Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Big Red Sports

Western Rugby looks to up end opponents enroute to nationals.

The Western Oregon Men's Rugby team picked up league play exactly where they left off last fall, with a victory. After a week off playing a night game on Willamette's turf football field, the Wolves faced a challenge as the width of the field was shorter than a normal Rugby pitch.

Western would prevail 17-10 over an improved Bearcats team that featured several new players who were able to join the squad after the conclusion of the football season. The short field made for a battle of forwards inside and less space for the backs to maneuver sideline to sideline. Western had several opportunities inside the five meter line to put the ball in the try zone, but a string of costly penalties and a Bearcat player who could punt the ball over 60 yards continued to stymie opportunities.

Western won the match earning scores from sophomore back Josh Rau, senior forward Craig Perkins and senior back Juan "Chewy" Elguezabal. Perkins got the ball rolling for the Wolves, bowling over several Bearcat defenders before touching the ball down for the first points of the match. Later in the first 40 minutes, just before halftime, Rau received a quick pass from Captain and junior Fly-Half John Constien and bolted past four Bearcats on his way to the try zone untouched.

The final score for the Wolves came from Elguezabal, who received a pass from Rau and slithered past two Bearcats before diving into the try zone while being hit, but still having the presence to get the ball down and score the try before going out of bounds. Constien was able to connect on the 2-point conversion kick for the first time after two early misses in the first half to make it 17-0 Wolves late in the match. Willamette scored their first points with a 3-point penalty drop kick from 30 meters out and again with a try from five meters out after a Wolves' penalty.


In the end, the Western Oregon Men's Rugby team headed back to Monmouth with another victory in league play as well as notes on areas needing improvement.

"We need to cut down on penalties and take better care of the ball, but the effort [during Saturday's match] was there and we got the victory which is most important," stated Constien. The Wolves will continue their march toward the national tournament with a "friendly" match against the Portland Pigs Men's Club, which features several Western Oregon alumni, on Feb. 16 in Monmouth.

Western has improved their record to 2-0 so far this spring season after going a notable 7-0 during the fall. •

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