News

EXILES WIN Non-Conference Game @ Saginaw Valley State

10-26-13

CMU Rugby comes out with a 17-12 win in a non-conference game against SVSU! Tries scored by Prop Matt Dillon & 8-man Ryan Margrave

Exiles Lose to tough game to Undefeated Miami (OH)

10-20-13

The Exiles took on undefeated Miami (OH) this past Sunday at 2pm.

Regardless of the season's record, we took the field with high energy and with our heads up on Sunday. We squeezed out a big win against a talented Miami team last year, and this year they proved why they stand next to BGSU as an undefeated team in the MAC.

They jumped on the board in the seventh minute with a try and conversion kick to make it an early 7-0 lead. A sloppy play led to another Miami try (21') but the Exiles would respond with a great kick by Christian Klemp (10) at the 29 minute mark to put the Exiles on the board, 14-3. The first half would end with two more Miami try's to make the score 28-3.

Like most games, the Exiles dug deep to begin the second half. Spencer Smith (14) played an excellent game and was bright spot in our line up, scoring a try at the 50 minute mark. Smith chopped a kick over the Miami defenders and caught it in the try-zone to cut Miami's lead, 28-10. Spence had the exact same play in the first half where he downed the ball in Miami's try-zone but it the call was that a Miami defender touched it first.

Unfortunately, letting off the gas pedal has plagued us this season and Miami would respond with three try's at the 54', 64', and 68' minute mark to take a commanding lead late into the game, 47-10. The Exiles would respond in the 79th minute with a brilliant try. Klemp (10) kicked the ball over the Miami back line, and it was caught on full stride by Kyle "Amish" Coblentz (11). A nice dish off to Zach Spearman (12) followed by another switch and dish off to Andrew Novak (15) capped off a well executed play.

Our forward back, like every other game this year, dominated the scrums. We wheeled Miami three times, however could not capitalize on the turnovers, something Miami was able to do.

We had huge energy off of the bench from rookie hooker R.J. Holloway and second-year scrumhalf Logan Vermeer. The young talent and work ethic on this team is something that is easily seen and deserves some serious recognition. The future is bright and we are a very solid rugby team, but the MAC is a tough conference full of teams that have stepped up in every aspect of the game. We are close, and will not stop working to finish this season as strong as we can.

EXILES come close, but fall at home to NIU

10-12-13

After a bye week, the Exiles turned there sights on Northern Illinois University, a team that in 2011, knocked the Exiles out of the playoffs after a great season and left us with a loss last year to end the first season of MAC play. There was definitely something else to play for on Saturday than just our first win of the season. Many of the returning Exiles from both of those seasons were looking forward to this game and it turned out to be a back and forth dog fight to the last minute.

Early kicks (4') (15') were converted by Christian Klemp (10) to give the Exiles a 6-0 lead but NIU would respond with 17 unanswered points. Another kick (36') from Klemp followed by a quick try (37') from Ryan Margrave (8) pulled the Exiles within 1 point at half.

The Exiles caught a second wind at the start of the 2nd half with another quick score from Margrave (42') to give the Exiles the lead again 21-17. NIU would respond at the 53' minute mark with a try of their own, only for the Exiles, on the ensuing kickoff, to respond with an excellent play by Andrew Novak (11) who stole the ball off the kick. Great support allowed the Exiles quickly punch in a try of their own at the 53' minute to regain the lead, 26-22. However NIU, like CMU, did not give up easily and converted a try at the 58' and the 69' to take a commanding lead late in the game, 34-26.

Exiles don't give up so easily, though. After an injury sub for Christian Klemp (10), Spencer Smith (13) moved to the fly position. Trapped down in our own territory, Spencer booted the ball far over the head of the opposing fullback and inside the 10m line of NIU. Enough hang time mixed in with hustle and determination, Spencer and Zach Spearman (12) caused a sloppy play by the NIU fullback and Spearman stole the ball and took it in for the try (78'). Novak was good with the conversion kick to pull the Exiles within 1 point.

NIU kicked the ball straight out on the kickoff and the Exiles got a scrum center. Unfortunately, NIU got a foot on the ball and won the scrum. Their (9) booted it out of bounds, ending the well fought game in very anti-climactic fashion.

It was a tough loss to take, but we will look at the positives to take with us and work on the negatives. We face Miami (OH) this Sunday at 1pm at home. The Exiles sit at 0-4, not counting the forfeit from Ball State U in week 1. Although playoffs are feasibly out of reach, we will continue to fight, play hard, practice hard, and push the envelope to progress into a strong contender in the MAC Conference. We are still having a great time playing the sport we all love. Every game we are very close and every game we have taken a step in the right direction. As our Coach Tres Yarmuth has stated, we have not lost to anyone but ourselves this season.

EXILES lose against Dayton University: Home Opener at Kelly Shorts Series 10-22

9-28-13

The Exiles got to look forward to a long home-stretch that featured two games at Kelly Short's Stadium. The first of which was against Dayton University, a team also searching for their first win at the time. It was a tight game through the first half and the Exiles came out trailing in the second half but kept fighting. Dayton scored a late try and conversion to put the game out of reach. Final score 22-10.

EXILES FALL in CINCI 0-12

9-22-13

The Exiles traveled down to Cincinnati this weekend. After a torrential downpour all night the field conditions were poor at best and Cinci managed to slip through the fingers of the Exiles 0-12. We had a few guys go down with injury and some new players fill in to get valuable experience. The defense for 95% of the game was stone cold, stopping Cincinnati at their goalline multiple times throughout the game. We look to take the negatives and improve on them this week in practice as we prepare for Dayton to come to Mount Pleasant this weekend for our home opener.

Central Falls to Western in last game of season

11-2-13

As the MAC 15's season comes to a close, Central Michigan falls to their rivals Western Michigan in Kalamazoo on Saturday. Final Score 57-14 in favor of the broncos. CMU Rugby ends the season at 2-6 (1-6 in MAC, 7th overall).

SNOWBALL RUGBY

SAT February 15th

KALAMAZOO, MI

VERSLUIS & DICKINSON PARK

CENTRAL MICHIGAN RUGBY