Sewanee go 3 - 0 after win over Western Kentucky University

The heavy rain earlier in the day did not dampen the enthusiasm of the large contingent of Parent’s Weekend supporters or that of Sewanee Rugby as they faced off against perennial rivals and rugby friends Western Kentucky University last Saturday at the Quintard Rugby Field.

Although the Purple Haze made several early attacks into the WKU red zone they failed to capitalize and it was the visitors who struck first with a 3-point penalty for a Sewanee off-side infringement. The Haze struck back when senior and captain Lawrence Coffey made a brilliant chip kick over the WKU defence, gathering the ball for a try-scoring pass to sophomore full back Joseph Schulte. Coffey made the conversion to put Sewanee 7 – 3 ahead. Junior Locke Danny Speake was unlucky just moments later when he burst over the try line only to have the ball wrenched from his arms before he could score.

WKU regained the lead just before half-time with a good solo try and conversion by their talented fly-half.

After the re-start Sewanee soon got back in front 19 - 10 when Coffey converted junior winger Tristan Viana’s line-bursting try and just missed out converting sophomore lock Ethan Bucholtz’s powerful score off a tryline ruck. Sewanee improved their points tally to 24 – 10 when junior scrum-half Joey O’Neill popped-up and popped-over to scored as the Haze swarmed the WKU line. The visitors had the last say when a fluke bounce of the ball evaded full back Schulte and gave WKU a seven-point present, bringing to an end an exciting game of rugby for spectators and players alike.

Final score – Sewanee Rugby 24, Western Kentucky University 17

Sewanee Rugby plays Georgia Tech in Atlanta on October 3 and an invitational team on October 10, for Homecoming Weekend.