The UMW Men's rugby team opened up the fall season with preseason matches vs James River and NOVA men's rugby clubs.
The 2nd XV opened the season with a 43-13 victory over James River.
Scoring opened with Colby Poe getting the hard carry and finishing. Freshman Harry Bailey added the conversion from the tee to make it 7-0. James River struck back quickly with a penalty kick to make the score line 7-3 in favor of the Mothers. Maxi St. Leger responded with back to back tries with Bailey converting one from the corner to make the score line 19-3. Sophomore Max Moss tumbled over the try line with Bailey converting bringing the score to 26-3 at halftime.
James River opened the second half scoring with a well worked try to decrease the deficit at 26 – 8. Freshman Danny Franklin responded in the corner after some good handling on display from the young group making it 31-8. James River never backed down and scored again to bring the deficit back to 18 at 31-13 but this was their last score of the day. Bailey had a great Crossfield kick to Harvey Payne who finished the try bringing it to 36-13. At the final whistle Harrison Flower scored in the corner with Ronan Foley completing the conversion. Final Score 43-13. Bailey went 3-6 from the tee and Foley went 1-1.
In the First XV match the Mother's faced a tough NOVA side.
Ben Peters opened the scoring after a well worked team try. Jodi-Leigh Berlington added the conversion for a 7-0 lead. Shortly after, NOVA attempted a quick lineout looking to get the ball wide when sophomore Oscar Fenby picked off the pass and scored under the posts. Berlington added the extras bringing it to 14-0. After a penalty by NOVA in front of the posts. Berlington took a penalty kick bringing the lead to 17-0. NOVA was starting to gain momentum on attack but Ben Peters got in the way of a pass and took it 80 meters to score in the corner. 22-0 Mother's had the lead.
Berlington called his own number and broke multiple tackles to score under the posts and converted his score – 29-0. Just before halftime the Mother's defense broke down for a moment and NOVA struck to get on the scoreboard. Halftime score was 29-7.
Opening the second half scoring was Senior Aiden Hayward – After a well worked lineout moving, Hayward finished in the corner untouched bringing the score to 34-7. After a scoreless passage of play, the Mother's worked the ball down the pitch after a few NOVA penalties with Junior Ryan Coupland getting a try after a successful maul. Ronan Foley added the conversion bringing it to 41-7. NOVA responded well with a multiple phase try to decrease the lead to 41-12. With about 10 minutes remaining it was déjà vu for Fenby as he intercepted another errant pass and scored under the posts. Foley added the conversion to bring it to 48-12. NOVA would end the contest with a penalty try putting the final score at 48-19. Berlington went 4-5 (14 total points) from the tee and foley went 2-3.
