Rugby teams look for wins on road
With a young team and two starters injured, the Utah State University men’s rugby team will play Weber State University in Ogden on Saturday at 1 p.m. with few worries.
So far this season, the Aggies have gone 1-2 and expect to add one more win to their record by playing the Wildcats – who got blown out by the University of Utah last week, 91-0. The Aggies will have to win without the services of team captain Brant Fletcher, who has a dislocated shoulder and returning player Kevin Arrington, who received a deep thigh bruise during a team practice.
Fletcher said he isn’t too worried because the new players gained a lot of experience when they lost to a Polynesian club team last week.
“We’ll be able to win because we’re more organized, we’re a better team,” team member Ryan Heath said.
The team would also like to welcome anyone interested in playing rugby with the Aggies to attend practices held Tuesday and Thursday evenings or contact any member of the team, Fletcher said.
The USU women’s rugby team will attempt to win its first game by bringing back its style of play when the Aggies take on Boise State University in Boise on Saturday morning.
This season the lady Aggies have gone 0-3 on the field losing by two to Brigham Young University last week and being defeated in overtime by the University of Utah the week before.
Captain and president of the team Lauren Dreitzler is confident her team will come out victorious in this week’s game if they play their style.
“We need to get the game back that we had, get more tackles,” Dreitzler said. “We’re not playing to our own ability.”
The Aggies have 12 returning players, who were involved in the win against Boise State last year and a handful of new players with great talent, Dreitzler said.
Among the starters, Dreitzler is looking for some exciting play from sophomore Becka Ogden, who plays inside center on the backline.
Following this Saturday, the USU men will return to action October 13 against the University of Utah, while the women will have the weekend off.