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Towson Starts Off Strong

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Towson Starts Off Strong

Towson opened their inaugural season in the Mid Atlantic Rugby Conference (MARC) with a trip to the University of Delaware and a nicely-taken victory.

Towson struck first when junior scrumhalfH Jake Commodari picked off an errant pass at the Delaware 10-meter-line and darted to the tryline carrying a defender to score in the corner. 

Eight minutes later, the forwards took possession of the ball at the UD 22 and ran five phases to get the ball inside the five-meter-line. Commodari had the ball out quickly to Ben Taylor who sold a dummy and stepped through a hole to score under the post. The kick from exchange student Ben Taylor (University of Leeds) was good and Towson was up 12-0 after ten minutes.

Having an experienced flyhalf like Taylor certainly has helped has made a lot of difference for the Towson attack, and it showed in this game. At 21 minutes, Taylor hit center Connor Geary, who used a quick hands pass to feed fullback Paul Janisewski, who took the ball on the burst beating the Delaware defense and rambled 40 meters, dragging a Delaware defender into the tryzone and scoring in the corner. Taylor's kick hit the post.

At the 28-minute mark, Janisewski struck again when he took an offload from converted flanker Max Burgos, who was moved to outside center this season. After getting the pass, Janisewski darted through the defense untouched and scored under the posts. Taylor slotted the kick and Towson was up 24-0 with just about ten minutes left in the first half.

On the ensuing kick, Towson counter kicked and senior No. 8 John Hempsted was yellow carded for not wrapping in the tackle. After the card, Delaware took advantage of Towson being a man down and swung the ball wide to score in the corner to make it 24-5.

With the yellow card still in effect, Delaware had some momentum, and Towson compensated by committing more penalties, leading to another Delaware score. 24-12 at halftime.

In the second half, Towson regained the mo with an interception try from Burgos within the first minute. Taylor hit the conversion and it was 31-12.

Delaware replied with a well-taken try after another Towson penalty, and then as time wound down, Taylor set up Burgos for a cut through, and he offloaded to Lopes for the try.

Taylor smacked over the extras and the game was done 38-17.

Burgos was names player of the game but it was a decent team effort from the entire squad, espeically the front row of Justin Antonescu, Cliff Dixon, and hooker Colin Stiller. All three played the full 80 minutes.

Towson also won the B-side game 41-17 behind a big game from Kylean Davidson.