Keene, N.H.— On the Saturday of Keene’s annual Pumkinfest (10/22), the Norsemen Rugby Football Club of Plymouth State were unable to defeat Keene State and move on to the post season. Keene won the contest, 36-28.
“Overall everyone played well but the injury to our scrumhalf (Ryan Cross (Barre, V.T.)) five minutes into the game threw our game plan off,” said senior Mike Howes (Normanton, Wakefield, UK). Cross was forced out of the game after he received a concussion following a big hit. Howes was put in as scrumhalf, while fullback Joe Irvine (Bridgewater, Mass.) was moved to flyhalf. Although both players knew the position, it was unfamiliar territory, as they had not played there all season.
PSU Norsemen’s wings, Pat Phillion (Methuen, Mass.) and Alex Chase (Gorham, Maine) scored as well as Keene’s defense continued reeling with their combined speed. Outside center Connor Sousa (Nashua, N.H.) and Neal Tansey (Nashua, N.H.) also added to the PSU side of the scoreboard. Inside center Mike Armstrong (Nashua, N.H.) made a conversion kick after a score to help the cause.
Although the Norsemen’s season is ending without post season aspirations, Howes doesn’t view the year as a total loss, “We improved from game to game as newer players gained experience and as a team we gained more chemistry playing together.” The Norsemen Rugby Football Club will look ahead to next season, where they hope to get back to a national title game. Howes knows what needs to be done in the coming season, “For next year we need to continue to grow.”