University of Virginia Library

Ruggers Get Tourney Fever

Preparing for this weekend's
Commonwealth Cup in fine style,
the Virginia Rugby 'A' side grabbed
two wins in three tries and walked
away from the Richmond
Invitational Tourney with third
place last weekend.

In the first round the Cavaliers
roughed up on a combined All-Star
squad, 40-0. Ronnie Pulliam,
returning to the pitch after injuries,
accounted for three tries to pace
the attack, Buzz Will added two
tries, while Tom Furniss totalled 16
points through the air. Courtney
Hoopes, John Pearson, and David
Levy each chalked up one try
apiece to ice the match.

Virginia controlled the tempo of
the entire match. The backline
turned in one of its better shows,
including several runs by first
yearman Stocky Hobart playing in
his first 'A' competition. Also
strong for the Cavaliers was
determined scrum play.

Washington whipped the
Virginians, 14-6, in the second
round. Tom Furniss hit two penalty
kicks for the only Virginia tallies.
The score was tied until midway
through the second half, when the
Washingtonians exploded in the
manner which has carried them to
the top of the Eastern Rugby
Union via a win last week over the
Manhattan Club of New York.

Hitting hard and playing tight
the entire match, Virginia kept
equal in both back and serum play
until the final minutes. This match
was a key warmup for this week's
Cup action.

Sunday the 'A's' bumped off the
University of South Carolina for
third place in the tourney with a
19-6 win. Again Ronnie Pulliam
had a busy day with two tries.
Ralph Robertson and Buzz Will
also tried, while Tom Furniss
kicked a 30 yard drop off a set
scrum and added two conversions.

In this match the scrum looked
sharp. Dominating play all over the
pitch, the hooks were convincingly
taken by Virginia. Matched up
against the Cavaliers was USC prop
J.B. Trew, a former standout with
the Virginia contingent.

While Virginia was clinching
third place, Washington grabbed
top honors with a 16-0 verdict over
the Richmond Club. Other tourney
entries were Duke University, VMI,
and Philadelphia's 1st Troupe.

Other Sunday action saw the
third Virginia side travel to George
Mason College in Fairfax. The
ruggers from upstate sent the
low-side Cavaliers home with a 3-0
setback. Mason hit hard and
displayed uncanny hustle and
agility. Virginia had trouble
adjusting to the windy pitch and
the hazy then sunny skies.

Rounding out Sunday's action
was a 5-5 tie between Virginia's
fourth side and George Mason's
second team. Scoreless after the
first half, each squad made a try
and conversion in the second
period. With time running out
Virginia found its back to the wall,
but withstood several thrusts: with
no time remaining a Mason penalty
kick was wide.

Mike Frank tallied the only
Virginia try: Randy Covington
converted. Rusty White and
Covington, both closing out their
careers with the Virginia Rugby
Club, excelled in the serum.

Saturday and Sunday the
Virginia Rugby Club hosts the
tenth annual Commonwealth Cup.
Participants in the eight team affair
include Army, Brown, University of
Chicago, Manhattan, Cleveland
Blues, Toronto Welsh, Notre Dame,
and Virginia.