The Cavalier daily :: Tuesday, September 30, 1969 :: University of Virginia Library

Under balmy skies and before
more than 400 enthusiastic fans,
the Virginia Rugby Club displayed
its winning ways once again as it
won four matches Sunday afternoon.
Four matches were held due
to the large turnout of people
interested in playing this year for
the club.

In the feature event of the day
the experienced Cavalier A squad
withstood the challenge of Duke,
second ranked behind Virginia, and
walked away with a 14-11 decision.
Early in the first half Tom Furniss
connected on a 15-yard penalty
kick, a most difficult shot since the
angle is quite sharp from the side.

Midway through the first half
Byron Shankman charged the Blue
Devil fullback in the try zone and
blocked a kick for a try. A
conversion by Tom Furniss ended
the Virginia scoring for the half.

Duke came barreling back with
Bill Harvey bulling his way over five
defenders for a thirty yard try. In
the waning seconds of the half,
Duke scrummer Jim Russell picked
up a loose ball and ran into the try
zone for a try. A successful
conversion attempt made the halftime
score 8-8. Duke drew first
blood in the second period to take
a momentary lead. Bill Harvey
kicked a penalty try for the three
point lead.

Virginia came back, though, on
the stalwart running of Byron
Shankman. During a throw-in he ran
in and picked up a loose ball.
Smelling the try line, he carried
several tacklers with him into the
end zone for a score. This upped
the count to 14-11 Virginia, and it
was by this slim three point
advantage that the Cavaliers walked
off the field.

Duke also provided a squad to
match up against the "Turks." Our
own Arabian Knights (also known
as the B team) clobbered the
hapless Blue Devils, 21-6.

Paul Bishop and Ken Harris each
scored tries for Virginia in the first
half, while Dave Kratovil, following
in the footsteps of older brother
Tovy, converted twice. Duke made
a try in this half.

Inside center Paul Bishop
opened up the second half scoring
with a try. Shortly thereafter Mike
Richwine, a scrummer who turned
into a back when Joe Jennings was
injured, made a try on a brilliant 40
yard run down the sideline. Dave
Kratovil finished out the Virginia
scoring with a successful conversion
attempt.

The Blue Devils connected on a
penalty shot late in the contest, but
they still found themselves on the
short end of the scoring.

Two C matches were also staged
Sunday afternoon with the newly
formed James River Rugby Club of
upper Richmond. The Virginia
Golds roughed up the Rivermen,
27-0.

Paced by the performance of
Ronnie Pirlio, the Golds were never
in serious trouble. Pirlio, who
scored two tries, was helped by an
inspired effort from an inexperienced
scrum.

Richmond also found the going
rough against the Blue team. Four
tries and a conversion were enough
to halt any plans the Rivermen had
of victory, as Virginia won 14-8.

This coming Sunday the Cavalier
ruggers again take the pitch for four
matches. The A team meets the
Norfolk Rugby Club on Nameless
Field at 2. Following this contest
the B squad tangles with Norfolk at
3:30.