Blacksburg Rugby

The Virginia Rugby Club of Charlottesville handed a tenacious Blacksburg side its first loss of the Fall 2010 Virginia Rugby Union Senior Men's Division III competition by a 34-30 margin in a crackerjack top-of-the table clash. Blacksburg held the lead until the final minute before a converted try at full time put the visiting Charlottesville side on top for good.

With both sides coming into the match unbeaten in the competition, a good contest was expected, and the day didn't disappoint. Although Blacksburg spotted the guests a converted try and two penalty goals early on, the lead would change hands a few times after that. Bad luck with injuries in the first half pressed Blacksburg's depth when wing Matt McCarthy suffered a dislocated hip in a routine tackle and fullback Bryn Meredith was knocked unconscious and off the park soon after by a cynical high stiff-arm shot. The Blacksburg bench stepped up to the mark, though, filling in and helping the home side to a late lead. Virginia got a final chance when an in-goal error left Blacksburg on its own line, and the visitors pounced on the opportunity in clinical fashion by wheeling a tighthead scrum and earning the winning try on the subsequent scrum as the match ended.

Blacksburg thanks Virginia for making the trip and providing a thriller. Blacksburg also appreciates the excellent refereeing of Ken Fraine, who traveled from his regular service area in the Potomac Rugby Union to manage the match.

Virginia, winners of the Virginia competition for the previous four years and national semifinalists in 2009, can now win the Virginia title for a fifth straight time by winning their remaining matches. Blacksburg, meanwhile, can clinch second place in the Virginia competition by winning their final competition match in Roanoke next Saturday.

Blacksburg 30 (T Pulli, T Bucher, T Bailey, 3C Bucher, 3P Bucher)

Charlottesville 34 (4T 4C 2P)