Fordham steals a win at Binghamton

Brian Gallagher

           

            On the crisp, cloud covered afternoon of September 14, Fordham University Men’s Rugby defeated the Binghamton University Devils on their home pitch, 24-7.  These two teams played a tightly contested game last season and this year’s matchup proved to be no different. 

            From the opening kickoff, the competition was fierce.  Binghamton took advantage of early Fordham penalties and a larger pack to pin the Rams in their own territory, dominating the territory for the early portion of the game.  Backed up to their own goal-line, the Fordham ruggers fought hard, and were able to stymie the larger Binghamton team until the team relinquished possession.

            Fordham then marched down the pitch—only to have every major linebreak spoiled by sloppy ball-handling.  Each time, the Rams were able to regain possession.  Eventually, the Devils committed a penalty too close to their own goal, allowing for Fordham to convert the penalty and take a 3-0 advantage.  3-0 would be the score as the halftime whistle sounded. 

            Coming into the second half, the Devils were reinvigorated.  Binghamton pushed the Rams back, eventually getting a score of their own, bringing the game score to 7-3.  Binghamton’s lead would not hold.

            Fordham rugby pushed, channeling their attack through the backline and spreading the ball against a Binghamton side whose poor fitness began to show.  Fordham rode the performance of sophomore center Jace Caulfield, who had broken the line for large gains several times before scoring a brace of tries to extend Fordham’s lead to 17-7—all the while delivering bone-crushing hits on defense.

            Fordham’s runs in the second half deflated Binghamton, who would allow one more try to Rams winger A.J. Shoemaker.  Fordham was also lead by the defense of junior scrum-half Nick Brucculeri, who harried Binghamton’s number 9 all game, disrupting all of his passes to the backline. 

           When the dust settled, Fordham had won 24-7.  This week, Fordham celebrates homecoming with a game against the longtime rival U.S. Merchant Marine Academy under the lights at Murphy field in the Bronx at 8:30 p.m.  Binghamton will continue to look for their first win against St. Bonaventure at Binghamton.