By Kate Troy
Rutland’s Dan Beauregard, carries the ball in an “eight-man pick” off the base of a scrum in Rutland’s third place victory.
By Maxx Steinmetz
New England Rugby Football Union’s (NERFU) fourth division held their end of season tournament this weekend in Keene, N.H. hosted by their local club, the Monadnack Wolfpack.
Rutland Rugby Football Club (RFC) faced Cape Cod for their first game. Cape Cod traveled light to Rutland in the fall, and beat Rutland due in part to the borrowed Castleton University players that also play with Rutland. In a physical game that set the tone for the day, Rutland was able to avenge their previous defeat, 14-5
The next match Rutland faced the hosts, Monadnock, who had earned a first round bye due to being one of the two top seeded teams in the division. After an early successful penalty kick, the much larger Monadnock team, both in size and number, were able to regather and put up a 31-3 win over Rutland.
For third and final match of the day an achy and sore Rutland faced off against the Black River RFC/ Bennington RFC combined team which had beaten the Roosters handily a few weeks prior. Bolstered by a few Cape Cod players, who subbed in for an injured Rutland player or two, the Roosters were able to avenge another regular season loss by beating their opponents 26-19.
Rutland finished the tournament in a beat-up third place, behind second place Monadnock who unfortunately fell to Berkshire RFC in the final.
