Opening weekend for the Stony Brook Men’s Rugby Team finished in defeat, but it was a weekend where no one lost. Proving that the sportsmanship in Rugby is like no other, Seton Hall University and Stony Brook University Men’s Rugby Club raised an astonishing $11,360.00 to donate to the St. Baldwick’s Research Center for Children with Cancer.

The event featured head-shaving for charity and locks-cut-for love to show the support that both teams have for their community, loved ones, and those that are terminally ill. This season will be played in dedication to a team mother, Mrs. Isles who passed-away over the summer from Leukemia. The passionate and spirited mother refused to miss any games of the Rugby team and always provided half-time nourishment of oranges, thus the team will be sporting Orange socks and donating the cost of socks to cancer research as well.

Upon kick-off of the game the Sea Wolf men scored within the first phase of the game. Winger Onte Johnson showed why he is one of the best wings in the Union by shaking a few defenders after a picture-perfect pass from Inside Center and Captain Dan Holzhawuer. Seton Hall quickly answered by trying their own and everyone at the match knew it was going to be one down to the wire.

The forwards of Stony Brook fiercely dominated the game and set the tone in every aspect of the match. The pick em’ up and throw em’ down tackling of Jeff Carey proved to intimidate, interrogate and negate the play of Seton Hall. The back line proved to have the speed to beat Seton Hall, but early-season jitters lead to mistakes that would prove costly to The Stony Brook Men.

After loosing a front-row player to the sin-bin scrums went uncontested and the Seton Hall Men finally had a chance to win their own scrums. After a silly penalty that led to the conclusion that the ref was blinded by the gleaming afternoon sun the Stony Brook Men now were down two-men and still showed the heart and determination that brought them a Union Championship in the prior season.

At times when kicking for points the team actually thought they were playing elementary-style Chinese football as the posts constructed by Seton Hall had less space then the Long Island Expressway on a the Friday night prior to Memorial Day Weekend.

For short, the posts seemed to be lacking a few feet on both sides which proved costly when you figure the score, 28-20. If the posts had the room needed to actually attempt a legitimate kick SB could have made all over their conversions, tying the game at 28. What a shame!

Although Seton Hall proved they are tough competitors the films will show the dominated presence of the forwards scrum and line-outs and the mistakes that cost them this game. Simply put Head Coach Daniel Yarusso had said ‘No one will beat us this year beside ourselves.’ In the B-side game the Killer B’s took on their first pitch experience with pose and athleticism. The play of newcomers at Prop and Outside Center (the tandem of ‘Jasper’ and ‘Dave’) will prove helpful in the coming game to fill in positions on the starting side.

The B-Side forcefully won their match. The Men have a tough practice week in head of them as they look the mend the bumps and bruises that cost them this game. The Men are still confident that they can win the Division after posting such a great match against the reigning Division Champions. The team looks next to take on Columbia University at home by notching a win and setting the tone for the rest of the season.

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