College rugby is getting a nice jump-start this Labor Day weekend with a few warmup games, as well as some early in-conference clashes.
Here's a rundown:
The University of Buffalo defeated SUNY Cortland 45-16 in a warmup game that perhaps points out where the Rugby East and Liberty conferences are compared to each other. Cortland was one of the top teams in the Liberty last year, and Buffalo was winless in the Rugby East.
Classes may have just started but we’ve been working all summer long.#GoBulls pic.twitter.com/Y9cEg6cYHd
— UB Men's Rugby (@ubrugby) August 28, 2018
Penn State also showed something of the strength of the Rugby East with a 128-5 defeat of Mount St. Mary's in a four-period warmup that has to, at the very least, showcase Penn State's depth.
But not all D1AA teams feel to D1A opposition. Lindenwood-Belleville opened its account with a 36-14 defeat of Wisconsin.
"It was a good first win against a quality opponent," said L-B head coach Joe Lippert. "We committed way too many penalties but Tinashe Muchena and Kyle Hopcraft showed great leadership. They kept us focused and we got the result we wanted."
It was a close game for most of the afternoon, but the Lynx took a lead they would not relinquish just before halftime when Hopcraft went over to make it 15-14. Muchena and Hopcraft both scored their second to make it 29-14 in the second half, and then a penalty try ended the scoring.
Wisconsin will be looking to strength the Badgers' second-half performance. L-B visits Indiana next week.
Meanwhile, Tennessee defeated Louisville in a close one on Saturday 24-20 and turned around to face the University of Notre Dame on Sunday, which resulted in a nicely-taken 41-24 win for the Fighting Irish.
And finally, two pairs of Liberty teams face off. Albany came back from an 8-0 point deficit to top Stony Brook 12-8. Early in the second half, Albany outside center Colin Dowd made a break and scored under posts with Charles Barranco converting. That made it a one-point game, and then flyhalf Matt Regan put the Danes ahead for good with a nifty run off a scrum with nine minutes to go.
And on Thursday, Iona put aside any fears that player turnover has made the Gaels vulnerable in the Liberty Conference. Iona put an improving University of Massachusetts team to the sword 59-15. John Powers scored two early tries but it wasn't really until the second half that Iona was able to shake the Minuteman.
Connor Buckley and Cullen Buckley both scored tries, as did Watson Filikitonga, captain Nadipha Dube, Omar Mtarfi, Dilsher Maini, and Santi Mascolo.
Mascolo accounted for 17 points, but the stars of the day may have been the seven freshmen who started. Flanker Cam DiGiorgio brought the grit Iona needed and Cullen Buckley had his best game so far for the Gaels.