This past Saturday, the Wolverines headed down to Wheeling, West Virginia to take on the Wheeling Jesuit Cardinals in their first test of the season. With 6 new starters talking the field for the Maize and Blue, it took a while for the first XV to work out their first game jitters, but they were still able to pull it together with strong defense to secure a 24-15 win down in West Virginia.
The start of the first half made it clear that possession would be contested all game long with each team vying for the ball at the breakdown. Each run was met with aggressive tackling from each side and frequent poach attempts as soon as the carrier hit the ground. This aggressive style from each team led to many changes in possession with penalties on each side and numerous set pieces for the forwards to contest. One of UMRFC’s penalties came at around the 40 meter line roughly center field and WJU attempted to secure first blood by going for points but failed. The Wolverines quickly countered with a line break by Burns (Jr.) who weaved through the defense with Van Harn only to be stopped just short of the try-line. The possession game continued back and forth until WJU was awarded another penalty, this time much closer, and was able to convert a kick for points to take the lead 3-0. The Wolverines retaliated quickly however and Jared Bosma charged down a kick from WJU, blocking it and scooping up the ball to score on a great individual play. Joel Conzelmann successfully converted the try to make the score 7-3. The Maize and Blue continued to capitalize on mistakes in a very possession-centric defensive game, when Burns (Jr.) scooped up another loose ball within the WJU 22 for a quick try before the end of the half. Conzelmann converted this as well to give the Wolverines a solid 14-3 lead.
WJU came back from the halftime break with plenty of fight left in them however and with similar play to the first half, with both teams cleaning up mistakes. The Cardinals got their first try of the game off of a free kick play, sprinting through to pick up ball and break the line to score. The conversion was unsuccessful however making the score 14-8. Van Harn then decided to take matters into his own hands, stripping the ball from a maul and sprinting 50 meters through two defenders to score the phenomenal individual try. Conzelmann would convert once again to make the score 21-8 in favor of the Wolverines. WJU would continue to test the UMRFC defense and with great tackling and poaching from many members, the Maize and Blue defense held strong against the attack, making a goal line stand and poach. However after a string of penalties within their own 22 meter line, the Wolverines finally let up a second try off of a penalty pick and go from the 5 meter line. This try was converted making the score 21-15 and putting WJU within a scores reach of the lead. Michigan wasn’t about to let this game slip through their fingers however and calm, controlled play let them march down the field, drawing numerous penalties from the Cardinals. This controlled drive would eventually present Conzelmann with a 10 meter penalty attempt that he easily knocked through the uprights to give Michigan a commanding 24-15 lead that they would close out the game with. Overall it was a great game from each side and promising start to a season of high expectations for the Wolverines. With great play from all of the starters both returning and new as well as inspiring play from the 7 substitute players that touched the field, there is a lot to look forward to from the most recent iteration of the UMRFC first XV.
Tries: Bosma 31′, Burns (So.) 38′, Van Harn 57′
Cons: Conzelmann 31′, 39′, 57′
Pen: Conzelmann 76′
The newly named “Academy” side of UMRFC met a tough Wheeling Jesuit B-side in a 34-0 loss after the A-side game. The Academy team started strong by capitalizing on a few holes in WJU’s defense, including a long break by Chening Duker for about 70 meters before being tackled and losing the ball to WJU’s poaching defender. The rest of the match followed a similar trend; Ryan McDonough made a line break of his own, which put Michigan in scoring position, but the ball was lost to a Michigan knock-on in the next phase of play. In the end WJU made the most of Michigan’s fundamental errors and won the game 34-0, but the Academy players got to show what they were made of against a skilled WJU B-side and gained valuable experience for the season ahead.
