Wheeling, W. Va. - With the Big Rivers Rugby Conference (BRRC) playoffs beginning next week, the final battle for seeding is on as we enter the final week of the regular season. The Wheeling University Rugby team (1-2, 1-0) Is looking to grab the top seed from the East Division in next week's BRRC Tournament when they hit the road for their regular season finale on Saturday as they take on the University of Rio Grande with kick-off at 1 PM. A win would earn the Cardinals the #1 seed in the BRRC East Division heading into next week's tournament as they look to bring their path to a championship through Wheeling.
Last time out, the team honored their seniors with a special Senior Day matchup with Thomas More as they opened 2023 BRRC play. Defense was the name of the game early on with neither team able to get on the board over the first 15 minutes. The Saints broke through in the 16th minute with their first try, and Wheeling responded just two minutes later. Once they got going, neither team wanted to stop as the offense just kept on coming. The Cardinals would tack on 12 more points and went into the locker room leading 19-10. With still a lot of game ahead of them, the Cardinals were determined to keep going and they did just that. They added 17 more points in the second half as they were able to hold off the Saints in front of a crowd that featured several alumni of the Wheeling Rugby program, dating back to its beginning in 1965.
After a slow start, the Cardinal's offense returned to dominance, with a season-high 36 points, double what they had put up in each of their first two games. Leading the way for the Cardinals was Lawula Bata, who scored 10 points for his team while also assisting on another try on the afternoon. The sophomore had been held off the board over the first two games of the 15's season but broke out in this one with runs at the end of each half to secure the victory. Last season, Bata was second on the team with six tries scored, and third in scoring with 30 points, and he will be a huge piece for the Cardinals offense as they head towards the BRRC playoff run.
The other multi-try scorer for the Cardinals was Aaron Juma, who after being held quiet the first two matches, got on the board for the first time this season as well. The sophomore was a top prospect in the 2023 Major League Rugby (MLR) Draft this past season but is back with Wheeling after not getting drafted. He is out to prove his professional abilities and get back to that draft stage. The defense also had a big game, holding off the Saints for big stops when they needed to. They allowed just 10 points in the first half and followed it up with 12 second half points as they helped Wheeling to the victory. They have held the opposition to 25 points or less in two of their first three matches and will be another key piece to the Cardinal's playoff run.
Last season, the Cardinals made the first-ever BRRC playoff tournament as a Wild Card team when they took on Adrian College. While there is a new playoff format this season, the Cardinals are looking to control their own destiny going into the tournament. After playing the opening round in Indianapolis, Indiana next week, the Cardinals are looking to ensure the BRRC playoffs run through Wheeling. They earned the right to play two home playoff games a year ago and were the #1 seed in the BRRC during 7's season. They look to keep the success going as they look to make a third straight run towards a National Championship in 2023.
The Matchup
The Cardinals and Red Storm are meeting for the third time in program history on Saturday, with Wheeling leading the all-time series with a record of 2-0. However, this will be the first time the two teams have met in 15's play, with each of their two previous meetings coming in 7's season. It has been a high scoring series overall for the Cardinals, with Wheeling averaging 27 points per game during the run and 54 total points in two matches. It will be the first trip to Rio Grande, Ohio for the Cardinals as they look to come away with another win.
In their most recent match, the two teams met at the Wolfhound 7's championship game during last year's 7's Season, with Wheeling coming out on top 33-5. Joe Iye would lead the Cardinal's offense, scoring two tries, while Tino Ajay and Jose Oltra each picked up scores. Former Cardinal Simo Haddar led the team going 1-2 on conversion kicks while Achraf Boutzanfout added a 3-7 mark kicking the ball to wrap up the day.
The Details
Kick-off for Saturday's game is scheduled for 1 PM at the Rio Grande Rugby Pitch on the campus of the University of Rio Grande. You can watch the match live by clicking HERE.
