Men's rugby - Norwich opens spring with win
STATE COLLEGE, Penn. - The Norwich Cadets traveled to State College to take on Penn State University’s development side March 24. The Cadets got the spring session out to a strong start with a 24-19 win.
Penn St. scored first at the 20-minute mark. This converted try was set up with excellent running angles by the Penn St. backs. The final 20 minutes of the first half saw Norwich score three unanswered tries.
The first try resulted from a burst of speed from junior winger D’Lontae Sewell (Alexandria, Va.) out wide. He ran back the ball between the posts to make an easier conversion. Sophomore scrumhalf Chad Wasson (Clancy, Mont.) drop-kicked the conversion to tie the score. The next two Norwich tries came from solid scrimmaging by the forwards. Number eight Senior Adam Medeiros (Fairhaven, R.I.) scored on a pick from a five-meter scrum. Second Row junior Gianni Miceli (Burlington, Vt.) scored his try off a ruck from another five-meter scum at the final play of the first half. Junior flyhalf Chris Hein’s (Baltimore, Md.) conversion put the Cadets up 19-7 at the break.
At the opening of the second half, Penn St. knocked on the kickoff. On the ensuing scrum, Norwich scored off a backline movement as junior fullback Richard Shear (South Africa) dashed through the Nittany Lion defense. Hein converted to bring the score to Norwich 24, Penn St 7. Penn St scored their second try of the afternoon at the sixty minute mark to make it 23-12.
Norwich came battling back and seemed to have scored another try from a five-meter scrum, but it was called held up. Penn St. defense kept the Cadets from scoring and at the seventy-fifth minute, they scored a converted try to close the gap to make the final 24-19.
“No matter what side you play at Penn St., they are going to be well coached, “ Coach Bob Weggler said. “It has been more than four months since we have been playing rugby, so I was pleased with our overall effort and focus. The structure and organization in defense and attack was solid considering the layoff.”
The Cadets continue their spring slate by traveling to Durham, N.H. Saturday, March 31, for the University of New Hampshire’s Scott Milley Memorial 7s tournament.
