Seniors lose in final conference game

Saturday night, with cool winds, a muddy field and competing against the NCAA basketball men's Final Four for spectators, the IU rugby team lost a closer-than-expected match against its strongest rival, Purdue. The match began with two quick tries by Purdue in the first five minutes on turnovers by IU's backfield. IU came back with a try and a field goal by sophomore fullback Ryan Horan. \nWith the score 17-8 in Purdue's favor by halftime, IU knew that it needed more offense after the intermission. Senior captain eightman John Bryant attempted to cut into Purdue's lead with two second-half tries, but the damage had already been done. IU's strategy of using its speed against the bigger and more athletic Boilermakers worked at times during the second half, but the team wore out at the end. \n"Once they got their lead they kept pounding the ball and used their size advantage," said senior lock Eddie Abel. "Then they were able to play a ball-controlled game as we weren't able to utilize our speed." \nDespite the loss, the team knew that it had been a great season against the best the Midwest sports Rugby division had to offer. In an emotional scene after the match, family and friends of the seniors posed and took pictures with the players as they prepared for life after rugby at IU. \nIn a game that was meant as a favor for Purdue, to help the Boilers prepare for the Final 16 Rugby National Championship -- for which IU did not qualify -- IU gave a great fight in the seniors' last conference game, in their head coach's eyes. \n"The improvement we made from last Saturday to this Saturday was 300 percent," said Sarasopa Enari Jr, IU's coach for the last 10 years. \nThe senior players, despite realizing that it was nearing the end of a special career at IU, know that their jobs now are to promote the game and spread word of their program as best as they can. \n"I think in general our main goal was to promote the game of rugby. This year we were ten times more organized than in years past. Since my freshman year, by attracting sponsors and developing a good rapport with the University, I think that we have improved by leaps and bonds," said senior flanker Dennis O'Donnell. \nAs captain of the team, Bryant realizes that in the United States, rugby cannot compete with sports such as basketball in popularity. He sees such a difference as a compliment to the unique nature that the sport represents.\n"Rugby is different than other sport in the fact that once you step on the field with your 14 other comrades anyone can score and make a positive contribution to the game," Bryant said. \nFor seniors Bryant, Abel, O'Donnell, Reed Bailey, Eric Moore and Niel Pollotta, while it is the end of an era at IU, they hope to use their connection to the sport to keep in touch. \n"We are not playing checkers here," O'Donnell said. "Every member of the team is like family."\n-- Contact Staff Writer Drew Smith at asmithii@indiana.edu.