(Photo Courtesy of David Orrick, Norwich University)
NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University men's rugby team secured its first regular season win of the 2012 campaign with a 29-12 victory over the University of Maine during Homecoming Weekend 2012 on Saturday afternoon at the NU Dog River Rugby Pitch.
Senior fullback Richard Shear (South Africa) scored two tries, while Matt Maloney (South Boston, Mass.), Richard Ahearn (Hanover, Mass.) and Pat McGrath (Marshhead, Mass.) added one to account for the Cadets' offense. Senior center Long Ding (Qin Dao, China) was 2-for-5 on conversions as well.
Norwich led 24-0 at halftime.
The Cadets improve to 1-1 on the season and will now travel to the University of Vermont next weekend for a 1 p.m. kickoff in another New England Collegiate Rugby Conference (NECRC) match.
Quick Box Score:
1st Half-
2:35 (Shear) Ding successful kick - 7-0 Norwich
10:44 (Maloney) 12-0 Norwich
21:23 (Ahearn) Ding successful kick - 19-0 Norwich
27:48 (Shear) 24-0 Norwich
2nd Half-
20:45 UMaine try - 24-5 Norwich
30:03 (McGrath) 29-5 Norwich
35:37 UMaine try - 29-12 Norwich
B-Side Report: In a 21 to 17 fight the Norwich Men's Rugby B-side came out with a victory. The game itself started out fast with both team applying pressure and hard hits. However, it was U-Maine that was able to get on the scoreboard first. Although with time running out in the second half Norwich was able to force a penalty try just before the whistle blew. At the start of the second half and with fresh subs in the contest then continued between the two teams. With U-Maine even using most of their A-side players as well, the pressure was on for Norwich. Several breaks by U-Maine were chased down by fullback Mark Fitzgerald (Andover, Mass.), as well as by centers Anthony Nerio (Clifton, N.J.) and Dan Burkhart (Medfield, Mass.). Keeping U-Maine from scoring, and in turn allowing for scoring opportunities to take place for the Cadets off of a beautiful counter-attack (Nerio), and a head up play by Norwich's center (Burkhart) in the final minutes of this battle.
-CADETS-
