MEN'S RUGBY

NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Army scored the first try of the match at the five minute mark. For the next 15 minutes, the Wick stifled Army with some hard-nosed defense, including tackles inside the gain-line by inside center Justin Aubin, open side flanker Tom Hansen, and prop Brad Panasiti.

Norwich came out of the blocks tackling well off the ball and pressuring Army's attack. Unfortunately, Norwich was called for a penalty, and Army converted three more points. At the 19-minute mark the score is Army 8 - Norwich 0.

For the next 25 minutes, Norwich dominates play inside Army's 10-meter-line, attacking and defending with heart. The Wick succeeds in maintaining good ball possession, with multiple lineouts, scrums and penalties in their favor. Scrum-half captain Todd Howe applies constant pressure on Army's flyhalf's attempt at clearing kicks. After putting forth relentless pressure on attack and defense, the Norwich forwards finally bull their way into the in-goal, but are held up by Army. After 39 minutes of play Army still leads by the slim margin of 8 points. 

In the final minute of the half Army regains its composure and scores two tries, the last one at the final whistle of the half. Norwich dominates the majority of the half but has no points to show for their intense effort.

Early in the second half Army puts three more points on the scoreboard from a Norwich off-sides penalty, Army 21 - Norwich 0. Army's swift backs then proceeded to attack and unravel Norwich's defensive structure. West Point scores five unanswered tries at the 46^th, 50^th, 61^st, 70^th, and 79^th minutes. Two were converted. Final:  Army 50 - Norwich 0.

"Norwich has improved a great deal since their match with Coast Guard," commented referee Derrick Bellin.

"We are not happy with the loss, but many players stepped it up today. For twenty minutes we performed at a very high level," said head coach Bob Weggler.  "It is our best result with Army, an annual Sweet Sixteen participant, in four years," Weggler added.

Norwich continued to dominate their own lineouts from superb throw-ins from freshman recruit Ryan Wunder, former Xavier H.S., and by the outstanding hand-eye coordination of senior jumper, Miley Massed, from Bridport, Vt. The "Man of the Match" for Norwich was Junior Prop/Flanker, former Amoskeag  RFC U-19 rugger, from Amherst, N.H., Brad Panasiti. "Brad's play was truly outstanding ," said Coach Weggler.

Norwich travels to Boston on Saturday, Sept. 22, to take on another Sweet Sixteen participant from last year, Harvard University. Kickoff time is yet to be determined.  The NU men's rugby team is a part of the New England Rugby Union Collegiate Division I League that consists of Army, Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale, Northeastern, Connecticut and Boston College. Norwich is now 0-1 in league play this fall.