Rugby 1-2 after Ruck City Tournament; first home match of the season next week
Nathan McClallen
Issue date: 4/9/09 Section: Sports
The Hillsdale College rugby club participated in their first Ruck City Tournament Saturday in Detroit, where they went 1-2.
They played back-to-back-to-back games, adding up to more than three straight hours of rugby. Although the halves were shortened, the team still dealt with fatigue-related side-effects such as leg cramps.
Captain Ian Faley, a junior, said he was impressed with his team's endurance throughout the day, especially considering they had no substitutes at any point.
In fact, the team's performance improved as the day continued, Faley said.
Their first match resulted in a 26-0 shutout at the hands of University of Michigan-Dearborn. The squad moved the ball into their opposing team's red zone at least half a dozen times, Faley said, but never could cross the try line.
The second game against Calvin College was a close, low-scoring game in which the intensity level rose with each empty possession. The final result of "the nastiest rugby match I've ever played in," as Faley referred to it, was a 12-0 loss.
Hillsdale closed out the day against Wayne State University. The team was able to unleash some frustration in a 52-12 victory. Junior T.J. Chapel scored three tries, and Faley went 7-for-8 on conversion attempts. Ending the tournament with a resounding win allowed the team to return home encouraged.
"We played really well," said Faley. "And it's a great feeling to trounce a team."
The team is slated to play Bowling Green University at home April 18th.
They played back-to-back-to-back games, adding up to more than three straight hours of rugby. Although the halves were shortened, the team still dealt with fatigue-related side-effects such as leg cramps.
Captain Ian Faley, a junior, said he was impressed with his team's endurance throughout the day, especially considering they had no substitutes at any point.
In fact, the team's performance improved as the day continued, Faley said.
Their first match resulted in a 26-0 shutout at the hands of University of Michigan-Dearborn. The squad moved the ball into their opposing team's red zone at least half a dozen times, Faley said, but never could cross the try line.
The second game against Calvin College was a close, low-scoring game in which the intensity level rose with each empty possession. The final result of "the nastiest rugby match I've ever played in," as Faley referred to it, was a 12-0 loss.
Hillsdale closed out the day against Wayne State University. The team was able to unleash some frustration in a 52-12 victory. Junior T.J. Chapel scored three tries, and Faley went 7-for-8 on conversion attempts. Ending the tournament with a resounding win allowed the team to return home encouraged.
"We played really well," said Faley. "And it's a great feeling to trounce a team."
The team is slated to play Bowling Green University at home April 18th.
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