Sept. 5, 2009

Photo Gallery  | Game Summary | Game Stats

ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Davenport University Rugby team is off to a fast start as they defeated Wayne State University today 100-0 on the campus of GVSU in Allendale. DU improves to 1-0 on the year and will take on Bowling Green in Ohio next weekend.

Head Coach Isaac Herrick and his team showed they will be a force in only their first year of competition as they scored within the first two minutes of Saturday's game and poured it on from there.

Captain Fray Hatfield (Mishawaka, Ind.) got the scoring started when he went across the goal line for the first try in Davenport rugby history. Tony Deakin (Oldham, UK) booted home the conversion and the Panthers opened up a 7-0 lead.

The scoring would pile on from there in the opening half as Daniel Norris (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored five times before being substituted out in the closing half.

Also mounting tries on the day were Ty Avnit (Johannesburg, South Africa), Erin Hillary (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Chris Whetstone (Grand Blanc, Mich.) with two each while Ryan Hargraves (Grand Blanc, Mich.), Peter Soukrasmy (Holland, Mich.) and David Meyers (Kentwood, Mich.) each added a single try.

Many players on Saturday got their first collegiate rugby action and the team will take this first game experience with them on the road next week to Ohio when they take on Bowling Green State University.