Grand Rapids, Mich. – The AQ men's rugby squad took on the Saints of Thomas More today (Oct. 8) at Houseman Field. Thomas More, the defending division two national champions, proved to be a tough task for the young Saints team as Thomas More won the game 45-14.

AQ now moves to 0-3 on the season after a tough start to the 15s season.

Thomas More controlled possession of the ball of a good portion of the first half and capitalized on their opportunities with the ball. The tough visiting side scored three tries in the first half and scored on all of the conversion attempts, giving them 21 points in the half. The visiting side played strong defense the entirety of the first half as both teams entered their respective locker rooms with the score at 21-0.

The visiting Thomas More Saints would continue to play well entering second half and scored another try, but missed the conversion, moving the score to 26-0. The visiting team would score again and, again, miss the conversion to take a 31-0 lead.

AQ would get themselves on the scoreboard for the first time in the game late in the second half as Jack O'Malley scored a try for the Saints. Jay Manson would attempt the conversion and successfully put the ball through the uprights to give Aquinas seven points. Thomas More would immediately respond and score its conversion to move the score to 38-7 in favor of the visiting team.

Aquinas wasn't quite done scoring yet as Nathan Shaffer ripped off a long run to put the Saints on the scoreboard again. Manson would attempt the conversion again and convert it all the way from the left sideline. Manson would move to two-for-two on the day for conversions.

The visiting Thomas More Saints would score one more time and convert the conversion to increase their lead to 45-14. That would also be the final score of the match as the clock ran down to zero.

Aquinas returns to the field next weekend (Oct. 15) with a road matchup against Marian.