Results - Rugby

Aptril 25-27, 2008

Notre Dame’s rugby club dropped a 56-24 game at Bowling Green over the weekend to conclude its season. Bowling Green played in the Nationals last year, and was ranked 5th just two weeks ago. The Falcons’ coach was retiring after the game, which made for an emotionally inspired opponent.

Don Greiwe intercepted a pass and scored the game’s first try and conversion in the opening two minutes to give the Irish a 7-0 lead. Bowling Green scored two minutes later on an advantage call following an Irish offside. The Falcons then rolled to a 42-7 lead at the half. The Irish next scored as they mauled into the try zone off a lineout as David Bray scored. Three minutes later, Andy Mullen scored yet another try. Kevin Ritt added the final score of the day for the Irish A side squad.

The B-side fared no better, dropping a 65-7 game. Andy Mullen scored the only Irish try and Don Greiwe added the conversion. The Irish measured themselves against one of the nation’s strongest teams and displayed promise for the future.  

April 18-20, 2008

Rugby stepped up in class this weekend as the club hosted 25th ranked Ohio State. A nationally ranked power matched with a first year club is the proverbial recipe for disaster. Yet the Irish hung tough throughout the game before falling 36-22 to the Buckeyes. Ohio State came out strong, aggressively dominatting the first twenty minutes to the tune of a 21-0 lead. Once the Irish settled down and moved play into the Buckeye end of the field, the momentum swung to the home standing squad.

Don Greiwe was the first to crack the scoreboard for the Irish, kicking a drop goal. A quick drive off a lineout from Ohio State4’s five meter line resulted in a score by David Bray. Chris Harrington then intercepted a pass deep in Notre Dame territory and returned it 70 meters for the score. Down 28-15, the Irish were near the Ohio State goal line once again when the half ended.

The second half was evenly played. Ohio State managed a score off a scrum and also kicked a drop goal, while Harrington scored once more for the Irish. The Irish will next travel to another traditional Midwest power, Bowling Green this Saturday.

Notre Dame’s B-side prevailed 12-3 over Ohio State’s B side. Andy Mullen and Karun Ahuija each scored tries, and Sean Mithell added two points on a conversion. Quick ball movement and playing most of the game on the Ohio State side of the field resulted in the hard-fought victory.  

April 11-13, 2008

Notre Dame’s rugby club fell to the Michiana Men’s team, 24-7 this weekend in Elkhart. Andy Mullen registered the lone try for the Irish, with Don Greiwe scoring on the conversion. The game was tied at the half, but Michiana dominated the scrums in the second half and controlled the pace of the game.

The Irish will return to action at home this Saturday as they host Ohio State at 1:00 on the West Quad Field.  

March 28-29, 2008

Notre Dame swept Loyola College in a pair of dominating victories on Saturday in Skokie, IL. The A-side opened play with a convincing 66-0 win marked by Chris Harrington’s three tries. Patrick Toole and Bob Huguelet each added a pair of tries, while BenFrost, Andy Mullen and Chris Brown scored one apiece. Don Greiwe was eight of ten on the two point conversions. The Irish preserved their 28-0 halftime lead with a three minute goal line stand to close the half. Dan Blakely also scored three tries for the Irish in the B-side’s 55-0 whitewashing of Loyola. Single tries were scored by Dave Johnson, Jon Liedl, Kevin Ritt, Nic Hutnyak,

Dan Buckley and Kurt Riester. Kevin Ritt was five of seven on the conversions.

The Irish will host the University of Windsor this Saturday on the West Quad fields at 1:00. Windsor is a strong Canadian varsity program.  

March 21-22, 2008

Notre Dame dropped a pair of contests at Indiana this weekend as the A-side lost 48-14, while the B-side fell 29-22. Don Greiwe and Bob Huguelet each scored a try for the top squad, with Greiwe successful on both conversions. It was the first venture into division one competition for the Irish.

Chris Liedl, David Bray, Tom Riley and Andy O’Conner each scored a try for the B-side. Andy O’Conner managed the only conversion.  

March, 14-16, 2008

Notre Dame opened spring play with a 34-20 victory over visiting Wisconsin-Whitewater Saturday. After a slow start, the Irish settled down as Adam Cerise pounded the ball in for the Irish’ first try. Despite numerous penalties disrupting the game’s flow, the Irish added three more tries by Don Greiwe, Chris Harrington, and Patrick Toole to grab a 22-10 lead at the half. Harrington and Greiwi each added a second half try and the Irish then withstood a Whitewater comeback to preserve the win.

The B-side then squared off against Northwestern. Bob Heieck scored a try and Andy O’Conner’s conversion put the Irish up 7-0. However, an aggressive Wildcat club shut down the strugging Irish offense and scored three tries in winning, 15-7.

The Irish will return to action this Saturday at Indiana.  

October 5-7, 2007

The rugby club continued its winning ways with a 46-7 drubbing of Calvin College on Saturday. Don Greiwe and Andy Mullen each scored two tries, while Bob Huguelet, Chris Brown, captain Chris Harrington, and Alex Duffy each added a try in a well balanced attack. Greiwe made two conversions and Sean Mitchell one to account for the rest of the scoring.

The game was somewhat lethargic, given the oppressive heat and humidity. Calvin started strong and the Irish sluggish, committing numerous turnovers and giving up a lot of ground. Once Huguelet opened the scoring, Calvin wilted under the pressure as their inexperience showed. Don Greiwe and Chris Harrington continue to stand out among the club’s large cast of players.

In a second game played after a short break, the club started strong against St. Joseph’s and pulled away to a 52-17 victory. Mike Johnson, Griewe, Duffy, Andy Mullen, David Bray, Chris White, Dave Johnson and Kurt Riester all scored tries in the game. Griewe (4), Johnson, and Harrington all added conversions as well.

The Irish swung it out to the backs often with great success, and kicked the ball downfield for big gains in territory. With the game well in hand, the Irish relented in the heat and the fatigue of back-to-back games, giving up three tries on defensive breakdowns. The A side is currently 6-1-1, and the B side is 2-0.  

September 28-30, 2007

After defeating defending CARFU champion Loyola the day before, Northwestern looked to score big on its home field against Notre Dame. The game opened in an ugly fashion, riddled with penalties on both sides. Overcoming this start, Chris Harrington scored a try about ten minutes into the game. Five minutes later, the Wildcats responded with a field goal, closing the gap to 7-3. From that point it was all Irish as the club scored 58 unanswered points and won in a rout, 65-3.

Chris Brown scored three tries for the Irish, Sean Mitchell and Andy Mullen added a pair each, while Don Greiwe, David Bray, and Jonathan Liedl closed out the scoring. In a B side game, the Irish again prevailed, 10-0. Andrew O’Conner and Chris Hapak each accounted for five points with tries.

The club will return to action next week when it hosts Calvin College and St. Joseph’s on Saturday at the West Quad fields.  

September 21-23, 2007

Notre Dame opened CARFU (Chicago Area Rugby Football Union) play this weekend with a pair of one-sided victories over University Illinois - Chicago and Northern Illinois. In the opener, the Notre Dame A side defeated UIC, 33-0, behind a balanced scoring attack. Chris Brown scored two tries, while Chris Harrington, Luis Melendez and Don Greiwe each had one try. The final six points came on two Greiwe field goals.

In the second contest, The NDRFC B side defeated the UIC B side, 34-0. Pat Griffin lead all scorers with three tries, while single tries were posted by Mike Johnson, Patrick O’Toole, and John Liedl. Sean Mitchell converted both of his attempts to account for the remaining four points.

Northern Illinois fell to the club, 38-0 in the finale. Andrew Mullen, Bob Huguelet, Mitchell, Harrington, Melendez, and Stephen Barbera each scored a try. Greiwe was three of four on conversions and Mitchell one of two to complete the scoring.

These are the first two CARFU league matches this season, and the first official match played by the club on campus in over twelve years. The A-side sports a 3-1-1 record while the B-side’s victory was its first match of the year. The club will travel to Northwestern next week.  

August 31 - September 2, 2007

Notre Dame’s rugby football club opened the season this weekend with an exhibition match against an alumni squad. The alumni prevailed 25-5. Jaime Urquijo scored a try for the club’s five points.

The club traveled to Milwaukee for the Marquette Highland Games Tournament the next day. In the opening game, Notre Dame defeated Wisconsin - Parkside, 19-10. Chris Harrington scored two tries and Mark Bond one, while Don Greiwe was two for three on the two point conversions.

The A side next faced Illinois, and played to a 14-14 tie. Harrington and Bond again scored one try each, and Greiwe converted both two point conversions. Since the club had scored more points than Illinois against Parkside, 19 vs. 17, the squad advanced to the championship game.

In the championship, the club lost to Marquette, 29-0. The team only twenty players to begin the tournament, but due to injuries, played with only seventeen in the championship. With fifteen starters, only two substitutes were available on the bench. Marquette fielded a forty man squad.

The club’s record to date is 1-1-1, and will play next weekend against at Wabash against Wabash and St. Joseph’s.