CLEMSON, S.C. - The men's rugby team made the long pilgrimage to Clemson University to open up their spring schedule on Saturday afternoon falling 34-33. The Panthers had won their last four matches before the loss to the Tigers. 

Clemson pulled off the tight one over Davenport to win the program's first conference game after joining the Mid-South. Clemson led 20-12 and 27-19 before Davenport closed the gap and then took the lead 33-27. With time winding down Hunter Dawsey scored for Clemson to make it 32-33, and Aaron Keers hit the conversion for the win.

"The key to the match was fitness and team culture," said Clemson head coach Steve Lynch. "We used all 23 and there was no dropoff. We get 50 players at training, working hard to improve the program without worrying about who is in the 23. It was a program win."

James Rogers, Lucas Beni, Jason Damm, and Joshua Dyson also touched down for Clemson, while Keers kicked a penalty and three conversions.

For Davenport, it was a very close game on the road after having been in winter training with no warmup games. No excuses, but this was about as difficult a start as they could have asked for.

"Errors cost us," said Davenport head coach Harry King. "Those errors led to two easy tries and overall we just shot ourselves in the foot. The guys played a great game to the final whistle when discipline caught us. Throughout the game the team played well for just coming off hybernbation and they are geared up for a harder conference fight next weekend against Life University. If the weather is cooperative and we can see the field and prepare, we should be ready for the toughest war."

Brady Gent at flyhalf and Noah Zomberg at scrumhalf worked well together, and Connor Schilling battled in the forwards, but Davenport's defense was lacking at crucial moments. Chase Pego and Luke Larkin also had good matches playing in new positions.