NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - The Norwich University men's rugby team competed in its final tuneup before the Rugby Northeast 7s Tournament this past Saturday at the Iona 7s Tournament.
Norwich (8-4-3) went 1-2-1 at the tournament and placed fourth out of eight teams, falling 17-14 to Fordham University in the third-place match.
Junior Nathan Rolling (Taylorsville, Utah) led the Cadets with two tries on the day as Norwich had a balanced offense with eight different try scorers on the day. Conner Miller (Sydney, Australia) went 3-for-6 on conversions, while Austin Manhey (Ballston Spa, N.Y.) was 2-for-2 on conversions.
Norwich fell behind 12-0 to PQ All-Stars by halftime in its opening pool play match, but Norwich responded with second-half tries from Miller and William Rambin (Fairfax, Va.) to tie the match back up at 12-12. Miller also converted on his try to cut the lead to 12-7 before Rambin scored a try on the last play of the match.
Norwich fell behind 7-0 to Columbia in its second game of the day, before rattling off 24 straight points to secure the 24-7 victory. Adam Schmitz (Chesterfield, Mo.), Michael Del Priore (Ringoes, N.J.), Rolling and Manhey each scored tries in the comeback win.
The Cadets fell 31-5 to Iona in its final pool play match with Rolling scoring the lone try. NU finished second in its pool and was matched up Fordham in the third-place match. Fordham sprinted out to 17-0 halftime lead, but Norwich rallied with 14 points in the second half to come back and close to within a score. Freshmen Rashawn Fraser (Fort Lauderale, Fla.) and Kyle Clark (Pataskala, Ohio) each scored their first collegiate 7s tries. Manhey converted on both tries but it was just a little too late to complete the full comeback.
Norwich returns to 7s action on Saturday, April 13 with the 2019 Rugby Northeast 7s Tournament hosted by UMass Lowell. An automatic bid into the USA Rugby National 7s Tournament will be on the line for the champion.
Norwich 12 PQ All Stars 12
PQ 5-2
PQ 5
Halftime
PQ 12-0
Conner Miller Try and conversion Conner Miller
Last play of match Rambin Try, conversion no good
Final
NU 12- PQ All Stars 12
Norwich 24 –Columbia 7
Columbia 5-2
Adam Schmitz Try Miller converts
Halftime
NU 7 Columbia 7
Mike Del Priors Try Miller converts
NU 12-7
Rolling Try
NU 17-7
Manhey Try
Final
NU 24- Columbia 7
Iona 31- Norwich 5
Iona try 5
Iona try 10
Halftime
Iona 10-0
Iona 5-2
Norwich Try Nate Rolling
Iona 17- NU 5
Iona 5-2
Iona 5-2
Final
Iona 31- NU 5
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2nd Pool A v 2nd Pool B Game
Norwich v Fordham for 3rd Place
Fordham 17- Norwich 14
Fordham 5
Fordham 5-2
Fordham 5
Halftime
Fordham 17-0
Rashawn Fraser Try Manhey converts
Kyle Clark Try Manhey converts
Final
Fordham 17- NU 14
