The National Collegiate Rugby organization (NCR) is a new division one, collegiate rugby entity. They have launched their first national tournament brackets for 2021. The Golden Bears have qualified for a play-in berth to the tournament. Their opponent in this game was Mount St. Mary's University, located in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

The Mountaineers had qualified for the play-in match, by finishing third in the Chesapeake Rugby Conference. The Golden Bears were nominated to host the contest and Luckenbill Ave. will once again be mentioned, in the history of Kutztown Rugby. The weather prediction of wind, rain and cold weather came true at the dawning of game day. Several hours later, at the moment of the kick-off, the pitch was drenched, slippery and being eaten up by the players studs. The temperature had dropped to the high thirty's with a wind and rain that presented a wind chill factor in the twenty degree to twenty five degree range.These were the conditions as The Mount kicked off to the Golden Bears. The ball was wet and Kutztown, as well as the Mountaineers, struggled to maintain possession. The larger Kutztown pack had a visible advantage, as the pitch quickly transformed into mud and they used their weight and height, to take advantage in the set pieces. The contact area also belonged to the Kutztown forwards, as they worked their way into the Mount's Red Zone. However, a knock-on gave the possession back to the Mount, as they took advantage of it and eventually kicked into  Kutztown territory.  A missed tackle and a series of pick and go moves by the Mount, led to their first try of the game. A "penalty try", awarded by the referee, at the five minute mark. The Mount 7  KU 0. The Golden Bears regained possession after the re-start and moved swiftly into Mt. St. Mary's territory.

At the seventh minute of the contest, Kutztown's captain, Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) (Sr. / Johannesburg, South Africa) wisely chose to slot a penalty kick. The score now read The Mount 7 KU 3. The two sides continued to battle one another, as well as the freezing rain. During the remainder of the first halve, Kutztown defied the weather and was moving the ball in their backline. The Golden Bears took advantage and scored three trys before halftime. Breyten Maritz (Cape Town, South Africa/Paul Roos), Miles Rahedi and Gus Dellinger. In spite of the abominal conditions, Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) hit on all three conversions and the scoreboard lit up with Kutztown on top ,,,,, 24 - 7. 

Kutztown had to make some substitutions at halftime due to players shivering uncontrollably. Yes, it was inevitable, with the combination of wind , freezing rain and cold, wet mud. Early in the second half, O'Connell hit on another penalty kick and a bit later in the second half , Helmut Baschleben (Maui, Hawaii) touched the ball down at the sixty eight minute mark. The boys from Mount St. Mary's never gave up and scored a late try as the buzzer was ready to sound off.

The Final score was KU 32, Mount St. Mary's 12. The Golden Bears were on their way to the NCR's National Tournament. There first opponent in the Quarter-Final round, will be the 8-2, Liberty Conference Champions, Iona University, on Sunday, Nov. 21.  
 
RUN WITH The HE BEARS !