Wisconsin lost but held onto 1st in the Big Ten, but the Badgers have three tough teams bearing down on them now.

 

In a tight, exciting game, Wisconsin were edged by Michigan 32-27. 

 

Michigan took an early lead 3-0 thanks to captain Joel Conzelmann, but Ross Heginbottom equalized. Then Jack Goss set up Jack McGinnity for the go-ahead try for the Badgers. But Michigan would answer through Channing Duker - converted by Conzelmann. 

 

Once against Wisconsin would take the lead, with captain Dan Gaenslen going over. Heginbottom converted once again and now it was 15-10 Wisconsin. 

 

The game went back and forth like that, with each team scoring in turn. The crucial moment came with the score 22-20 for Michigan. The Wolverines were threatening again and got a penalty well inside the Wisconsin half. Players and fans alike called for a quick tap. But Conzelmann, showing a cool captain’s head, motioned for the posts and made sure he put his side up by the value of a try.

 

“I don’t know if we win that game if he doesn’t make that decision,” said Michigan Head Coach Brandon Sparks. “It showed a lot of poise and leadership for him to do that.”

 

Soon thereafter Drew Vecchio scored to put Michigan up by 12. Wisconsin would score once more through Luke O’Connell, getting a bonus point for a close loss and one for four tries, but they wouldn’t get any closer.

 

“Wisconsin is one hell of a good rugby team,” said Sparks. “We played very good defense and we needed to. We were never clear in this game and we managed to pull it out.”

 

With rain threatening a postponement, it was a victory just to play the match, added Sparks.

 

The Wolverines got another big performance from prop Jordan Ulmer. The tighthead was central to Michigan’s defensive effort in tight, while out wide fullback Andre Cargill did well to organize the defense.

 

Michigan is now 2-0 in the Big Ten Universities Conference, and they are joined by Indiana and Minnesota, both winners Saturday.

 

Tyler Graham and Teddy Terezis scored two tries each and six other Hoosiers scored as IU beat Iowa 57-12. Meanwhile Minnesota beat Illinois 33-25.

 

If there wasn’t enough drama with the Michigan-Wisconsin game, Ohio State was in a barnburner with Michigan State. OSU led late but a try from the Spartans made it 34-33 Buckeyes with time winding down. OSU managed to score once more to win 41-33 and deny MSU a close-loss bonus point.

 

So that makes the standings all bunched up with plenty of rugby still to play.

Big Ten (DIA, ACRC)
	W	L	T	Pf	Pa	Pd	BT	BL	Pts
Wisconsin	2	1	0	152	68	84	3	1	12
Indiana	2	0	0	107	34	73	2	0	10
Michigan	2	0	0	68	34	34	2	0	10
Minnesota	2	0	0	59	42	17	2	0	10
Michigan State	1	2	0	84	72	12	2	0	6
Iowa	1	2	0	98	111	-13	1	0	5
Ohio State	1	1	0	63	83	-20	1	0	5
Illinois	0	3	0	46	130	-84	1	0	1
Purdue	0	2	0	5	98	-93	0	0	0