The Memphis Tigers enters a scrum with the Mississippi State Bulldogs in last year's game. This year the Tigers beat the Bulldogs 31-19 in Starkville.
The Memphis Tigers Rugby team defeated the Mississippi State Bulldogs 34-12, avenging their opening season loss to MTSU.
The Tigers (1-1) took the field with aspirations of re-establishing the program’s hopes of pursuing a spot in the Southeastern Collegiate Rugby Conference (SCRC).
“I can certainly say it feels amazing,†said Musa Banat, the team’s captain. “I am proud of the discipline. We had serious determination and it resulted in a win.â€
Banat said the team discussed the issues step-by-step and had greatly improved since their last game, leading them to have a successful showing this time around.
The Tigers took the lead early 3-0 with a penalty kick from fly half Grant Caldwell. The Bulldogs then took the lead 7-3 after a try and a conversion kick in the middle of the first half.
Fullback Turk Wigley scored his first try after a well-timed pass from winger Ian Byers to cut through the Bulldog defense. Wigley went on to score another try on the final play of the first half to increase to lead to 15-7 at halftime following a successful conversion kick from Caldwell.
“We have been working hard,†Wigley said. “A couple of great passes and great looks have made the backs successful.â€
Wigley also said despite being the one who scored the points, the entire back line deserved recognition.
Will Allen successful completes a line out and keeps possession of the ball. The Tiger beat the Bulldogs 34-12 at Memorial Field.
“I don’t want to call it my success,†Wigley said. “The entire team deserves the credit after how hard we have worked.â€
The scoring became one-sided after halftime. Mississippi State had issues moving the ball down the field and keeping momentum and possession for the rest of the game. The Bulldogs had been compressed into their own try zone multiple times and continued to find ways to surge back into Tiger territory. Jeremiah Russell, Banat, and Caldwell all scored a try in the second half.
“Couldn’t be happier with the boys,†said coach Steve Swatzyna. “I think we are well on our way to playing better this year.â€
Swatzyna said he took the blame for the one-point MTSU loss because of his decision to substitute multiple players at once.
“I made some mistakes that first game,†Swatzyna said. “This game, I think, we played smarter and we are well on our way to a good season.â€
Caldwell and two other Memphis players were taken out of the game because of injuries that required stitches. Joel Witcher, the president of the Memphis rugby team, received a hard blow to the head while tackling a player and was taken out of the game in the first half and did not return.
All the injured players are expected to return within the next few weeks, and Swatzyna was confident the team could still remain strong for the next game against the University of Mississippi.
“We’re strong and we have good people to fill in the open spots on the team until the original starters can return,†Swatzyna said. “We work and we will play everyone until we find good match-ups.â€
Memphis Rugby will play a third home game against SCRC rival Ole Miss. The Tigers will play the Ole Miss Rugby Club at Memorial Field on Feb. 23.
