Rugby remains undefeated

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Blache's try, after failed penalty kick, gives Owls the win

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by Neel Desai

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This past weekend the Rice rugby football club battled the Louisiana State University Tigers.

In a hard-fought match, the Owls won 22-18 and continued their undefeated season.

Senior Pete Marketos hit five penalty kicks, but the match remained close.

In the waning minutes, Marketos launched a penalty kick that looked good, but the ball fell short.

Junior Chris Blache then picked up the live ball and scored the winning try.

Marketos then added the conversion to put Rice ahead for good.

"Pete [Marketos] had been accurate all game." Blache said. "I'm just glad I was there the one time that he missed."

The defeat knocked LSU out of the Texas Rugby Union Championships.

The second side played their best match of the season but could not pull out a victory as they lost 20-15 to the more experienced LSU team.

Juniors Todd Haskins and Mike Munson scored tries for Rice.

Sophomore Kyle Hammerick said, "We played all right, but we had too many penalties. Also we turned the ball over too many times. We have learned what we need to work on for the future."

Senior captain Blake Hutchison said, "It was our first game back, and we came out rusty. Historically against LSU we come out a little flat, but we usually win.

"What we really need to do to get to the next level is to play some tougher competition."

Junior president Tell Bennett added, "We have a lot of work to do to reach the level where you win championships."

This weekend the rugby team travels to Nacogdoches for a match against Stephen F. Austin State University.

The next big tournament is the Mardi Gras Tournament in Baton Rouge, La., on the weekend of Feb. 17.

Last year the Owls won the tournament, and they hope to repeat their success this year.

This item appeared in the Sports section of the February 2, 1996 issue.

Copyright © 1996 The Rice Thresher. All Rights Reserved.
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