Delmarva Rugby / Smyrna Red Storm brings High School 15s Rugby to Sussex County
Delmarva Rugby Release: Tom Colucci
The Delmarva/ Red Storm United team defeats Archmere B side 30-0
Lewes DE, 4/30/17 –
Delmarva Rugby hosted several high school teams at their pitch on Sunday for a combined scrimmage and U19 full squad rugby match. Previous games during the spring used the “sevens” format where only seven players are on the pitch at a time. That format has allowed start up programs to begin playing competitive rugby with shortened rosters. Over the last few weeks, Delmarva Rugby and the Smyrna Red Storm worked out the logistics of combining their teams in order to field a full team of 15 players. Archmere, with some help from a few St. Marks players, made the trip from up north to stand in as the opposition. The day started out with a practice to help both teams organize themselves. Much attention was paid to the scrum downs as that play involves eight players from both sides bound together and pushing against each other. Proper form is extremely important to avoid injuries. Both teams were able to start off by “packing down” on Delmarva Rugby’s new scrum sled. The team then started practicing against each other until the scrum downs were deemed stable. The coaches stayed on the pitch for approx. 12 plays to help newer players acclimate to the speed and complexity of the 15’s game. At that time the coaches left the pitch and the teams began playing full on rugby. In that game, the Delmarva/Smyrna United team was able to dominate the scrum play and win the match 30-0. It was a great day of High School Rugby in the region.
About Delmarva Rugby
Delmarva Rugby is a 501(c)3 non profit dedicated to the growth of rugby in the Delmarva region. The club was founded in 2011 and plays in the Eastern Pennsylvania Rugby Union (EPRU). The men’s team recently moved up to Division 3. Woman’s and U19 teams are presently being formed. Delmarva Rugby plays its home games and practices at the American Legion Post 28 located in Millsboro DE. Delmarva Rugby can be followed on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Any interested players for the teams can reach out to Tom Colucci at Tomc@cncsolar.com