Michigan Rugby 2018 Spring Season Recap
Spring Fifteens
The Wolverines went to battle on St. Patrick’s Day, hosting the third annual Michigan Collegiate Cup. The first game on the docket was against Central Michigan, resulting in a 15-10 win. This set the tone for the day, as Michigan went on to go 3-1 on the day. The next game of the day was against Oakland, where Michigan battled it out till the end, with try saving tackles and 80-meter runs, winning 10-5. Next up, Western Michigan. The wolverines lost to MCC winners 7-14 this game, but immediately bounced back and crushed Eastern Michigan 44-12. Although Michigan didn’t win the entire thing, the MCC was a great look at a promising spring 15’s side. The boys in blue traveled down to Eastside, to take on a good men’s side. Although the boys couldn’t come out with the win, 7-25, the game was much closer than previous spring 15’s games against men’s sides. The team hosted Oakland at home, and came out with a statement victory, winning 39-17. Against the last men’s team of the year, Michigan traveled down the river to take on Detroit RFC. Although they lost 10-41, the team showed heart by playing all the way to the last minute. To finish off the Spring Fifteens season and forecast a bright season to come in the fall of 2018, Michigan beat Jackson 31-7. It was a great season for a side that showed a lot of promise and welcomed new additions.
Sevens
For the first official sevens tournament of the year, the Wolverines went down to Lansing to compete in the Spartans sevens. Through rainy conditions the boys in blue dominated the completion. Putting up 43 points and shutting out GVSU, they started off the season with a bang. Michigan also put up a huge point differential on Ferris state, finishing the game 41-5. For the final game of the day Michigan played a huge rival, Michigan State. To win the Spartan 7’s Michigan beat State 24-7 to finish out the day. Players Thomas Del Vecchio and Liam Clancy owned the day with multiple tries scored. It was a great way to kick off the sevens season for the wolverines, and a strong predictor for the Battle of the Border.
The Wolverines went up to Buffalo to compete in the Battle of the Border tournament, against powerhouse teams such as Kutztown and St. Bonaventure. The day started off against Middleberry after a scheduling mishap, however the team overcame the sudden schedule change and shut Middleberry out 38-0. The Next game against NDC ended up in a 17-17 tie, with a great effort to come out without a loss yet on the day. The wolverines continued their success with a 21-17 win over wheeling Jesuit, and head on to face Kutztown in the next game. Although the team suffered a 5-17 loss to Kutztown, it was a great showing of rugby against another great club team. In the final game of the day, the battle for third place was a rematch against St. Bonaventure. The boys in blue battled it out to the final minutes and ended up beating St. Bonnies 21-14 with no time left. Overall it was a great day for Michigan and showed that the team could compete against high caliber sevens teams.
During the first leg of the Big Ten Sevens, hosted by Michigan at the Legacy Center, Michigan started the day off against OSU B. With a strong display of beautiful rugby, Michigan came out on top 36-5. The luck didn’t last long though, as the boys in blue took a beating from Lindenwood-Bellvue. Lindenwood put up eight unanswered tries to beat Michigan 56-0. Michigan looked to fight back against davenport but couldn’t get their mojo back, falling to davenport 19-0. During the next game against Michigan State, It came down to the final minutes however Michigan State barely came out on top, winning 12-14. The day wasn’t a wash though. In a final unofficial game, all of the seniors in the Sevens pool came together to play one final game in the maize and blue together against Oakland. One of the best games of the day, the chemistry and fun had on the field was incredible.
The Big Ten Sevens Championship was a day of adversity for Michigan, falling on the same day as graduation. However, the young side came to play, and put up a great effort against some very good looking Big Ten teams. The first game of the day was against Iowa, where Michigan got off to a bit of a slow start, however came back at the end to take the 17-15 win. The team then went on to beat Purdue 17-0. At the end of pool play Michigan lost to Wisconsin 10-42, and then got relegated to the plate final by Ohio State with a loss of 10-22. The wolverines battled through adversity and came out on top against Michigan State, beating them 26-12 to take third place in the Big Ten. A bittersweet ending to the season, but a great forecast to what the young side will do in the future.
Overall it was a great spring for both sides, and an exciting look at what the maize and blue will accomplish this fall.
