Rugby continues long tradition of dominance

Author: Robbie de Picciotto

Rugby is played at Middlebury during both the fall and spring seasons, but the intensity differs greatly between the two. According to Alexander White '09, "The actual results of our spring games have little significance beyond pure pride. People are a bit more laid back and we do not always have our best players at practice." Practices during the fall season are very strict and focused, whereas the spring season is treated as a time to enjoy the game and improve while having a good time.

After returning to campus from spring break, the Middlebury College men's club rugby team jumped right into their season. In the spring opener on April 1, the men traveled to Yale for a challenging first match. The Yale squad had already competed in seven games and also gone on a spring break trip to South America. The Middlebury team had a mere four days of outside practice under its belt, but according to captain Matt Volz '07, "We came out and gave them a run for their money." The team played well and set a positive tone for the remainder of their season, losing by only eight, with a score of 27-19, to the fitter and more experienced Yale team.

The men's team had more success on April 15 against Colgate, putting together a remarkable second half to pull out a two point victory, 14-12. On this chilly Saturday, the visiting Middlebury Panthers got down 12-0 at halftime, but fought their way back at the end of the game to score 14 unanswered points. Volz stated, "We went into the game with a completely different team than the previous weekend against Yale, due to injuries and other commitments. We were a bit hesitant in the beginning and Colgate took advantage of that." However, he continued, the team "rallied and played really well for the last few minutes." Trey Stewart '09 completed a solid drive with a tri and Craig Wilson '07.5 followed up with the conversion. Middlebury then received the ensuing kick-off and steadily moved up field. On the final play of the game, Volz '07 scored the game tying try. For a second time on the day, Wilson was successful on the conversion, which clinched the Middlebury victory as time expired.

During the Williams Tournament last weekend, the Middlebury men's team came away with a win and a loss. They beat Williams in the first game, but did not fare as well in the second game against UVM. Volz commented, "Fitness was definitely an issue that hurt us. We were slow to the rucks and we gave up the ball way too much. UVM played a great game. They simply out-played us and you have to give them credit for the win." The team had a lot of fun at Williams and Middlebury's younger players finished up the weekend with a good amount of game experience.

Volz and his teammates remain excited for this spring season. "Our main goal is to teach new guys how to play and also to prepare for the fall. As far as wins and losses go, I don't think we have any specific goals for the spring. I wish we had beaten Yale and UVM but I think we've had a good time playing. Some news guys have gotten a chance to see how the game works, and that's what's most important in the spring. In the fall, the attitude is much different--with the goal to win the Northeast Tournament and go to the National Tournament."

The club rugby team has experienced great success in the past and looks forward to maintaining a high level of play this season. Despite the fact that the team is club and not varsity, the schedule continues to feature opponents from larger schools that place greater emphasis on the sport of rugby. Next Saturday, April 22, rugby will travel to play against local rival St. Michael's, and the team has a match every Saturday up through May 13.