Photo by Ricardo Baez
By Ryan Brinker
SELINSGROVE — The River Hawks’ defense allowed only one try in the second half, leading rugby to a 35-15 victory on Saturday over Loyola to advance.
Following a penalty on a try by the River Hawks, Loyola would get the ball back early in the second half with a chance to take the lead.
After a turnover by Loyola, fullback Clint Rowe scored a try for the Riverhawks to make the score16-10 Riverhawks. Flyhalf Sean McPherson could not convert the kick for the River Hawks.
Loyola would get back into the game following a fumble by the Riverhawks as they would score a try to make the score 16-15 River Hawks following an unsuccessful conversion attempt by Loyola.
Flanker Jacob Tomasulo would score a try for the River Hawks following a yellow card by Loyola. McPherson converted the kick to extend the River Hawks’ lead to 23-15 in the second half.
The River Hawks would go to win from there as they would score two more tries late in the second half. McPherson went one for two on his last two conversion kicks of the game.
Last week, rugby won 93-7 against Gettysburg in the first round of the playoffs.
Loyola won the coin toss and elected to defer to the second half.
Center CJ Bass got the scoring started for the Riverhawks as he scored a try to make it 5-0 Riverhawks following an unsuccessful conversion kick by McPherson.
The River Hawks fumbled the ball which gave Loyola great field positioning which they capitalized on as they scored a try, and the conversion was good to take the lead 7-5.
McPherson would give the River Hawks the lead right back following a penalty by Loyola to make the score 8-7 River Hawks.
Both teams were having problems with penalties in the first half as Loyola would get a penalty kick of its own and would convert to retake the lead 10-8.
Following another penalty by Loyola and another penalty kick converted by McPherson, the River Hawks led 11-10 heading into halftime.