By David F. Pendrys

HAMDEN, CT- The defending national champion Quinnipiac Bobcats Rugby squad knocked down Norwich Saturday afternoon with a 52-7 victory. Quinnipiac rarely let Norwich anywhere near their end and dispatched the Cadets nearly every time they got close earning turnovers.

The scoring began quickly in the first half when the Bobcats passed it to the left and got it to Layla Scott who raced in for a Try and 5 points. The conversion kick was missed, but soon after Flora Poole scored for a 10-0 lead as the kick was also missed. Rebecca Haight got on the board for QU assisted by Ilona Maher and it was 15-0.

Norwich earned their only try of the game when Sheila Decker ran it in deep and the kick was converted to cut the lead to 15-7. This would be as close as the visitors got as Scott ran in the ball a second time, assisted by Poole for a 20-7 advantage. The first half would end with that as the score, but the Bobcats exploded into half number 2 with more scoring quickly.

It was Maher who got her first Try of the game assisted by Poole early on. The kick was good to make it 27-7. Margaret Wesolowski then banged the ball in for another Try assisted by Niamh Savage. Not long after that, QU drove down the field and Wesolowski was able to jog in for another Try assisted by Tayler Schussler. The kick was no good but the 37-7 lead made it almost inconsequential.

Quinnipiac kept driving and Scott ran in for her third Try of the game assisted by Maher to bring the rout to 42-7. Norwich had tried to move it down the field, but a long run set up Emily Roskopf’s drive. She raced through defenders evading them as they tried to close in and scored the Try. Poole picked up yet another assist. Maher then finished off a QU passing run and pounded it in for the last Try of the game and the staggering 52-7 total.

It should be noted again how strong the Quinnipiac defense performed, denying the Cadets opportunities even when they were nearly across the line. Last season Quinnipiac gave Norwich another drubbing defeating them 64-3. With the win, QU rises to 2-1 on the season and Norwich drops to 1-1.

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