Coach Gary Giepert '80 lent his thoughts on the Brother Martin Rugby team's first win of the season:

"Torrential rain the night before our first game of the season left Farnet Field in City Park a swampy mess as the Brother Martin Crusader Rugby Team hosted United Rugby from Kansas City.

Brother Martin spotted United 19 points before they could get on the scoreboard. United got on the scoreboard first only five minutes into the game with hard charging runs as Brother Martin’s tackling let them down. The conversion was good and United held an early 7 point lead. The wet conditions led to sloppy play for the next 20 minutes as neither team could control the ball. The Crusaders had their chances but only to lose the wet ball in contact.

At the 25 minute mark, United scored their second try again, running though poor tackles by the Crusaders. At 30 minutes United exploited our fullback who came up to shore up his team's defense only to see a very smart United kick to the area he had vacated. United touched the ball down for their third try of the half, making the halftime score 19-0.

The Crusaders started the second half well with a series of pick and goes resulting in a try by senior prop Mathew DiMaggio. Branson Perez added the conversion and Brother Martin was on the scoreboard at 19 -7. However, poor tackling on the outside led to a quick United try to put the score at 24-7.

The Crusaders did not give up and began to move the ball down the field. Brother Martin had a scrum about 25 meters out and Maverick Trimble picked from number 8 and defeated his man and scored a try. The conversion was no good and Brother Martin narrowed the score 24-12. Branson Perez was next as he found a seam in the United defense and scored Brother Martin’s third try. He converted his own try to bring the score to 24-19.

With time winding down, our Crusaders took the kick and worked their way down the field. Senior, center James Gatti found some space and went over for the tying score. Branson Perez coolly kicked the conversion to give Brother Martin its first lead of the game with 30 seconds to go.

Brother Martin fielded the deep kick and Cameron Coughlin kicked the ball out of play to give us our first win of the young season.

Man of the Match went to Dante Rodriguez who put in a dominating performance on defense with his vicious tackles."