PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The Wayne State men’s rugby team came up short in the consolation match of the NSCRO Men’s Challenge Cup Sunday morning, dropping a 46-12 decision to New Haven University.
The Chargers struck early, scoring twice in the first five minutes to take a 10-0 advantage.
Wayne State saw some hope five minutes later when Yarim Robertson took a pitch off a Charger penalty and raced 55 yards down the near side for the Wildcats’ first score to make it a 10-5 game.
New Haven scored two more tries to take a 22-5 advantage, but with 7:15 left in the first half, Tylor Rowles picked up an errant Charger pass and took off for an 85-yard sprint to the middle of the try zone for a score. Hunter Boettcher tacked on the point-after kick to make it a 22-12 game.
That was as close as Wayne State would come, however, as the Chargers answered with another score in the final three minutes of the first half to take a 27-12 advantage at intermission.
Wayne State’s defense tried to keep the Wildcats in the game and they were able to gain possession deep in Charger territory, but were unable to convert the opportunity into points.
Eventually, the Chargers wore the Wayne State defense down, putting the game out of reach with another try in the final 17 minutes of the game to come away with the consolation trophy.
