JMU Men's Rugby Club opened its fall season with a 23-12 loss at St. Joseph's on Saturday, Sept. 12, but head coach Mark Fowler came away with plenty to like about how the Dukes stood up to the preseason favorite in the division.
JMU traveled well and had the better of territory and possession, and the forwards went toe to toe with St. Joseph's up front. The Dukes led 5-3 with 20 minutes to play before the match turned on an interception try, a 14-point swing that St. Joseph's rode the rest of the way.
Freshman Morgan Vaughan accounted for both JMU scores, the second a penalty try awarded after a no-arms tackle. Fowler singled out the carrying of Andrew Ringel, Matheo Rojas, Connor O'Hehir, Bobby Schroder and Logan Edler against a St. Joseph's pack expected to control that part of the game. Nathan Goff broke through for gains of 20 to 30 yards, JJ Tiago and Christian Ferrell led the defensive effort, and fullback Max Apesa fielded St. Joseph's kicks to take their kicking game out of the equation.
Fowler felt the Dukes left points on the field. Line breaks went unfinished when support could not get there in time, and chances around the rucks went begging. Even so, he called the forward play and the tight work in the loose a strong stepping stone for the season, as long as the team keeps bringing the same intensity.
The B-side had a tougher start, trailing 30-0 at halftime, but won the second half 12-7. Henry Steensen and Bobby Schroder scored tries and Michael Swingle added a conversion.
The opener followed a preseason that Fowler said left the club "in a healthy position." More than 48 players went through camp Aug. 17-21, which closed with a runout against the James River men's team on Aug. 22, played in four 20-minute quarters so everyone got game time. JMU scored five tries and conceded five, and Fowler said "there were plenty of players who put their hand up for 1st team spots." Dominic Mulieri and Vaughan both scored and "gave an all round good account of themselves," with Ringel, O'Hehir and Ryan Shahin also crossing. The following week, in Fowler's words, "weather was the winner," as storms cut practice short and a Friday night game against Southern Virginia University was stormed out just before kickoff.
JMU faces Rowan on Saturday, Sept. 19.
