Ann Arbor, Mich. - The Wheeling Jesuit rugby team ran out to a 21-8 halftime lead over the Big 10’s Michigan Wolverines on the road in Ann Arbor, but missed tackles and missed opportunities in the second half led to a 28-30 defeat in their opening match of the season.
The loss puts WJU at 0-1 on the season, only their second since the programs reinstatement as a varsity team.
It was clearly the opening game of the season for both teams as handling errors and penalties plagued the first 20 minutes. Michigan kicked a penalty goal early in the opening stanza to go up 3-0.
The Cardinals would answer right back though, marching down the field and scoring a try when John Stapleton stepped inside a defender and dove over for the first of his 11 points on the day. Stapleton converted his own try, and the Cards took a 7-3 lead after 10 minutes of play.
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Penalties again put WJU under pressure, and Michigan would capitalize taking a stolen ball in for their first try of the game, and taking an 8-7 lead.
WJU used their kicking game to keep Michigan pinned deep in their own end. After stealing a lineout, the Cards put together a rolling maul and Alan Hanson snuck around the blind side and scored for the Cardinals in the corner. Stapleton again converted the try, and WJU reclaimed the lead, 14-8.
The Cardinals extended their lead just before half when Jamie Barlow intercepted an errant UM pass and went the distance for another WJU try. The score put the Cards up 21-8, giving them confidence heading into the break.
That confidence may have been the Cardinals undoing however, as Michigan would score two early tries in the second half, both off missed tackles, to bring the score to 21-18.
Freshman flyhalf Joji Vakasisikakala showed why he will be an offensive threat for years to come for WJU when he put a chip kick behind the Michigan defense, collected it off the bounce and raced in 40 meters untouched for the try.
The score was 28-18 at that point with 20 minutes left in the game. Michigan then mounted an attack to crawl back in the game, taking advantage of several WJU missed tackles. Two more tries from UM put them in front 28-30. A late WJU push fell flat, and Michigan celebrated the win in the inner-conference matchup between the Big Ten and Rugby East.
“It was clear that our execution wasn’t what we needed it to be today,” said WJU Head Coach Eric Jerpe. “Fair play to Michigan, they dug deep in that last 20 minutes, but we need to get our guys accountable for their tackles. There are definitely some positives to take away though, so we’ll look at the film and come out firing next week.”
WJU takes to the road again next Saturday in an important rubber match against St Bonaventure, who beat the Cards in a squeaker last season.
WJU 28
Tries: Stapleton, Hanson, Barlow, Vakasisikakala
Cons: Stapleton (4)
Michigan 30