Blacksburg Rugby

Blacksburg seized second place in the Virginia Rugby Union Men's Division III standings with a 27-8 win over Newport News on the road, which earns them the fifth seed in the coming spring's Mid-Atlantic Rugby Football Union territorial rounds.

Blacksburg made the long drive with only 16 footballers, including just seven starters from the previous week's win over Roanoke backing up for the road fixture. Fortunately, the available players comprised a very solid crew. Newport News threatened with a try and a penalty goal in the first half, but Blacksburg trumped that total with four tries, a penalty goal and a pair of conversions. Halfback Jimmy Vest earned man of the match honors with a brace of tries. Blacskburg's other two five-pointers turned typical positional play on its head, with usual loose forward Mike Lee crossing the whitewash during a cameo in the midfield and loosehead prop Nick Amoroso darting some 50 meters up the blind side for a try reminiscent of the quickest of outside backs. The boot of fullback Jeff Drake accounted for the rest of the Blacksburg scoring.

Blacksburg thanks Newport News for hosting the match. While the fixtures schedule goes cold until Spring, training will continue on Tuesday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 11:00 a.m. Players new and old, as well as others from the community just keen to get a run, are welcome. Individual strength and fitness training is also imperative during the off-season months.