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.

Fordham rugby falls to Stony Brook

By Brian Gallagher

 September 6, 2013- On a beautiful Bronx night, the Fordham Rams kicked off the fall Empire Conference season by taking on a familiar foe, the Stony Brook University Seawolves.  The Rams would fall to the Seawolves in a 33-20 defeat.

            Stony Brook proved to be the more disciplined side from the outset, jumping to an early 10-0 lead thanks to strong kicking by senior fly-half P.J. Abelein.  Fordham then capitalized on Stony Brook penalties, managing to bring the score to 10-3 before the halftime whistle sounded.

            The Rams entered the second half looking like a fresh team.  Fordham’s ruggers pushed down the field taking advantage of sloppy play by the Stony Brook side to drive in 3 tries, using a mix of driving forward ball and sideline to sideline play by the backs, sophomore flanker Rusty Gough shined brightest, scoring a try off of a. maul, and handling the kicking duties for Fordham.  By the 60^th minute, the Rams had steamed to a 20-10 lead. 

            Stony Brook would not be held down.  The Seawolves exploited the fatigue of the Fordham side, bringing the score to 33-20, before playing a territorial game—pinning the Rams within their own territory.  33-20 would prove to be the final score. 

            Next week, Fordham takes on Binghamton in Binghamton, while Stony Brook will visit Syracuse.