Pitt men’s rugby goes a perfect 4-0 during spring season

The men’s rugby team had an undefeated spring season despite a late start because of the… The men’s rugby team had an undefeated spring season despite a late start because of the unpredictable Pittsburgh weather. Both the A- and B-sides went 4-0.

“We finally got outside on the lawn the last week of February,” head coach Dan Talbert said. “Things began coming together after spring break and we didn’t seem to miss a beat from the fall.”

The opening match on Feb. 22 against East Penn Rugby Union Division II Champions York College was canceled because of the weather.

Having only three practices, Pitt battled the University of Michigan on March 15. The Wolverines already had one victory in the spring season.

Eight minutes into the match, outside center Brad DiCola and Robin Gorkin connected for the first points of the season. Pitt was up 28-5 at halftime. After another strong half led by junior flanker Ben Hopson, the Panthers won their first match of the season 40-5.

“[Hopson] had the speed and spirit to carry the pack through the second half,” Talbert said. “He was the main reason Michigan was shut out in the second half.”

The B-side’s bout with Michigan was only 10 minutes long. Ben Greenblat scored a try and Pitt B won 5-0.

The very next week, the Washington Irish Tournament was canceled so Pitt scheduled a three-way meet with Clarion and Robert Morris. Pitt A battled Clarion and Pitt B took on a combination of RMU/Clarion B team.

“They were pretty hard hitters and for the first 10 minutes, I was a little worried of the outcome,” Talbert said of the B-side opponents from Clarion and RMU.

Pitt B came away with a shutout victory, 49-0. Pitt A followed suit with a 44-0 win over Clarion A.

Next for Pitt was the Pittsburgh Collegiate Classic. Pitt won the tournament in 2001 and the consolation bracket last season. Four of the top five teams in the Allegheny Rugby Union competed.

In the opening rounds, Pitt A shutout Pitt-Johnstown 22-0 while Pitt B beat Clarion A, 10-0.

The semifinals saw Pitt B defeating a Slippery Rock team, 23-10, that had five players that were at least 6-foot-3-inches tall and 240 pounds.

“I thought we were in for it,” Talbert said. “But our flankers Andy Balough and Mike Russo traded them hit for hit.”

Pitt A now had to defeat West Virginia University, who had just beaten Shippensburg. After a shaky 8-6 halftime lead for Pitt, points remained scarce in the second half. However, Pitt held on to narrowly defeat WVU, 13-11.

“This was a great tournament for the Pitt guys,” Talbert said.

Both sides finished with 4-0 records. A-side recorded two shutouts and the B-side had three.

Talbert is extremely pleased with the results of the spring season and is currently searching for more talent and depth to add to the roster. Anyone interested in joining the rugby club can find more information at www.pitt.edu/~football.