By: Al Lucas, Head Rugby Coach
(KENT, Ohio) - The Thomas More College men's rugby team travelled to Kent State University to for their first match in the inaugural season of the Midwest College Rugby Conference. The day was warm for rugby standards at eighty plus degrees with a bright blue sky, and not a puff of wind. But the excitement for the Host's Rugby Alumni Day was short lived as the Saints changed the tenor of the day from the opening kick-off. The fitness and physicality of the "Boys in Blue" showed immediately, and it was the Visitors who set the pace for the entire match.
The Saints opened the scoring with a 3-point Penalty Kick by Ryan Hans from more than 40 yards out at the 4-minute mark. This was followed two minutes later by a 70-yard run for a Try (5 points) by Kevin Root, who left a trail of hapless defenders in his wake. Ryan Hans converted the Try with his 2-point kick putting the count at 10-0 over the Home Team.
The rest of the half saw a dominant physical performance from the Saints. Bone-jarring tackles and aggressive play at the breakdowns led to multiple turnovers by KSU. Time and again, the Boys in Blue turned back any real scoring opportunities Kent State may have had. The standout moment occurred with near to 15 minutes remaining in the half and with KSU finally mounting a serious threat. As a runner attempted to score in the end zone (Try Zone) Rico Hill engaged the would-be scorer and ripped the ball away before it could "touched down" for a Try. Kent State would not return near to the Try Zone again until mid way through the second half, when they would be repelled once again.
The second half began with a flurry as Kevin Root blasted through the defensive back line for another Try at the 48-minute mark. Ryan Hans easily converted the kick to put the score at 17-0. The rest of the half was marked by hard-hitting defense and line-gouging offensive runs. Yet the Saints could not find the Try Zone until the last 5 minutes of the Match. A powerful run by rookie, Austin Copeland, which was set up brilliantly by Captain Damon Jones, led to another Try by Kevin Root. Time expired with Thomas More up 22-0. It was a great day for Thomas More Men's Rugby!
