Rugby News

On a Saturday where the forecast called for a windy and rainy nor’easter, the Mudturtles traveled to Morris for the first meeting of the season between the two teams. While the storm led to less rain and wind than predicted, the mud turtles own sloppy play and a determined Morris squad provided more than enough problems. A combination of miss handled balls, bad decisions, and penalties allowed Morris to move down the field twice early in the game, leading to two penalty kick attempts, one of which was converted for a 3 to 0 Morris lead. Union was able to answer with a try and a failed conversion before Morris capitalized on Union’s continued undisciplined play for a try and another missed penalty. With under 10 minutes to play in the first half, Union was on the wrong side of a 10 to 5 score, lucky not to be down 16-5. Then in the space of seven minutes, the Turtles scored two tries and entered halftime with a 17 to 10 lead.

From the outset of the second half, Union asserted themselves and played structured, disciplined offense to run around and through the Morris defense. Second half substitutions Melvin Green (flanker) and Adrien Bekker (outside center) keyed the offense, while the entire Mudturtle defense stepped up to shut Morris out in the second half. Inside Center Tom Ross led the defense with numerous tackles, several of which rendered the Morris player on the receiving end slow to get up. At the final whistle, Union was on top 31-10. Try scorers for Union were Ross, Julian Caceres (2), Rob Herbert and Charlie Blessing.