Grand Rapids, Mich. — The Aquinas men's rugby team took the field on Saturday (Sept. 23) afternoon at Houseman Field for conference play against the undefeated Marian Knights. The two battled it out with two physical halves. AQ would be bested by the Knights, falling by a ten point margin, 30-20.

The first half would see the boys in maroon kicking into the wind to Marian. Both teams managed to move the ball up and down the pitch, but the first score would not come to be until the 15th minute as Aquinas was awarded a penalty kick due to a Marian yellow card. Jack O'Malley would take the kick and strike it through, bringing the Saints to a 3-0 lead. Marian would match AQ with their own penalty kick in the 19th minute, leveling the score at 3-3. 

Marian would break away on the pitch and on the scoreboard after the penalty kick as the halftime score would be 17-3. 

The Knights struck early into second half with an additional try. But Jacob Easterling would make a rebuttal and marched his way through defenders and over the try line at just the four minute mark. O'Malley would kick it through on the conversion, bringing the score to 24-10.

Easterling would prove capable in attacking the try line, just as he would with defending it. The boys in maroon were backed up right to their try line but would not concede it. AQ would gain possession and march the Knights back, and Marian would settle for a penalty kick. Tallying the score to 27-10.

Easterling would once again make his mark as he found the try line a second time, the conversion would be unsuccessful making it 27-15. Aquinas would apply the pressure and force a Marian error which lead to Archie Fleming capitalizing on it and he would find his way in for a try with a scoop and score, AQ would not make due on the conversion, stamping the score to 27-20. Making the Saints just a possession away from an even scoreboard, and the hope of overtime.

Marian would push their lead with another penalty kick, bringing them to a ten point lead, 30-20. Aquinas would battle for the remaining minutes of the half but would not be able to strike it through. Finalizing the match with the score of 30-20. 

Aquinas is back in action next week Saturday (Sept. 30) against Iowa Central CC at Crimmins Field in Fort Dodge, Iowa.