The Vikings won in convincing fashion at home, setting them up to host the NCRC Championships at home. // Photo by Cailean Mcleod
The Western men’s rugby team trumped Washington State University 49-0, on Saturday, March 2 at the Northwest Collegiate Rugby Conference Semifinals hosted at Robert S. Harrington Field. This win sets the stage for the men’s rugby team to play for the NCRC Championship.
Coach Paul Horne credited his team’s victory to a solid defensive line, which consistently kept WSU away from the goal line throughout the game.
“In a game of rugby you’re always trying to take away the space, apply pressure to the other team and have an opportunity to generate any kind of attack, and that’s what we did today,” Horne said.
However, WSU didn’t go down without getting a few hits in. Western’s prop man Jojo Alkhedairy smashed his head after a tackle and had to be subbed out in the first half for forward Mohammed Aljanoubi.
“A couple of our subs came off bench and played really well for us in the backs,” Alkhedairy said. “Brandon Burn in particular was a bright spot for us.” Burn is the team’s wing man, according to the team roster.
Western’s inside center man Avery Louis also came up with a bloody nose and fingers after a tackle. He said WSU had a tough time getting behind their line.
“It was kind of weird, because of all the weather we had a couple of practices cancelled,” Louis said. “We haven’t played in three months, so I’m happy with the way we came back.”
Western will go on to play the NCRC Finals on Saturday, March 9, at Harrington Field against OSU, who won their semi-final game against Oregon University by a score of 23-24 on Monday, March 4. The last time Western played against OU, they won that game 66-7.
