GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Dominique Bailey and Mason Baum each scored two tries for the Davenport men's rugby team en route to a 66-10 victory over the Grand Rapids Gazelles Saturday afternoon in the Panther's spring home opener. Brady Gent led all Panthers with 13 total points after recording a try of his own and going four of four in conversion kicks. The Panthers will return to the Turf Field next Saturday in a rematch with Mid-South rival and the number one team in the nation, Life.
 
Reece Czarnecki got the Panthers on the board first just 35:45 into the game with his first try of the spring season. Anthony Welmers and Willy Urena then found pay dirt as well, followed by Gent's lone try to give the Panthers a 24-0 lead midway into the first half. The Gazelles were able to get on the board with 5:22 remaining in the first with a try of their own, but was quickly followed up by a Kevin Lydon score and Gent conversion.
 
The Gazelles opened up the second half with a penalty kick to narrow the score to 31-10, but it was all Panthers from there as Bailey and Baum recorded back to back consecutive tries, along with a Michael Houston try to make it a 66-10 final score, resulting in the Panthers first victory of the spring.
 
Jean Pierre Eloff was four of six in conversion attempts, resulting in eight total points in the game. He saw two penalty kick opportunites as well but was unable to put both of them through the uprights.
 
The Panthers will have revenge on their plate next Saturday in a Mid-South showdown with No. 1 Life at the Turf Field with a kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m.

Men's Rugby Contact: Paul Anderson | 616-889-4062 | panderson30@email.davenport.edu
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