Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg traveled just over the state line to Johnson City, Tennessee, to wra the last of a series of friendly matches before the onset of the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union (MARFU) Men's Division III territorial playoff rounds next week. The match served as a useful trial match for both sides, as Johnson City is currently in the midst of a playoff fight of its own in the USA Rugby South territorial union.

The final tally favored Blacksburg, but both clubs showed moments of brilliance and spotted a few rusty patches to smooth out before their respective knockout matches to come. Blacksburg also put on strong showing in a reserves match that featured some dangerous attack and bruising defense.

Blacksburg thanks Johnson City very much for their hospitality and wishes the club luck in their semifinal match against Hilton Head, South Carolina, in two weeks. Blacksburg also appreciates the referee's service. Next week, it's another road trip for Blacksburg for a MARFU quarterfinal tie against Old Gaelic in Pennsylvania awaits Blacksburg. That match is win or weep, with the winners headed to the territorial finals weekend and the losers packing up the kit for the year. Blacksburg hopes to repeat its 2009 territorial championship, but Old Gaelic is hungry to avenge a territorial semifinal loss to Blacksburg last year.