STEUBENVILLE, Ohio - Franciscan University Rugby continues to dominate the 3 Rivers Rugby Conference with their third-straight victory of the season against Robert Morris University, winning 46-12.
The Barons began play looking as strong as ever, even with multiple reserves starting in the match. Senior Adam Smyth started the scoring with a try five minutes into the first half, with sophomore Thomas Hogan following up with a conversion.
FUS was then scored against for the first time in three games but a missed RMU conversion kept the Barons ahead 7-5 and kept the momentum on their side.
From there Franciscan took over the game. Sophomore Jimmy Kueber scored a try and freshman Jeff Baldwin followed with two more, giving the Barons 17 straight points and a 24-5 halftime lead.
"Jeff Baldwin is just excellent," head coach Ken DeLucia said. "He comes in with experience so his rugby pedigree is strong. His field savvy and wherewithal is fantastic and his ability to weave through traffic and make proper decisions, executing skill while under duress is excellent."
Even with a flow of reserve plays coming in during the second half, Franciscan continued to dominate. Senior David Biggs was instrumental on the field and earned himself the man of the match honors.
"David Biggs was on the 23-man roster going in as a reserve but was automatically slotted in to start today," DeLucia said. "David stepped up to the plate today in a really big way today, so much so that he was the Man of the Match. He was on his details, and fully accountable, and got the job done. He really exceeded my expectations."
Senior Adam Smyth scored his second try in the second half and sophomore Thomas Hogan scored three times, including an unassisted try off of a smart and creative kick down-field.
While running with the ball Hogan saw an un-manned patch of grass 25 yards down field, booted the ball past the oncoming defenders, and outraced the Colonials to the ball and an open path to the tryline.
"Tom had fantastic work," DeLucia said. "That is just phenomenal skills. The guy is pretty handy and it's his first game back from injury. Tom was pretty hungry to come back out and show everyone, 'Hey Listen, I'm top dog.' He had an excellent day and I was expecting that kind of performance."
The Barons' fitness level, due to mandatory strength and conditioning workout runs by fitness coordinator Rob Marrow, has enabled the team to defend so effectively, DeLucia said. Their other major asset against RMU was their roster size.
"The depth of the team is our strength, without a doubt," DeLucia said. "We have 30 game day roster guys and that's what makes us so strong. Everyone has to be sharp and on their details because when their number is called, the standard is the standard and they have got to perform."
With such a strong season underway, DeLucia said the Barons stay grounded by maintaining their focus and concentrating on the upcoming game and only that upcoming game.
"We will worry about later in the season when we get to it," DeLucia said. "Right now we have next week and that is all we care about. I think that everyone here has done a tremendous job in preparing themselves to be ready to play. Let's just move forward and keep the momentum going."
FUS plays next at home against Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday, October 5 at 1 p.m.
