The No. 1 Brigham Young University rugby team continued its win streak with a 71-10 over the Army Knights of West Point on Friday at South Field. Army scored two tries in the first half, but would never find the tryline again falling to the balanced attack of BYU.
"We're grateful for Army making it out tonight and for the service they render," said BYU rugby head coach David Smyth of the Army Knights who traveled from West Point, New York. "They're a disciplined team. We needed to come out attacking all 80 minutes because we knew they would not give up."
Army responded with strong counterattacks in the first couple minutes of the match, keeping the Cougars on edge until the Cougars gained control of the ball and worked their way down to Army's half of the field. In the third minute, BYU's Zach Webber dodged several Knights and found the tryline, adding five points to the score board. BYU sophomore center Calvin Whiting completed the conversion, giving the Cougars a 7-0 lead.
Ten minutes later, the Army Knights responded with a try of their own. Army's flyhalf missed the conversion changing the score to 7-5 with the Cougars up by two points. In the 20th minute, Whiting scored a try off a grubber from junior flyhalf Joseph Nicholls. Whiting then completed the conversion giving the Cougars a 14-5 lead.
"We knew they'd respond quickly so we had to score as soon as we could to regain the momentum," Whiting said of Army's try in the 13th minute. "Our team stepped up, and we were able to maintain ball control and play solid defense."
Four minutes later, BYU sophomore hooker Alex Vorster powered his way to the tryline adding five points to the Cougar lead. Whiting's conversion was no good, but the Cougars extended their lead to 19-5. In the 28th minute, BYU prop Zane Mendenhall used his elusiveness to score a try off a Logan Nye pass. Whiting's sent the ball through the uprights for another two points, increasing BYU's lead to 26-5.
Army was able to answer with a try of its own at the 36-minute mark, but neither team would score again in the first 40 minutes of play as BYU entered half-time with a 26-10 lead.
BYU came out with strong attacking phases in the second half. Vorster scored his second try of the night at the 42-minute mark, as result of BYU running hard finding gaps in Army's defense. Whiting's conversion was good, increasing BYU's lead to 33-10.
At the 46-minute mark, Whiting ran in for his second his second try of the night after juking a handful of Knights en route to another five points for the Cougars. Whiting made the conversion bumping BYU's lead up to 38-10.
A few minutes later, BYU sophomore forward Jonny Layne scored a try, but Whiting missed the conversion. By the 50-minute mark, BYU had a 45-10 lead. In the 56th minute, BYU scrumhalf Kingston Matua scored a try, increasing BYU's lead to 50-10.
At the 59-minute mark, BYU junior lock Matt Jensen scored a try after a long run by fullback Tua Laei. Whiting's conversion was good, giving the Cougars a 57-10 lead over Army. Then, at the 65-minute mark, Jensen scored his second try of the night. Whiting completed another conversion increasing the gap between the Cougars and Knights to 64-10.
Despite Army's defensive persistence, BYU scored another try, thanks to a try by sophomore winger Kevin Schofield at the 77-minute mark off a Nicholls assist. Whiting's conversion was successful, making it 71 points for the Cougars, compared to the 10 points scored by Army.
"Our boys played well tonight and our set pieces are continuing to improve," Smyth said of BYU's play which resulted in a 71-10 victory.
BYU's next game is Saturday, March 19, against Weber State at Weber with kick off set for 1 p.m. MDT.
Game notes:
Three BYU Cougars each score two tries a piece- Matt Jensen, Calvin Whiting, Alex Vorster
Army was held scoreless in the 2nd half
Starters
1. Zane Mendenhall
2. Alex Vorster
3. Logan Nye
4. Matt Jensen
5. Jonny Layne
6. Jackson Kaka
7. Maka Pickard
8. Joe Pikula
9. Kingston Matua
10. Joseph Nicholls
11. Joshua Anderson
12. Zach Webber
13. Calvin Whiting
14. Kevin Schofield
15. Tua Laei
Scoring timeline:
3' Zach Webber 5, Calvin Whiting 2
13' Army 5
20' Whiting 5, Whiting 2
24' Alex Vorster 5
28' Zane Mendenhall 5, Whting 2
36' Army 5
Half-time BYU 26 Army 10
42' Vorster 5, Whiting 2
46' Whiting 5, Whiting 2
48' Jonny Layne 5
56' Kingston Matua 5
59' Matt Jensen 5, Whiting 2
65' Jensen 5, Whiting 2
77' Kevin Schofield 5, Whiting 2