University of Virginia Library

Turques Bow, 6-3

Ruggers Rebound To Topple Terps

By Bill Nachman
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Rallying in the second half, the
Virginia Rugby 'A' side walked
away from the muddy University of
Maryland pitch with a 6-3 triumph
Saturday afternoon brought about
by two second-half scores.

In other weekend action the
Turques (B) lost to Maryland's
second unit, 6-3, while the fourth

Cavalier contingent humbled the
third Terrapin squad, 9-8. Also, the
third and fifth sides downed
Hampton-Sydney in Nameless Field
competition.

Behind 3-0 at the half the
Virginia ruggers stormed back with
an inspired effort in the final 40
minutes to subdue the pesky
Marylanders. The Terrapins gained
the advantage late in the first
period when scrum half Tom
Furniss was fed a poor pass from a
five yard lineout and bobbled the
ball in the try zone with several
Terps diving on it.

Pearson Scores

Wing forward John Pearson tied
things up early in the second half,
as he faked out several defenders
and dove for the try. Later in the
half the visiting Cavaliers added the
winning points on a long Ronald
Pulliam run.

Virginia dominated the loose
scrums due to the effort of Gary
Ahrens and John Pearson. Hooker
Steve Bolton won the sot scrums
convincingly. The lineouts were
about equal. However, the presence
of a tall jumper for the Terrapins
caused Virginia problems.

"We looked good for our first
match of the season," said club
president Jay Waldron, "but the
muddy conditions of the pitch
hampered us from adding more
points."

6-3 Loss

Not as fortunate in their late
heroics were the Turques, who fell
to the Maryland B side, 6-3.
Trailing 6-0 at the break, the
Turques rallied when Jim Bledsoe
went to the weak side with fly Bob
Dart trailing: Bledsoe pitched out
to Dart for the final yardage and a
try. With time running out Mark
Storm's penalty kick barely missed
evening things up for Virginia.

Unfortunately for the Turques,
Maryland's second side outweighed
the Virginia team in the scrum; but
John Oliver still had a good
afternoon at lock, while prop
Randy Covington shone in the
loose scrum.

Long Kick

In the College Park finale
Saturday the fourth band of orange
and blue jerseyed Virginians topped
a solid third Terp team, 9-8. Both
units had many new faces, but
veterans filled in at several
positions.

After running 80 minutes in the
'A' match, Jay Waldron returned at
lock for the visitors, but it was not
an easy time for him as he suffered
a shoulder separation in the action
and will be lost for at least one
month.

Mark Storm, after almost pulling
the game out for the Turques,
returned at fullback. This time out
he proceeded to give Virginia the
victory with an amazing 40 yard
drop kick.

On the Nameless pitch the third
and fifth Virginia sides were putting
down the challenge of two squads
from Hampden-Sydney. The third
team found many newcomers,
especially in the scrum. Several
veterans ticketed for the Maryland
trip could not go and filled in for
the third side. Sam Robinson and
Chuck Shelton offered speed at
each wing, while experienced scrum
half Wick Williams got the ball out
to the backline.

Despite the inexperience the
third side was victorious over the
Hampden-Sydney A team, 9-0.
Tries for the homestanders came
from wing forward Jim Rongoe,
outside center Doug Wiggins, and
winger Chuck Shelton. Backing up
the scoring thrusts was a superb
one-man tackling exhibition given
by fullback Bobby Ess.

Rounding out the weekend was
a 3-0 setback given the B unit from
Hampden-Sydney by the fifth
Virginia side. The only score of the
match came when former football
great Frank Quayle set up Gary
Mims. Mims did the rest with a
quick burst of legwork into the try
zone.

Four out of five for the first
weekend of the spring schedule.
Can the ruggers improve on this?
You'll get your answer this
weekend when the Virginia Rugby
Club hosts five matches Saturday
afternoon. Baltimore, rated as one
of the top clubs in the East, brings
down three units, while the second
and fifth sides host the top two
squads from Washington and Lee.