Blacksburg Rugby

Despite the fits and starts expected in a season opener, a 55-22 trial match victory over Winchester has Blacksburg on the front foot at the start of the Spring 2011 season.

With the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Senior Men's Division III playoffs looming at the end of April, Blacksburg pursued some challenging trial matches as preparation. Even though Winchester made a three-plus hour drive to Blacksburg and did so without a few unavailable players, the visitors did not disappoint. Physicality and hustle characterized Winchester's play from the first whistle, though Blacksburg had a bit more luck finishing off scoring opportunites and amassed an early 17-0 lead through three tries and a conversion before yielding an unconverted try to Winchester just before half time. A retaliatory try from Blacksburg at the end of the half took the score to 22-5 at the interval.

Although Winchester managed another unconverted try early in the second half, it was mostly one-way traffic after that until late in the match. Blacksburg managed five tries and four conversions in the second half. In the late stages, extensive substitutions by the home side late in the match brought on fresh legs and game efforts, but some unfamiliar combinations led to Blacksburg leaking two late tries and a conversion for a 55-22 final score line. Winchester exhibited aggressive running and tackling and made a series of promising line breaks in the midfield, which kept Blacksburg under pressure throughout the match and left the guests very unlucky not to narrow the scoreline further.

All of the Blacksburg players and supporters thank Winchester for making the trip to Blacksburg for the match. Also appreciated was referee Barry Cross for his usual excellent management of the contest. Lastly, thanks are also owed to sponsors The London Underground and Pabst Blue Ribbon for their support, as well as to Matt Marry of Tuck Chiropractic for generously volunteering his medical and physiotherapy services to both clubs.

Two more weeks of early-season preparation now await Blacksburg before a Legends ("Old Boys"/Alumni) match with former players on 26 March followed by a road friendly at Radford University on 2 April.

Blacksburg 55 (Bucher 2T 4C; Hopkins 2T; Gaertner 2T; Meredith 1T; Rhodes 1T; Bailey 1T; McCarthy 1C)

Winchester 22 (4T 1C)