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Men's rugby team tackles Bowling Green University

Strong back line helps keep Oberlin undefeated after two

by Hanna Miller

By the time the men's rugby team took the field on Saturday, they weren't really bothered by the fact that the referee from the preceding women's game had been accused of a few bad calls. They probably wouldn't even have cared if the ref was blind as a bat.

Oberlin and Bowling Green State University were ready to play, but the teams had forgotten to secure a referee. The referee from the women's game was their only hope.

"We had to bribe the ref with a 12-pack" said first-year Adam Feitelberg. The promise of a party was enough to keep the ref around. He probably needed it after the abuse he sustained during the game. En route to a 10-5 victory, Oberlin accidentally delivered a ball to the referee's face, breaking his glasses and bloodying his nose.

Oberlin was able to inflict similar damage upon their opponent. "We had a couple of really good hits," said junior Sean Gavin. Although Bowling Green's scrum was able to capture the majority of scrum downs, Oberlin's backs tore past Bowling Green.

"It was the best I've seen the team play ever," Gavin said.

Oberlin's tries were scored by senior Brandon Myers and sophomore Badeti Tibone. "Brando's run was beautiful," Freitberg said. Myers broke tackles all the way up the field on the way to his try.

Oberlin nearly held Bowling Green scoreless, but the men in orange and brown were able to slip one in just as time ran out.

The team from Bowling Green was a third string team. The top two teams were competing in a national tournament in Chicago on Saturday. Although Oberlin easily rolled over the competition, it was clear that Bowling Green had a strong rugby program. "It was a team that was really inexperienced, but very well coached," said Gavin.

The team's next game is against the College of Wooster on Saturday. "If we play like we did, we'll beat Wooster," Feitelberg said.


Photo:
Strike a classic pose:Dedrick Dunbar prepares to move up the field. Although Bowling Green packed a tough scrum, Oberlin's offense proved to be unbeatable. (photo courtesy of Robb Stolberg)


Oberlin

Copyright © 1996, The Oberlin Review.
Volume 124, Number 22; April 26, 1996

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