Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg earned a berth in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Senior Mens Division III semifinal match with a hard-fought 21-7 win over North Bay of Aberdeen, Maryland, in an exciting territorial quarterfinal match.

After a long drive to Maryland for the knockout match, Blacksburg found opportunity waiting early on when midfielder Alan Rhodes crossed the whitewash only minutes into the match through opportunistic play in a kick-and-chase situation. The try was left unconverted, though, and a determined North Bay side spent the rest of the half pressuring the visitors. North Bay managed a converted try and threated several more times, leaving Blacksburg behind by a 7-5 margin at the halftime interval.

In the second half, Blacksburg firmed up on defense while unlocking more opportunities against the staunch opposition. Wing Craig Bucher knocked over a penalty goal before nabbing an intercept tryand converting it as well. Two more penalty goals from Bucher in the second half left a game North Bay side out of the match and the territorial playoff rounds, though the impressing hosts kept pressure on Blacksburg until the final whistle.

A weary Blacksburg side thanks North Bay for hosting an intense knockout match and appreciates the excellent officiating of referee Dale Hensley. The territorial semifinals in Richmond, Virginia, now await Blacksburg. Blacksburg will take on Charlottesville Saturday for a place in the territorial grand final to be played the following day. The two opponents are more than familiar with each other after Charlottesville snatched a 34-30 win at full time in Blacksburg last October. Both sides have also enjoyed success in recent territorial tournaments, with Charlottesville winning the territory and advancing to the national semifinals in 2010 and Blacksburg winning the territory and making it to the national semifinals in 2009.

Blacksburg 21 (Bucher 1T 3P 1C; Rhodes 1T)

North Bay 7 (1T 1C)