Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg had the opportunity to take part in its own version of "Friday Night Footy" with a scrimmage match graciously hosted by the Virginia Tech RFC on the Virginia Tech campus. Featuring abbrevated halves and unlimited open interchanges, the exhibition was a chance for both sides to prepare for challenges to come: a Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Quarterfinal Match in New Jersey for Blacksburg, and the inaugural Atlantic Coast Invitational Tournament in Chapel Hill, NC, for Virginia Tech.

Both clubs ran out the majority of their first-side players for the first half, and the match got off to a cracking start immediately. A pair of wide tries from VT earned them a narrow 10-5 lead by the oranges interval. Although a close competition was afoot, both sides kept the developmental nature of the scrimmage in mind and substituted liberally at the half. The large-scale personnel changes crueled VT's production somewhat, as the modifed Blacksburg side was able to get more done against the VT reserves in the second stanza to come away with a 37-17 win. Blacksburg Coach Chuck Rockwell named newly minted fullback Jeff Drake man of the match for reliable play and great decisions at the back of the formation.

Blacksburg is extremely grateful to Virginia Tech for the opportunity to play a fun local derby, and wishes the collegiate side the best on its upcoming trip to Chapel Hill, NC.