Potomac Rugby Conference play continued this past Saturday at the Wallenberg Field in DC, where GW faced off against Catholic University, ranked #7 in National Small College Rugby Organization. Under very sunny skies and stickier than normal humidity, GW received the opening kickoff going “downhill”. The first 10 minutes were a back and forth affair, with GW suffering from some early handling errors. In the 13th minute, following a CUA penalty, GW kicked for touch, established a solid maul platform off the lineout and Senior Lock Andy Green drove through for the opening score. Conversion no good. 7 – 0 GW.

Handling errors continued, but GW was able to remain competitive thanks to a scrum that was beyond dominant all day. In the 22nd minute, GW mounts a 10+ phase attack that had CUA defenders worn out. Andy Green found a gap and found an extra gear for his big English wheels and cruised through on a 35m solo run for his second try. Try converted by Sophomore 8 man JP Aro. 12 – 0 GW.

Due to temperatures in excess of 95 degrees, the referee broke for water midway through each half. This greatly benefited a CUA team that was struggling with the conditions. In the 28th minute, CUA works phases from sideline to sideline and ultimately cracks the GW defense for a score. Conversion was good. It was the first try GW had given up in 180+ minutes of league play. 12 – 7 GW.

As halftime neared, GW counters a CUA kick but turns the ball over. A very strange scramble takes place at midfield and the CUA hooker finds himself with ball in hand, running in open field with a surprised look on his face. Pressured by backside support from GW, he is force to dot the try away from the posts and the conversion is no good. GW goes into the half tied 12 to 12.

CUA comes out of the half making substitutions to reinforce a pack that had been struggling with their set piece. It didn’t matter to GW’s pack, who was clearly better on the day. In the 56th minute, Andy Green makes yet another break but is pulled down just short of the line. He knocks the ball on while reaching for the line. Catholic recovers and clears the lines.

GW begins to make substitutions in the 65th minute that have an immediate impact. In the 72nd minute, freshman flanker Ollie Davies outpaces the Catholic defense with fresh legs and scrambles in for a score in his first appearance in Buff and Blue. Conversion good and GW retakes the lead 19 to 12.

The last 10 minutes of the match were an absolute bludgeoning by the GW forwards with hard forward takes and pick-n-gos frustrating the CUA defense. CUA concedes a penalty in the middle of the field and junior center Charles Baylor quick taps, slices through the defense and hammers home a nail in the coffin try. The conversion, a mere formality now, was blocked. 24 to 12 GW.

Senior Andy Green rightfully earned Man of the Match honors along side his 2nd row partner Isaac Kadoun. GW progresses to 3-0 on the season, earning a bonus point in all three matches. Although conference play was scheduled to continue vs Frostburg on October 5th, Frostburg has informed the league they are not competing this season and have forfeited the match. GW is currently working to find a replacement match.