Virginia Rugby Football Club vs. Washington Irish Rugby Football Club
1:00 PM, Saturday, March 7th, 2009
Haines Point (Potomac Park), Washington, D.C.
The Virginia Rugby Football Club opened its 2009 spring season with a win over the Washington Irish. The victory was Division III Virginia's second straight win over their Division II rivals.
Washington opened the scoring, taking a 5-0 lead with an uncoverted try in the seventh minute. The remainder of the first half was bogged down by numerous penalties at the breakdown, with Washington committing the majority of the infractions. Virginia capitalized, with captain and man of the match James Fealey kicking three penalties over a seven minute span to take a 9-5 lead.
A minute before half-time, Fealey extended the Virginia lead with a solo try. After stealing an errant pass, he kicked the ball into the Washington in-goal area and won the ensuing footrace, grounding the ball just before the Washington defender. Fealey's conversion attempt into the wind was unsuccessful, but his try gave Virginia a 14-5 lead at half-time.
In the 46th minute, Washington drove a maul to the Virginia goal line but missed a potential try as the ref ruled that Virginia defenders had prevented the ball from being grounded. Washington was rewarded for its efforts, however, with a successful penalty kick in the 48th minute. Virginia struck back two minutes later when a grubber kick by Fealey was batted around in the Washington in-goal area and eventually grounded by Andy Zemon. Fealey successfully converted the try to bring Virginia's lead to 21-8.
In the 55th minute, Washington's scrum half caught the Virginia defense napping when he took a quick tap on a penalty near midfield and raced down the sideline to score an uncoverted try. Washington nearly closed the gap further in the 63rd minute, but Johnny McNulty's try-saving tackle at the Virginia goal line caused the Washington attacker to lose control of the ball as he attempted to ground it. In the 69th minute, Fealey kicked his fourth penalty of the match for the final points of the game, bringing the final score to 24-13.
Tries:
James Fealey
Andy Zemon
Conversions:
James Fealey: 1/2
Penalties:
James Fealey: 4/6
Evan Davis: 0/1
Photos:
Scrum half Todd Applebaum at the scrum.
Fly half Evan Davis leading the line downfield.
Marc Breton trying to steal a Washington lineout.
Center James Fealey after scoring Virginia's first try.
Fly half Evan Davis attempting to clear the ball.
Eight man Marc Breton offloading to scrum half Todd Applebaum.
Prop Andy Zemon crashing into the Washington defense.
Flanker Matt Pawlowicz making a textbook tackle.
Center James Fealey kicking one of his four penalties.
Wing Johnny McNulty putting in a massive hit.
More Photos