Wheeling, W. Va. – The Wheeling University Rugby team (2-1, 1-0) made history on Saturday when they played in their first-ever Bug Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) game. The offense has a big showing and led the way in their 55-24 win as they moved to 1-0 in conference play. A trio of Cardinals scored two tries in the game as the offense scored a season-high 55 points in the win.

The Wheeling offense took control right from the get-go after the Saints got the first possession. On the Saints first kick of the day, the Cardinals blocked the kick and set themselves up on their side of the pitch. Chief Chipfumbu would then find Ayoub Jalli on the sidelines, and the junior took it across the end line to give Wheeling a 5-0 lead. The conversion kick by Joe Iye made it 7-0 as the Cardinals took the early advantage in the game. Aquinas College would tie things up in the seventh minute with a try of their own, but Wheeling was right back at it and made it 14-7 on the following possession. Anothrt Cardinals try moved the game to 21-10 in the 25th minute, but Aquinas answered and made it 21-17 with just over 10 minutes remaining before the half.

The offense just kept going over those final 10 minutes as Joe Iye would find the end line for his first try of the year but a failed conversion made it a 26-17 game. After a big stop on defense, the Cardinals were back at it when freshman Krishnaa Kwenda scored his second career try and Iye's conversion kick brought the score to 33-17. That would be the score as the team's broke for the locker room and the Cardinals offense would look to continue to flourish. With five tries already to their credit at that point, Wheeling would continue to find the end line in the second half.

It took a little longer for the offense to get going, but it was the same man who started the scoring in the first half that got it going in the second half. Jalli would get across the goal line in the 12th minute and extended the score to 41-17. Aquinas College asses their lone try in the 17th minute of the game and hit as close as they would in the second half at 41-24. As time ticked away, the Cardinals got one more try each from Kwenda and Iye to put together the 55 points. Iye made both conversion kicks and Wheeling did not allow another try over the final 29 minutes and Wheeling went on to win 55-24. The Cardinals started conference play strong as they move to 1-0 and look to continue that success as the season goes on.

It was the three headed monster of Ayoub Jalli, Krishna Kwenda, and Joe Iye leading the way for Wheeling on the day. All three scored two tries in the game and now Kwenda has scored a team leading three tries so far this season. Iye also added a solid day in conversion kicks, going 6-8 in that category.

The Wheeling University Rugby team continues BRRC play next Saturday when they head to Thomas More with kick-off at 1 PM.