Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg has wrapped up the Fall 2009 season with a commendable second-place finish in the Virginia Rugby Union (VRU) Senior Men's Division III competition and a seed in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) quarterfinals this coming spring, but it will be a long winter for the side after a weak final outing. In a season-ending match that coincidentally determined the VRU championship, Blacksburg struggled to get things going and fell to Virginia in Charlottesville by a 31-0 margin.

The match started off competitively, with both sides scoreless for about a quarter of the match. Virginia was able to put two converted tries on the board by halftime, though, and Blacksburg let two more in after the break along with a penalty goal. Blacksburg threatened to get on the board at the end of the match with a long series of chances at the Virginia try line, but the referee called full time with the ball tied up inches from the whitewash.

Blacksburg's developmental side followed up with a passionate and productive effort against the Virginia reserves, but came out on the short end of the scoreline as well.

Although it won't be easy to forget the ordinary finish during the winter break, an injury-ravaged Blacksburg side will find relief in the opportunity to heal a few wounded players during time off. Prior to today's outing, Blacksburg had already lost three starting players to season-ending injuries, and two more went off the park with injuries today. Hopefully all of them will be right to return to action once the spring schedule begins.

Blacksburg thanks Virginia for a quality match and congratulates them on a strong season. Training will continue during the winter break in preparation for the spring fixtures.