METAIRIE, La. -- The Kutztown University men's rugby team looked very much the part of the East Region's No. 1 seed Saturday afternoon. Sophomore
Mate Kvirikashvili (Kutaisi, Ga./Monroe Woodbury (N.Y.)) recorded three tries and the Golden Bears dominated No. 8 seed Maryland from start to finish for a 31-0 clean sheet at the Gold Mine On Airline in the first round of the Premier bracket at the Collegiate Rugby Championship.
After some early back and forth possessions that yielded no points, Kutztown jumped out in front in the fourth minute. London-born freshman
Cameron Thurtell (London, England) took a pass from teammate Kvirikashvili, beating the Terps to the left sideline and across the tryline. The conversion was pure and the Bears led 7-0.
Maryland tried to answer a minute later, booting the ball forward into the in-goal area, but the Terrapins couldn't corral it. On the ensuing scrum, Maryland committed a penalty and KU took possession.
Just before halftime,
Thorne O'Connell (Johannesburg, South Africa/Jeppe) found Kvirikashvilli, who pushed across for his first try of the day as KU took a 12-0 lead to the break.
Kutztown, winners of 16 straight games coming into the weekend, kept its collective foot on the gas pedal in the second half. A minute into the period, Kvirikashvili took a set piece at the halfway line and outraced the Terps to the tryline, placing the ball under the post. Following another successful conversion, the Bears were in command 19-0.
Head coach
Dr. Gregg A. Jones' side was relentless in its pressure of the Terrapin attack throughout the full 14 minutes and got strategic kicking from O'Connell to aid in those efforts. When Maryland did have possession, much of that time was spent hemmed deep on its own side. Eventually, the Terps cracked again, with All-American
Kekoa Kauwe (Orem, Utah/Pleasant Grove) forcing a turnover near the 10-meter line. Kutztown turned it into more points, Kvirikashvili capping his hat trick in the 10th minute for a 24-0 advantage.
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When Maryland finally did cross the halfway line, it didn't end well.
Kobie Tuckson (Washington, D.C./Bishop McNamara) and his teammates converged on the Terrapins' ball carrier, forcing a scrum in the 12th minute. Right off the scrum, Kauwe broke free and burned Maryland again for a long try, putting it down under the posts in the 13th minute. Kauwe easily knocked the conversion through for a 31-nil lead.
The Terrapins made one last attack in an attempt to break the goose egg, but couldn't penetrate the Golden Bears' fortified defensive effort, turning it over down near the goal line. Time expired shortly thereafter, sending KU into a second round matchup with No. 4 seed Iowa State, a 17-14 winner over No. 5 seed Louisville, Sunday at 10:58 a.m. EDT.
Sunday morning's game against Iowa State will be contested in the Shrine On Airline Stadium and carried live on The Rugby Network. Kutztown can advance to the national quarterfinals with a victory. The quarterfinals are set to begin at 1:56 p.m. EDT.
RUN WITH THE BEARS!
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