Army got its first win and a B side run-out. / Photo: Army West Point Athletics
There was plenty of action in the National Intercollegiate Rugby Association (NIRA) last Friday-Monday, but the rankings themselves did not budge. That likely won’t be the case after round four.
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The only game of true consequence was the Quinnipiac vs. Norwich match. It was the Cadets first outing of the season and they went toe to toe with the Bobcats through the first half. A 15-point loss to the defending national champions is not a bad result. It was a loss, though, and so didn’t warrant a bump in the standings past AIC – but, the two face each other this weekend and sort out the order.
There were only another two regulation 15s games that occurred. Brown took a heavy loss to 3-0 Dartmouth and sits one spot higher than West Chester, which Army shut out 69-0. Everyone ranked below either played DII friendlies outside of the conference or 10s games. In other words, there was no place to move.
When LIU Post cancelled on Sacred Heart, the Pioneers picked up an abbreviated Friday night game against Army’s B side, and fell just short. Colby-Sawyer and Castleton played 10s, and the Chargers prevailed 53-15. Mount St. Mary’s and Molloy also played 10s, and the former posted a second-straight shutout. New England and Bowdoin both played non-league games against DII Bryant and Roger Williams. The Nor’easters took a close loss and the Polar Bears soundly defeated its opponent, but comparing those apples to oranges. Notre Dame College and Harvard were idle.
This weekend pits several teams in close ranking proximity against each other. Dartmouth or Harvard will snap its winning streak, as the Crimson travel to Hanover, N.H., and the Big Green’s alumni weekend. Really looking forward to seeing Mount St. Mary’s against a Tier 1 team in Notre Dame College, but all of the games, truly, are engaging.
SEPT 22-23
AIC @ Norwich
Castleton @ Sacred Heart
Colby-Sawyer @ LIU Post CLD
Harvard @ Dartmouth
New England v Molloy (@ Brown)
Notre Dame College @ Mount St. Mary’s
West Chester @ Brown
NON-LEAGUE
Army @ Navy
Colby @ Bowdoin