Men's Rugby Defeats Virginia Tech For Title

By John Graham
Community SubmissionThe Longwood University men's Rugby Club came from behind twice to claim the Ed Lee Trophy this weekend, emblematic of the Virginia Rugby Union Championship. In the semifinals, played Saturday, the team faced Christopher Newport University (CNU). Twice this season LU has beaten CNU by scores of 8-7 and 8-5. This game would prove to just as close. On the basis of three penalty kicks CNU took a 9-0 lead to the half. The second half started the same as earlier matches against CNU, setting up for a close, tense finale. Ben Adams got LU on the board with a try and later a Chris Davis penalty made the score 9-8 in favor of CNU. With time running short, LU kept the pressure up when Erik Shupp scored the go-ahead try. The Davis conversion gave LU the lead 15-9. CNU was not finished, though, and they scored a late try but missed the conversion to leave the final score of 15-14.

In the other semifinal Virginia Tech defeated Washington & Lee 18-5 to set up the third match of the season between VT and LU. This match would be played without LU's captain Adams due to an injury in the CNU game. Once again LU was down at halftime 9-3 and later in the second half 12-6. A Davis penalty got the score to 12-9, and then LU made a desperate push. LU tested the VT goal line five times, each time being stopped by infringements by VT. Finally the referee awarded a rare penalty try, which was converted to give LU a 16-12 lead. The four-point lead was enough to remove VT's excellent kicker from the VT strategy. Forced to go for the score instead of the kicks, LU defense held, and they claimed the 16-12 win.

The win gave LU their third title in five years, having previously won in 2004 and 2006, and a 7-1 record for the fall season. The win also gives LU a place in the national championship tournament held in the spring as one of 16 teams to compete for the national title. For more information see longwoodrugby.org