RUGBY TEAMS PREPARE TO DEFEND TITLES
MENS RUGBY FINISH THIRD AT NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Hannah Lawrence
Issue date: 9/16/09 Section: Sports
The Longwood Men's Rugby Team is coming off a great season where they won the Virginia Rugby Union (VRU) title, the Mid-Atlantic Territorial title and third place in the United States, losing only to eventual Champion, Coastal Carolina University. This was the team's second appearance at the national finals in three years. They defeated New England Champion Salve Regina to claim the third place trophy.
The other highlight of the spring season was the first Annual Todd Miller Memorial Tournament. This event was co-hosted by the rugby teams and Delta Delta Deltasorority and raised over $2000 for the Todd Miller Big Brother-Big Sister Scholarship fund. Longwood lost a very tight game ending with a final score of 14-7 to VMI in the event.
This year the men are looking for another championship run behind seniors Brian Hancock, James Betz, Austin Lux and Patrick Baden. Underclassmen Preston Leep, Patrick Parker and T.J. Van Patten will lead an experienced and hard-hitting core. Jay Kennedy and Jesse Kelly will provide the speed outside. This year the VRU has expanded to include new teams from Roanoke College and nationally the competition for the Division III title has grown to 115 teams.
This past Saturday Longwood played Mary Washington University in a non-league preseason game. Mary Washington is the defending VRU Division II. Early on Longwood held territorial advantage but was unable to covert the territory into tries. UMW scored twice and then James Betz answered with a try and the gap was closed to 13-8. A late score by UMW made the final 20-8. The B-side won 14-12. This was an excellent start to the year despite the loss. This Saturday the Men will host Hampden- Sydney College at the First Avenue Field at 1pm.
The other highlight of the spring season was the first Annual Todd Miller Memorial Tournament. This event was co-hosted by the rugby teams and Delta Delta Deltasorority and raised over $2000 for the Todd Miller Big Brother-Big Sister Scholarship fund. Longwood lost a very tight game ending with a final score of 14-7 to VMI in the event.
This year the men are looking for another championship run behind seniors Brian Hancock, James Betz, Austin Lux and Patrick Baden. Underclassmen Preston Leep, Patrick Parker and T.J. Van Patten will lead an experienced and hard-hitting core. Jay Kennedy and Jesse Kelly will provide the speed outside. This year the VRU has expanded to include new teams from Roanoke College and nationally the competition for the Division III title has grown to 115 teams.
This past Saturday Longwood played Mary Washington University in a non-league preseason game. Mary Washington is the defending VRU Division II. Early on Longwood held territorial advantage but was unable to covert the territory into tries. UMW scored twice and then James Betz answered with a try and the gap was closed to 13-8. A late score by UMW made the final 20-8. The B-side won 14-12. This was an excellent start to the year despite the loss. This Saturday the Men will host Hampden- Sydney College at the First Avenue Field at 1pm.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Rock
posted 9/22/09 @ 11:54 AM EST
So HSC has yet to beat longwood in 30 yrs, good win boys 43-0.
Max
posted 9/23/09 @ 10:59 AM EST
Haven't they also failed to score a single POINT against LU in 30 years? That's what I heard...
Post a Comment