Alex S. MacRae flies past an East Carolina player Sept. 4. Appalachian took the game by a score of 39-5. Photo by Boxley Llewellyn

by MARC WALKER
Intern Sports Reporter

Rugby is known for being a full contact sport without pads. While some think only brute strength is needed to win a match, it actually is much more complicated than that. 

Fifteen players work collaboratively to score what is called a try, where the ball is grounded in the goal zone for five points, or a penalty kick for three points.

The players are divided up into eight forwards and seven backs, with the forwards typically being bigger while the backs are faster.

With AHO only graduating four seniors last year, the team has its sights set high for this season.

Appalachian quickly took the lead with senior Alex S. MacRae, a management major and the number eight man on the squad, scoring a try in the first 5 minutes. Once Appalachian had established a lead they made quick work of the Pirates.

“We just filled in the gaps and looked to push forward,” club president Ben S. Llewellyn, junior marketing major said.

Hooker Ryan K. O’Connor, junior music industry major, scored another try.

Daniel W. Kelly, junior marketing major, made the conversion for another two points. Leading 12-0, Kelly made a penalty conversion for another three points.

The second half started with AHO up by 15 and Llewellyn utilized his speed to score for the team again. Beating the opposing fly-half to the ball in the try zone, Llewellyn dove on the ball to pick up another five points.

Kelly came out and made the conversion, adding another two points on the board.

ASU continued to control the match as freshman political science major Drew D. Zabor scored another try and Kelly again made the conversion.

Although they did allow ECU to score one try, Appalachian was clearly firing on all cylinders as they scored twice in the last 10 minutes.

With the board showing the score at 37-5 Kelly hit his sixth kick of the day to give AHO a 39-5 win.

Mark Akerman, sophomore international business major, has high expectations for the season.

“[We will] go down to at least the southern top four; we are looking to win,” Akerman said.

AHO now turns its attention to Rucktoberfest, the annual tournament held Oct. 4-5.

This tournament usually contains around 20 teams, including the North Carolina Tar Heels and South Carolina Gamecocks.

AHO is expecting a repeat performance of last year, where they took the top spot at their tournament.

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