2008 Woodie Awards
ISU Rugby team plays well, splits dual with Air Force
Kasie Scott
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The ISU men's rugby team showed excitement on Saturday with the chance to play against one of the best rugby teams in the nation. The Bengal's rugby team was able to finish seventh in the nation in 2005 and was hoping to score a victory Saturday over the U.S. Air Force Academy, who won the national championship in division I play in 2003. The Bengal's played two games, one against the Academy's top team and the other against the Academy's "B" team. ISU split the dual, losing against the first team 44-5 and then taking the win against the second team 15-14.
Saturday's game day prep started early for men's ISU rugby team. At 8 a.m. a free breakfast for the kids was provided. The Pocatello Police Department fire engine showed their support by bringing a fire truck for display. The tailgate party started at 11 a.m. with the goal of getting more community members and students interested in the sport of Rugby. The sport is growing rapidly and has become quite popular among students and fans on the ISU campus.
The first game started at one o'clock and the Academy didn't make it easy for the Bengals. They were able to score numerous times against ISU. When asked about what aspects of the game could be improve, Coach Ram Eddings stated, "I don't think that we played with the intensity that we needed to win. Our conditioning was not up to par. Any time that you play a former national champion and an academy school, you have to be up on your conditioning." Coach Eddings did pick out some outstanding athletes for the game, "Alfonzo White had a really good day and a really good game. Ife Tadakece and Paul Martin also played really hard."
The season continues next Saturday when ISU plays two games beginning with Weber State and then finishing with Boise State. The games will be played at Bartz field starting at noon. The Bengals hope to have a strong season. Jared Pitari, from the team stated, "We'll have a pretty good season. We have some pretty good guys out here. We want to get fit and I think we'll have a pretty solid team." Show your support to the University and the athletics program by coming to the next match. Most people are quite surprised by how exciting rugby can be once they attend a match, and learn some of the rules of the sport.
Saturday's game day prep started early for men's ISU rugby team. At 8 a.m. a free breakfast for the kids was provided. The Pocatello Police Department fire engine showed their support by bringing a fire truck for display. The tailgate party started at 11 a.m. with the goal of getting more community members and students interested in the sport of Rugby. The sport is growing rapidly and has become quite popular among students and fans on the ISU campus.
The first game started at one o'clock and the Academy didn't make it easy for the Bengals. They were able to score numerous times against ISU. When asked about what aspects of the game could be improve, Coach Ram Eddings stated, "I don't think that we played with the intensity that we needed to win. Our conditioning was not up to par. Any time that you play a former national champion and an academy school, you have to be up on your conditioning." Coach Eddings did pick out some outstanding athletes for the game, "Alfonzo White had a really good day and a really good game. Ife Tadakece and Paul Martin also played really hard."
The season continues next Saturday when ISU plays two games beginning with Weber State and then finishing with Boise State. The games will be played at Bartz field starting at noon. The Bengals hope to have a strong season. Jared Pitari, from the team stated, "We'll have a pretty good season. We have some pretty good guys out here. We want to get fit and I think we'll have a pretty solid team." Show your support to the University and the athletics program by coming to the next match. Most people are quite surprised by how exciting rugby can be once they attend a match, and learn some of the rules of the sport.
Be the first to comment on this story