<![CDATA[Virginia Tech Rugby

<![CDATA[Virginia Tech Rugby - News]]>Wed, 23 May 2012 22:43:09 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Hokies announce busy fall schedule]]>Mon, 21 May 2012 08:45:02 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/05/hokies-announce-busy-fall-schedule.htmlVirginia Tech Men's rugby has finalized its schedule for the 2012 Fall Semester.

With the inclusion of Sevens into the 2016 Olympics, there is an increased emphasis on the abbreviated version of the game in collegiate rugby. Because the Atlantic Coast Rugby Sevens title will not be decided until late October, Virginia Tech has decided to start its own Sevens program that will have a separate schedule from fifteens in the fall. This schedule includes single day tournaments in Richmond, Lexington, Blacksburg and College Park with two-day tournaments at Cape Fear, Greensboro and the championships in Virginia Beach.

With twelve players in the Sevens program, the fifteens team will have its work cut out against Radford, VMI, UNC-Wilmington, Clemson, James Madison, South Carolina and Tennessee. Five of these games will be on Friday evenings, four of them at home in Blacksburg. Once again, the schedule has been worked around the football schedule so that players can attend most home football matches.

]]><![CDATA[Virginia Tech bids farewell to Seniors]]>Thu, 10 May 2012 20:10:38 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/05/virginia-tech-bids-farewell-to-seniors.html

Virginia Tech bids farewell to just four Seniors this year.

Ryan Fish has been involved with the program since his freshman year and has been a club officer for three of those four years. Fish was awarded the Club Officer of the Year award by Virginia Tech Rec Sports in recognition of his outstanding service to the team while holding the position of Treasurer. On the field he has been an ever-present prop for the Varsity team. He will now concentrate on his goal of becoming an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Matt Heitzer is possibly one of the most influential players to have ever put on a Virginia Tech rugby shirt. He came to the sport from High school football in Texas and made an instant impression as a freshman starting off in the back row. But it as a center that he found his niche. From that moment he has been one of the first names on the team sheet and Varsity captain for the past two years. In his senior year he finished third in the ACRL top try scorers list and fourth for overall points. Heitzer has accepted a job offer in Washington D.C. and he hopes to continue playing rugby for a men's team in the DC area.

Nick Funk has been a valuable member of the club and played most of his rugby in the Junior Varsity team. Playing as hooker he has helped lead the JV side to many victories and had a knack of being in the right place at the right time to score tries. Injury problems that plagued the Varsity team meant he was drafted in to start the final two games of the year winning the Commonwealth Shield against Virginia and the final league game of the season. Nick has been accepted into the graduate program of the University of Wisconsin.

Wes Maxey only started playing rugby at Virginia Tech in his senior year. He took to the sport quickly and became the cornerstone of a dominant pack of forwards. Wes is now moving to California where he will be interning with the Santa Barbara Foresters, a California Collegiate League baseball team.

From everyone involved with the team, we thank them for their and dedication to Virginia Tech rugby.

]]><![CDATA[Brian Kelly in South Africa - Report No4]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 06:39:32 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/05/brian-kelly-in-south-africa-report-no4.html

]]><![CDATA[Ryan Fish named Virginia Tech Club Sports Officer of the year]]>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:12:22 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/ryan-fish-named-virginia-tech-club-sports-officer-of-the-year.html

Ryan Fish - Virginia Tech Club Sports 2012 Officer of the year

Senior Ryan Fish was yesterday named Virginia Tech Club Sports Officer of the year. He was rewarded for over two years of hard work as a club officer. Plaudits came from fellow officers , the coaching staff and Virginia Tech Club Sports staff as well. He has helped with every aspect of the running of the team and a main reason why the team is in such good standing with the school.

The Atlantic Coast Rugby League All-Conference teams and award winners were named today. Senior Bill Whalen, Junior Ron Pelkey and Sophomore Mic Minichiello were named in the All-ACRL first team, while Senior Matt Heitzer and Junior Kevin Hurley were named in the All-ACRL Honorable Mention team. Sophomore Brendan McMichael was named in the All-ACRL Academic team.

]]><![CDATA[Club Officers elected for 2012/13 season]]>Thu, 26 Apr 2012 07:57:33 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/club-officers-elected-for-201213-season.htmlVirginia Tech Men's rugby has elected its club officers for the 2012/13 season.

Bill Whalen who will be a 5th year Senior, has been elected Club President for the second year running. The position of VP to the Treasurer has been changed to Vice-President and will be filled by Senior Ryan McGrath. Senior Paul Caron is the Treasurer and Junior Michele Minichiello will run the teams fundraising. Senior Ron Pelkey is the Philanthropy Chair for another year and will be assisted by Senior Eric Higgins. Senior Mike Barlow has been voted in as the New Member Co-ordinator and Senior Kevin Hurley is the Equipment Manager once again.

Bill Whalen - Club President for the second year running

]]><![CDATA[Hokies fade in the North Carolina Sun]]>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 16:36:42 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/hokies-fade-in-the-north-carolina-sun.htmlNo excuses. Virginia Tech simply wilted on a hot North Carolina afternoon and blew a 22-5 halftime lead.

Injuries and players unavailable to travel depleted the roster but a solid first half performance showed they were good enough to take the spoils. The Hokies settled into playing the patterns that had earned them a raft of try bonus points this year. And after just a few minutes a Paul Caron penalty put them ahead. Senior Nick Funk then crashed over for a try in his final game for Virginia Tech. Wake Forest then got back into the game with a try.

In front of a very partisan crowd, the Hokies looked to be in control when Matt Murray outpaced Wake Forest's covering defense to stretch the lead to 15-5. Then another graduating senior Ryan Fish got in on the act after a long passage of play and Paul Caron added the extras for a 22-5 lead.

The Hokies turned around with the stiffening wind in their face and looked to soak up the pressure for the first 15 minutes. But an inability to clear their lines and not taking the few chances they had were to be their undoing. The ball wasn't sticking as it had in the first half and the heat started to take its toll.

Wake broke the dam and scored 5 unanswered tries for a 36-22 lead. With just a few minutes left Andrew Haskell came off his wing to take a perfectly timed pass from Senior Matt Heitzer to go in under the posts. This try ensured Virginia Tech had the try scoring bonus point and meant that despite the loss they would finish in 3rd, one place above Wake Forest in the league standings. Wake got a final try at the end for a 43-29 victory.

Scorers:
Tries: Funk, Murray, Fish, Haskell
Penalties: Caron
Conversions: Caron (3)

The JV side won a shortened game 35-21.

Scorers:
Tries: D'Amico (2), Huggins, Raisch, Pragdat
Conversions: Huggins (5)

]]><![CDATA[Solid win for Junior Varsity team]]>Sat, 14 Apr 2012 17:48:12 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/solid-win-for-junior-varsity-team.html

Coach Pence laying down the law!

Lord Fairfax Community College are the first of their kind in Virginia and have only been playing rugby for two years now. They came to Blacksburg intent of knocking off the JV Hokies and started the game the better with a well worked try through their forwards. But it didn't take the Hokies long to right the ship with four unanswered tries. Aaron Everly was first to score before the impressive Ian Niblock, Sam Donahue and Mark Measell all scored. A Zach Kothe try was not given; instead a penalty try was awarded for a trip on David Christian. But Kothe wouldn't be denied later in the game. Lord Faifax kept at it and scored another two tries before the break but the Hokies were always in control with another two tries of their own - a second for Ian Niblock and one from center Tristan Raisch. The half time score was 39-19.

The Hokies got straight back in it after the break. Sam Donahue got his second from a quick tap penalty, David Christian scored and then Captain Mike Barlow broke from loose play. Lord Fairfax played to their strengths when they could get the ball and scored from a series of forward drives. Zach Kothe then decided to get in the act scoring three tries in quick succession. Nick Funk capped another solid performance with a try as well. The final score was Virginia Junior Varsity 78 Lord Fairfax Community College 26.

Despite the score, Lord Fairfax played well and showed that they are going to be a strong side in the Virginia Rugby Union Collegiate D3 league very soon. Their Head Coach, Aaron Painter, is a Virginia Tech rugby alum, and he has done a great job getting the program up and running. The Hokies will be looking to secure another fixture against them in the fall and thank them for making the journey from northern Virginia.

Next week the Hokies travel to Winston - Salem to finish their league campaign against Wake Forest. Both teams are 3-3 and both will be eager to finish the season on a winning note.

Scorers:
Tries: Kothe(3), Donahue(2), Niblock(2), Everly, Measell, Raisch, Christian, Barlow, Funk, Penalty
Conversions: Pragdat(3), Christian

]]><![CDATA[Hokies win Commonwealth Shield ]]>Sat, 07 Apr 2012 13:56:20 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/hokies-win-commonwealth-shield.htmlWe all thought it would be a close game, but nobody would have guessed before kick off how close it would actually be. With the last play of the game UVA had a chance to kick a penalty and win the Commonwealth Shield - but it went sailing wide, then the referee blew for the end of the game, which sparked Hokie celebrations.

For a second week in a row, the wind was blowing off the mountrains. But this time Virginia Tech won the toss and elected to play into the wind in the first half. Virginia quickly showed where their talents lay and when they got the ball they spun it wide for the fullback to go in under the posts, which UVA converted.

Virginia Tech were winning the early engagements up front and from a well worked scrum move Matt Murray got the Hokies first try, which was converted at the second attempt by captain Matt Heitzer. UVA then ripped open the Hokie defense again for another try, and shortly afterwards they kicked a penalty to take a 17-7 lead.

Collin McClain then got the Hokies right back into the game with a well worked try after multiple phases of play. But UVA were determined to extend their lead while they had the wind and pressed hard. The Hokie defense stood firm and through great team work they kept their line intact for a half-time score of 17-12 to the Cavaliers.

With the wind at their backs the Hokies wasted no time getting themselves into the lead. Bill Whalen crashed over for another try within 3 minutes of the restart which Heitzer converted. The Virginia Tech forwards now had a strangle hold on the game and it looked like it was all done when Matt Heitzer capped a great performance with a try.

But from then on the Hokies couldn't turn their forward advantage into further points. They had a try disallowed and were penalized on several occasions as they looked likely to score. They also had to play twenty minutes of the second half with fourteen men following two curious yellow cards. Also, the Cavaliers never gave up and got to within two points just 10 minutes from time when they scored against the run of play. It was now heart in mouth time for everyone watching as Virginia were awarded a penalty at the death.

The final whistle came after the failed penalty kick and a relieved Virginia Tech team celebrated beating UVA for the second time in a row. It was a great occasion and a fantastic game played by two good teams. After all the trials of the last few weeks, the Hokies thoroughly deserved this win. Special mention must go to graduating Seniors Ryan Fish, Nick Funk and Matt Heitzer, who, on the occasion of their last appearance at our home field in Blacksburg, all helped with huge performances to win the Commonwealth Shield for the first time.

Scorers:
Tries: Murray, McClain, Whalen, Heitzer
Conversions: Heitzer (2)

The Junior Varsity team turned in a magnificent display of rugby against the Cavaliers reserves winning 64-5. Sophomore Louis Huggins announced his return to full fitness by scoring 29 points. His pace and power stood out as well as kicking some outrageous conversions. But this was no one man show - the Junior Varsity team are really starting to gel as a team and are showing that the Hokies have strength in depth.

Scorers:
Tries: Huggins (3), Raisch (2), D'Amico, Howley, Barlow, Shea, Christian
Penalties: Huggins 7 from 10

]]><![CDATA[Brian Kelly in South Africa - report No 3]]>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:23:21 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/brian-kelly-in-south-africa-report-no-3.html

]]><![CDATA[Commonwealth Shield - Virginia Tech versus University of Virginia]]>Tue, 03 Apr 2012 08:19:39 -0800http://www.virginiatechrugby.com/1/post/2012/04/commonwealth-shield-virginia-tech-versus-university-of-virginia.html

Virginia Tech and the University of Virginia are both now out of the hunt with regards the Atlantic Coast Rugby League. The Cavaliers have a very slim chance with a 2-2 record but the Hokies, despite a slew of bonus points and close finishes are done for another year as far as the league is concerned. But the prospect of playing for the Commonwealth Shield will put any thoughts of ACRL losses to the back of the minds of players in both teams.

The inaugural match for the Commonwealth Shield had to be cancelled last November due to the weather. So it was decided to combine the league game with the Commonwealth Shield this spring. When the shield will be played for in the future is uncertain. But this Saturday, the thought of being the first winners of this magnificient trophy is bound to make for an enteratining and hard-fought game.

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Color Guard will be on the field for the national anthem before the game and kick off will be at 1pm. Presentation of the shield will take place immediately after the final whistle, which will be followed by the Junior Varsity game.

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