Blacksburg Rugby

After a win in the Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union Senior Men's Division III territorial quarterfinals the previous week, Blacksburg found the going tough in the semifinal match against in-state rivals Charlottesville. Despite flashes of brilliance and plenty of effort, the Blacksburg side found itself outgunned against the favored Charlottesville outfit and lost the match by a 26-12 margin.

Both sides in the contest boasted strong histories in the territorial knockout rounds, with Charlottesville winning the competition in 2010 and Blacksburg winning it in 2009. Blacksburg also entered the match looking to break a years-long hoodoo against Charlottesville, who have won the local Virginia Rugby Union Senior Men's Division III competition for five years running. Charlottesville all but put those hopes to rest in the early stages of the match, though, by hanging three tries and two conversions on the scoreboard through opportunistic play and dominance at set pieces and the tackle area. Blacksburg threatened the Charlottesville line a few times, but failed to cross the whitewash before halftime.

The second half saw Blacksburg get on the board through an unconverted try by flanker Nate Gaertner within minutes, and Blacksburg showed signs of life during a few other near misses in the Charlottesville end. Charlottesville put the match away, though, with a final converted try in the second half. Blacksburg would earn a last consolation try by way of a great individual effort from halfback Kurt Goddard before the final whistle ended Blacksburg's season and sent Charlottesville on to the national rounds and the territorial grand final.

All of the Blacksburg players thank referee Stuart Willis and touch judges David Chapman and Peadar Little for their excellent service, as well as the James River Rugby Club of Richmond for hosting the territorial finals weekend. Blacksburg will now back up for a consolation final against North Penn on the last day of the finals weekend, while Charlottesville takes on Old Gaelic in the territorial grand final.

Charlottesville 26 (4T 3C)

Blacksburg 12 (Gaertner 1T; Goddard 1T; Bucher 1C)

Blacksburg Match Roster:
1. Chris D'Amico, 2. Louis Madsen, 3. Max Appleby, 4. Meares Green 5. Joe Pallante, 6. Richard Bailey, 7. Nate Gaertner, 8. Ty Hopkins, 9. Kurt Goddard (c), 10. Jimmy Ivory, 11. Bryn Meredith, 12. Sam Pitts, 13. Alan Rhodes, 14. Craig Bucher, 15. Jonny Smith. Reserves: Chris McCann, Matt McCarthy, Parker Long, Jimmy Vest, Jim Wahmhoff, Preson Stoakes, John Gemma, Brandon Jeffery.