WSCU RUGBY

In the 14th annual Homecoming Match the Western State College Men's Rugby team celebrated its long-standing history and success in the Alumni vs. Schoolboys match over Homecoming weekend.

With close to 30 old boys making the trek back to Gunnison to enjoy the great fall weather and dust off the boots for the annual match, the celebration of Western State Rugby started with a score from the alumni.

Within the first ten minutes, after a silly penalty from the Western student side, Alumni wing Jeff Sommner touched down in the corner of the school boys goal. Jame Yack's conversion went unsuccessful, but the first blood had been drawn.

After receiving the kickoff, the alumni marched down the field with their forward-heavy play of picking off of the rucks and the school side giving up a few precious meters at a time. Gradually, the forwards drove down to the goal, and Alan Donohue spun through a tackle attempt to dot down the Alumni's second score. Yack's conversion would go wide of the posts and the Alumni managed a 10-0 score halfway through the first period.

Another kickoff and Alumni forward play brought the ball back into the school side 22, but a knock-on from the Alumni center allowed an advantage for the school side and Dorian Bunn kicked the ball through the disorganized line. Chasing, Bunn soccer-kicked the ball again toto be recovered by school side wing Nick Forest. Forest dotted down in the middle of the posts and Conor McBrierty slotted the conversion.

With the ball in hand, the school side managed to control possession and match the alumni with their own forward phases and solid rucking. After three periods, the score ended 33-17 in favor of the school side. Scrum-half Pat Martelli dotted down three tries and Alumni Alan Donohue added another try at the end of the match. Of the 14 year tradition, the school side has won 6 times.