Wheeling, W. Va. – The National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) 15's Quarterfinals came to Bishop Schmitt Field on Saturday as Wheeling Rugby hosted St. Bonaventure. It was a battle throughout, with both teams delivering big hits on the night, but in the end, the Bonnies would advance to the NCR Semifinals with the Cardinals falling 26-13. Wheeling scored two tries on the night, as they wrap up 15's season as one of the top eight teams in the country.
Early on, the two teams Battle for leverage with neither team getting on the scoreboard in the first 5 minutes of play. In that fifth minute, St Bonaventure would strike first has Noah Edwards sailed the penalty kick through the uprights to give the Bonnies a 3-0 lead. It was a very physical match throughout, with both teams delivering hard hits throughout the afternoon. The Cardinals could not break through the Bonnie's defensive effort And in the 17th minute St Bonaventure would score their first try of the day and put the conversion kick through to make a 10-0 score. The Cardinals kept chipping away and in the 26th minute broke through for their first score of the afternoon.
It came after St Bonaventure penalty put the ball back in Wheeling's hands. The Cardinals made a couple attempts from 5 meters out but they were unsuccessful. Then,
Marvel Benza would pitch the ball back to Joseph Iye to create some separation. The move would work as Iye found
Alex Nyamunda from about 10 meters out. The Freshman would take the ball the rest of the way as he crossed the try line to get Wheeling on the board to make it a 10-5 game. Chief Chipfimbu would attempt the conversion kick but it was no good as the Cardinals trailed by five with about 14 minutes left in the half. St Bonaventure would add one more try before the half ended and the Cardinals went into the locker room trailing 17-10.
Wheeling was looking for a fast start in the new half, and would get just that as they made a move Just one minute in. The Bonnies got called for a penalty on the opening kickoff resulting in a scrum at the 50 yard line. The Cardinals would win that scrum and pitch the ball out to
Lawula Bata On the near sideline. The sophomore would use his speed to break through and, after being tripped up at the 5 m line, got across the try line with a second chance effort. The Cardinals once again miss the conversion kick but had cut the Bonnie's lead to 17-10 in the 41st minute. After another Bonnie's penalty kick in the 46th minute push the score to 20-10, the Cardinals would get their first penalty kick try Just 6 minutes later.
St Bonaventure committed a penalty when the Cardinals tried for a kick out, and Iye would step into attempt the kick from about 40 yards out. He would sail it through and it became a one score game as the Cardinals cut the lead to 20-13 in the 52nd minute. Unfortunately for Wheeling, That would be their final score of the day as the Bonnie's defense stiffened. Neither team was able to score another try on the day, but St Bonaventure took advantage of three penalty kick opportunities In the final 25 minutes of play converting all three to get to 26 points on the day. It was enough to clinch the win as Wheeling fell 26-13, making an exit in the NCR 15s quarterfinal round for the second consecutive year.
The Cardinals scored two tries on the day by two different players as
Alex Nyamunda and
Lawula Bata each got across the try line on the day. For Nyamunda, It was his fourth postseason try as he ended Tide for the team lead during the playoff run. Bata pushed across his second try of the postseason as he rounded out his strong showing in 15's play. The other three Cardinals points came courtesy of Joseph Iye, to kick through the lone penalty kick of the day.
The Wheeling University Rugby team heads into the short off season as they prepare for 7's Play starting in February. They look to once again get to the national stage and compete for a national championship.
