FARMINGTON – The University of Maine at Farmington’s men’s and womens’ rugby teams each began their fall seasons in tight, hard hitting encounters this past weekend. On Saturday at home on Prescott Field the UMF men fell to a strong Bates College team which broke a late game 12-12 tie when their powerful No. 8 player went over for a try from the back of a scrum to secure a 17-12 victory in what was the season opener for both teams.
On Sunday, the UMF women made the 4-hour drive to Johnson State College in Vermont, where they started their 2016 campaign off with a 29-24 win in a wide open, high scoring affair. The UMF women were paced by captain Emily Gray who notched three tries, and a stellar backline led by scrumhalf Bethany Routier and fullback Sitay Muktar. The UMF women have high hopes to challenge for their league’s championship this fall, and have a bye this coming weekend and will then host New England College on Saturday, Oct. 1 on Prescott Field.
For the men, who are led this season by loose forwards Jake Murphy and Pete McCoy, the season opener was a disappointment, but in a very balanced league they know that a lone loss will not keep them from a trip to the playoffs if they can start to turn things around this coming Friday night match at the University of New England and then a home tilt 8 days later on Saturday, Oct 1 against Colby College.
