-7 lead with 10 minutes left to play. Strong runs from Erica Rhodes did not result in scores but put the UMW defense on notice that more physical play was coming. With increasing pressure, Ninamarie Elliott took the ball from the scrum and scored from 15 meters out to make the score 13-12 with no time left on the clock. With the outcome of the game squarely on the foot of Prince, the 35-meter kick sailed true, and Longwood had its win over the nine-time defending VRU champions. For their work during the game Elliot and Rhodes were awarded co-men-of-the match.
Men Rout Washington & Lee 43-7
The Longwood men's rugby team traveled to Lexington to take on Washington & Lee in a rematch of a 20-11 LU victory three weeks ago. T.J. Van Patten hit an early penalty for the Longwood and Ben Adams scored off the ensuing kickoff and after 10 minutes LU led 10-0 and never looked back. With Austen Lux controlling the lineouts, Ryan “DR” Ballinger leading the defense and Van Patten hitting critical kicks, LU scored six tries in a 43-7 domination of W&L. Two scores by Adams and one each by James “Lumberjack” Betz, Erik Shupp, Chris Davis and James Rasnake, plus 13 points from Van Patten made the final total of 43-7. For his extraordinary defense, Ballinger was given co-man-of-the-match along with Van Patten.
With the victories, both the men's and women's team secured the regular season titles in the VRU and the #1 seeds heading to the VRU championships in Richmond on Nov. 1 and 2. Both the men and women close out the regular season with games at the First Avenue field Saturday at 11 a.m. (women) and 1 p.m (men).
For full schedules and results visit longwoodrugby.org
Community Submission
Women Defeat Mary Washington 14-13 with last-second heroics
In the fall of 2007, Mary Washington came to Farmville for a game to determine the regular season title for the Virginia Rugby Union (VRU). After 80 minutes nothing was decided, as the game ended in a 0-0 draw. This year the rematch was held in Fredericksburg, and the game was a thriller to the last whistle. LU was very nervous and the defense was shaky for the first 25 minutes of the game, but UMW could only manage a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead. The remainder of the first half was a tough defensive battle with the only scoring threat an attempt at goal from Katie Jo Prince that went wide.
The second half was a very different game with both sides playing a very hard and physical game. During the game LU lost four players to injuries including Captain Ashley Hartley and leading scorer Kaelynn Nill. Ten minutes into the second half Lekiah Witcher put LU into the lead 7-3 with a run from 20 meters out. UMW responded with two scores (no conversions) to take a 13-7 lead with 10 minutes left to play. Strong runs from Erica Rhodes did not result in scores but put the UMW defense on notice that more physical play was coming. With increasing pressure, Ninamarie Elliott took the ball from the scrum and scored from 15 meters out to make the score 13-12 with no time left on the clock. With the outcome of the game squarely on the foot of Prince, the 35-meter kick sailed true, and Longwood had its win over the nine-time defending VRU champions. For their work during the game Elliot and Rhodes were awarded co-men-of-the match.
Men Rout Washington & Lee 43-7
The Longwood men's rugby team traveled to Lexington to take on Washington & Lee in a rematch of a 20-11 LU victory three weeks ago. T.J. Van Patten hit an early penalty for the Longwood and Ben Adams scored off the ensuing kickoff and after 10 minutes LU led 10-0 and never looked back. With Austen Lux controlling the lineouts, Ryan “DR” Ballinger leading the defense and Van Patten hitting critical kicks, LU scored six tries in a 43-7 domination of W&L. Two scores by Adams and one each by James “Lumberjack” Betz, Erik Shupp, Chris Davis and James Rasnake, plus 13 points from Van Patten made the final total of 43-7. For his extraordinary defense, Ballinger was given co-man-of-the-match along with Van Patten.
With the victories, both the men's and women's team secured the regular season titles in the VRU and the #1 seeds heading to the VRU championships in Richmond on Nov. 1 and 2. Both the men and women close out the regular season with games at the First Avenue field Saturday at 11 a.m. (women) and 1 p.m (men).
For full schedules and results visit longwoodrugby.org
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