Men's Rugby Claims Rugby East North Division Crown with ...

3 Nov 2024

NavySports.com

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Navy men's rugby team (8-1, 5-1 Rugby East) used a big second half performance to roll past Kutztown (2-4, 2-3 Rugby East) 60-17 on Saturday afternoon at the North Campus Rugby Pitch in Kutztown, Pa.

With the victory Navy claimed its third-consecutive Rugby East North Division title.

"We are happy with our performance and the result today. We gave up a few points to Kutztown but overall we executed well, especially in the second half with a strong showing from our bench," stated director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "We have a massive two weeks coming up and we are excited to continue our journey."

Neither team could get much going offensively early in the match but the Golden Bears struck first with a try in the 15th minute to take the 7-0 lead. It was the third time this season that an opponent scored first to begin a match against Navy.

The Midshipmen needed three minutes to respond with a try of their own. Sophomore Jake Cornelius ran in his second try of the season for the Mids first score of the match in the 17th minute. Junior Roanin Krieger tied the match 7-7 with his 18th conversion kick this season.

The back-and-forth action continued the rest of the half as each team scored two more tries with four lead changes in a span of 16 minutes. Kutztown added its second try in the 25th minute to retake the lead, 12-7. The Midshipmen took their first lead of the day when AJ Young found his way past the Golden Bears to score his fourth try of the season to make the score, 14-12.

Kutztown would score its third try of the half in the 37th minute and was hoping to go into halftime with a five-point lead, but Navy's defense quickly forced a turnover and fly half Kade Williams worked his way for a try in the final seconds in the first half. The Mids would go into halftime with a 21-17 lead.

Navy's offensive fire power came alive in the second half with five tries from three different players coming off the bench and a pair of penalty kicks from Krieger. The defense also posted a dominant second half as it held the Golden Bears scoreless.

Krieger opened the half with penalty kicks in 48th and 52nd minutes to make the score a two-possession game, 27-17.

Senior captain JD Bengston was the star of the second half with a hat-trick performance coming off the bench. The Tifton, Ga., native scored the first try of the half in the 57th minute to make the score, 34-17. Bengston reached the goal line two more times in the 70th and 76th minute.

Aidan Gerber and Michael Kalalau also got in on the scoring party with a try of their own. It was Gerber's fourth score this season which is a career-best for the Crofton, Md., native. Kalalau's score in the 80th minute was his first of the season.

Up Next

Navy will have its final road test of the fall season as they wrap up league play at Queens University of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday, Nov. Kickoff is slated for noon.

Players Mentioned

JD Bengston Wing 6' 2" Senior