Villanova Shows its Class in Win over UMBC
Villanova Shows its Class in Win over UMBC
Villanova looked impressive in a 58-7 win over UMBC on Saturday in Mid-Atlantic Rugby Conference action.
This game was more competitive than the score might indicate. UMBC got possession and ran hard, however, the physical toll of their somewhat conservative game plan and having to defend against Villanova meant that the speedy and skilled Wildcats were able to run in a pile of tries late.
Of course, tries scored late still count.
UMBC started the game with the ball and worked it well in traffic. However, their runners didn’t line up with a ton of depth, meaning that they were still getting up to ramming speed when the Villanova defenders made contact.
Despite this, UMBC were very good at getting yardage after contact, with props Jason Brodie and Grant Gumbel especially difficult to contain. UMBC's problem was that it was slow going and far too much work.
In the end Villanova forced UMBC to kick, and that just played into the ‘Cats’ hands as they have a dangerous deep three led by fullback Rob Maclehose.
With lock Bobby Fooskas (who could probably play anywhere from 4 to 8) carrying hard Villanova got to the UMBAC 22, and then they spun it wide for wing Joe O’Regan, who zipped in for the opening try.
UMBC stormed back and took a lineout when Villanova was penalized. No. 8 Onosetale Okojie popped smartly off the back of the maul and surged on to the line. But Villanova hung on and held the Retrievers up in-goal. Experience int he game matters and sometimes it’s the little things that make a difference. As UMBC walked back to receive what they thought was a 22 dropout, Villanova took the goalline drop and recovered it unimpeded.
Quickly the Wildcats attacked with a nifty break by Owen O’Keefe with flyhalf Nathan Caruso up the middle. The support was there to win the ruck and the forwards finished it off. That made it 14-0.
Villanova’s skill was starting to show. Many players were comfortable making quick, accurate passes and that allowed their speed to show. That confidence in their ball-handling allowed MacLehose and Caruso to run a counter-attack on the left side, which set up quick hands to Fooskas in the middle, and then speedy ball from that ruck to set up O’Regan for his second.
Both of O’Regan’s tries were very nicely finished as he did have work to do.
That made it 19-0, but UMBC were undeterred. They found success with the pick-and-go and working those tight channels, leveraging their size and the aforementioned yards after contact. Somehow Villanova stole the ball back but a box kick to clear their lines was blocked, UMBC came back once more, and finally scored.
So 19-7 at halftime, and UMBC with a chance to get within a score.
It didn’t happen. O’Keefe unleashed a wild sidestep and linked with flanker Dan Barrett to set up a long-range score. A somewhat harsh penalty on OMBC led to a quick tap and Fooskas—who really was very good on the day—ran in under the posts.
Villanova punished a poor clearance kick for another long-range score.
UMBC did have chances and one specific period they were close to the Villanova line, bashing with the forwards. The backs called repeatedly for the ball and they had the numbers and the depth to potentially go over. Instead the forwards went weakside and were shoved into touch.
Fooskas and Barrett both punished fractured defenses for late tries as Villanova cruised to a 58-7 win.
Through the day, Wildcats No. 8 Matt Raine was a constant work on defense and a line-breaker.
This game was on Alumni Day and the field on campus was lined with proud former players. For Villanova it was a showcase of their ability in open field—most passes are short, but the need for them to be accurate is the same. ‘Nova excelled at the quick pass-pass-pass and so it’s no surprise that many of their tries were from a distance and several were from outside backs.
Is Villanova the best D2 team in the MARC? They might be. Certainly the Wildcats are bent on superseding Georgetown and, if they’re smart, they will keep an eye on Towson and Salisbury. Even in their own division of the MARC D2 East, Penn has emerged as a team to worry about. But at 3-0 Villanova is in the driver’s seat.
For UMBC; they have a number of the pieces of the puzzle. They have speed out wide, they have powerful runners and defenders in the front row Brodie and Gumbel, they have height and mobility with lock Rafael Zelidon and Okojie at No. 8, and Jude Nedruda was very hard-working at halfback. Time will tell if they can glue that all together a little better.
