In the only home game of the spring semester, Hillsdale College’s rugby squad fell to the visiting Hope College Flying Dutchmen 19-7 on Saturday.
After surrendering two early tries in the first half, the Chargers did rebound in the second with a score by sophomore Jake Stratman, and senior Phil “Deuce” Morgan’s conversion pulled the Chargers to within one try of Hope.
“Deuce carried the ball into contact and took my defender away, which left me alone to take the pass and carry it in, and I managed to break a tackle and get the try,” Stratman said .
But the Dutchmen responded with another try, and despite Hillsdale’s continued possession deep in Hope territory, they couldn’t manage to close the margin.
Despite the loss, the Chargers were pleased with the effort and the improvement in the second half as the team adjusts to its mix of veterans and new players. Senior Nick Youngstrom, who interned in Washington, D.C. last semester, returned to anchor the front line at prop, but even he had to adjust to a new position.
“I’ve played rugby all through high school and here at Hillsdale, and making the transition to prop from hooker has been pretty weird,” Youngstrom said. “We’re still trying to find a solid front line, but this game was big for us in terms of getting actual game experience, and the referee was really helpful about educating the new guys on the rules and making sure we had safe play.
“Overall, our effort and better communication in the second half was really encouraging, and the experience was invaluable for the new guys.”
Charger rugby captain Gabe Bunek viewed the game as a learning experience for the young Charger squad, which has only 10 returning players from the fall semester’s team. The forwards in particular lacked experience, as only three players returned to the front eight with significant rugby experience.
“We’ve only had two weeks to really prepare for this first game, and its simply a lot of information and technique for the rookies to pick up,” Bunek said. “But we definitely played much better in the second half. It’s important to remember that we’ve got a very different team from the fall, and we’ve got a deeper team thanks to a few more guys showing interest in playing, which is always positive.”
The squad is also relatively healthy, and only winger Paul Chirdon, who broke his nose, sustained any serious injuries.
The Chargers’ next game will come against powerhouse Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Hillsdale certainly won’t be favored against GVSU, which is one of the strongest college teams in the region.
“We’re looking to go up to Grand Valley with a much more cohesive team,” Bunek said.
Hillsdale will take on Grand Valley on April 7.
The Chargers will compete the week after in the Ruck City Tournament in Detroit on April 14, and then hope to travel to the University of Findlay for a game on April 21.
