Ruggers Leave Nationals With Pride

Author: Dan Russel

The Middlebury College Rugby Club returned to the campus thoroughly exhausted and with a profound sense of victory and accomplishment after traveling down to Jonesville, Ark. to play Stanford in the National Championship quarterfinals on Saturday. Under the most unforgiving conditions they have faced all season, including a scorching hot day in which the temperature reached well over 85 degrees and on an extremely hard, roughshod rugby terrain with little or no grass, the vastly undermanned Middlebury ruggers gave the most exquisite performance of their careers. Against the most talented team they have ever seen, a formidable and highly touted Stanford University club that had just recently dropped down from Division I, the Panthers remained extremely competitive throughout the first half.

Although Stanford had numerous chances to score and repeatedly penetrated very deep into Panther territory, they were only able to punch the ball through for one score, as Middlebury continually repulsed the Cardinal onslaught in a series of incredible goal line stands, the hallmark of the Panther defense this season, frustrating Stanford's attacks and preventing them from establishing any kind of offensive rhythm.

In the second half, Middlebury scored their first try of the game and began to find their offensive rhythm, trailing by only two points, 13-11. The Panthers were unable to convert on two crucial opportunities to score, however, as Ave Withers '02 pooch-kicked the ball into the end zone, but was unable to pounce upon it for the try as the Stanford team recovered the ball. Middlebury then had a chance to tie the score at 13 on a kick by Evan Moppert '02 that fell just inches short. Stanford, beginning to realize how close they were to defeat, were able to rally and score one final try. The Panthers were unable to recover and eventually fell 18-11.

In the consolation game the following day against a vaunted Arkansas State team playing on their home field, the Panthers established their offensive presence immediately, taking out their frustrations on the Indians, who were unable to match the Panthers in terms of speed or agility. With a very stiff wind at their backs, the Panthers repeatedly penetrated very deep into Arkansas State territory, scoring two tries in the first half, and had another called back, as they led 14-0 at the half. Neither team would score again as the Panthers, playing into the wind in the second half, were unable to get any real offensive momentum going, but repeatedly fought off the Arkansas State attacks, frustrating them at every offensive opportunity as the Panthers won easily with a score of 14-0.

"I'm so very proud of this team," said Coach Ward Patterson. "It's an amazing achievement and wonderful end to a great run. They played with radiant glory and pure, pure passion, and one can never ask more of an athlete. Against Stanford, we realized after 18 minutes that the game was definitely winnable. We were able to push and move them around and came within inches of tying the score. "

The Panthers will suffer an enormous loss of talent to what was undoubtedly the best rugby club in the school's history, achieving unparalleled success, but have already proven themselves a selfless, courageous and gritty group of athletes that are fundamentally grounded in the concept of team, and thus should once again be among the finalists for the Northeast Territory and the National Championship.