SHU Showdowns

Marist. Hofstra. Seton Hall. Next victim: Sacred Heart.

Men’s rugby continued its impressive start to the season and secured the team’s third road victory of the season with a hard-fought 27-15 road win over Seton Hall on Sunday afternoon.

The victory improves the Stags record to 3-0 on the season.

In stark contrast to the team’s ten-try performance against Marist last week, the miserable conditions and weather in Orange, N.J., ensured a victory built upon patience and graft rather than fluid ball movement.

Captian Bob Haller ’09 gave the ruggers a great start by touching down from short range after a typically dominant Fairfield Scrum.

Mark Keith ’11 added the extra points with a conversion before outkicking the Pirates’ fly-half by two penalties to one.

The home team responded emphatically, however, with two well-engineered tries ‘- converting one to go in 15-13 ahead at half time.

The second half saw a further deterioration of playing conditions as the referee struggled to temper rising tensions on the field.

Though both teams were lucky to finish the game without any penalties, the Stags maintained there composure when it mattered most.

The opportunistic Kevin Pleines ’09 pounced on a stray ball to touch down just pass a defender and right under Seton Hall’s noses.

Minutes later, Matt Almeida ’11 scored a try in the corner having collected a clever chip ahead from Haller to seal the win.

Fairfield did have opportunities to secure a bonus point with a forth try, but were repeatedly stopped short by a resolute home defense.

Nonetheless, the victory extends the team’s strong start and provides some added momentum heading into the team’s upcoming game against Sacred Heart.

Haller, though, maintains that the team has not let early season success’ change the mindset on a weekly basis.

‘You have to prepare like you’re playing the hardest team,’ Haller said. ‘To keep ourselves at the top of the ranks, we have to keep playing hard and not let up.’

This weekend, the ‘Red Ruggers’ travel to local rivals Sacred Heart on Sunday with an undefeated record – and town bragging rights – on the line.