September 2, 2016
Penn State Men’s Rugby Beats Queens University Rugby in Ontario
Photo: Shawn MacDonald (Sports Information Officer, Queens University)
Doug Coil
The article is based on media releases from both Queens University Gaels and Penn State Men’s Rugby.
It was a pre-season match for both the Queen’s University Men’s Rugby Gaels and Penn State Men’s Rugby in Kingston, Ontario Thursday afternoon. Penn State emerged with a 32-10 decision over the Gaels.
This was Queen’s Men’s Rugby team’s final tune-up before they travel to Waterloo to take on the Warriors to start their regular season Sunday at 1 pm. They hope to make it five straight times that they have won the Turner Trophy.
Penn State returns home to play the University of Pittsburgh Saturday at 11 am before they open their Rugby East D1A season home against West Virginia University on September 9 at 6pm.
Penn State returned eleven starters from last season, while eight players earned playing time in their first XV against the Gaels.
Penn State drew first blood, as scrumhalf Jim Ronan slotted a penalty kick for a 3-0 lead. The Gaels moved the ball through the backline and took the lead on with a try in the corner. The conversion was missed, but Queen’s had a 5-3 lead.
Penn State struck back after a penalty to the Gaels and kicked for territory. They then won the lineout and eightman Chris Burian had a try from the ensuing maul. Ronan added the conversion and the Nittany Lions regained the lead 10-5.
Ronan then added another penalty kick to increase their lead to 13-5 and that was how it would stay by halftime.
Early in the second half, Queen’s offense put Penn State under pressure. Penn State defended two long periods of time with the Gaels threatening to score. Fullback Kevin Trotter then held up a potential try for a Gaels 5 meter scrum. Penn State won the scrum and attacked with Sophomore flyhalf Michael Dabulas scoring a try in the corner. Ronan then converted for a 20-5 lead.
Queens fought back with a try that cut the lead to 20-10. Penn State then won the restart and after an offload to Burian, he did the rest in breaking several tackles for his second try of the match. Burian then added his third for a hat tick for the match.Reserve scrumhalf Brendan McCabe added the conversion and made the final score 32-10.
Penn State Head Coach Blake Burdette said “The boys played well today. They were uncompromising and played with a lot of determination. Chris Burian and the forwards led from the front. He (Burian) worked hard this summer and didn’t let anyone off easy today. We left some opportunities out there today, but we’ll learn and get on to the next task.”
The Queen’s Gaels squad was not listed in their recap.
Penn State Squad v Queens: 1. Jordan Crofts (Kevin Ndou @70), 2. Cory Klems (Thomas Capriotti @45), 3. Zach Barnes (Jack Kenney @75), 4. Ryan McNulty (Dan Featherston @65), 5. Rob Irimescu, 6. Jack McLean, 7. Malcolm May ©, 8. Chris Burian (Ryan Cornell @75), 9. Jim Ronan (Brendan McCabe @65), 10. Michael Dabulas, 11. Mike Eife, 12. Selby Niumataiwalu (Thomas Del Pino @38), 13. Tyler May, 14. Connor Cassidy (Jimmy Haley @45), 15. Kevin Trotter
Penn State 32
Tries: Burian 3, Dabulas; Conversions: Ronan, McCabe; Penalties: Ronan 2
Queens 10
Tries: 2; Conversions: None; Penalties: None
