Victorious UMF ruggers head to New England finals

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SMITHFIELD, R.I.- The University of Maine at Farmington’s men’s rugby team traveled to Rhode Island Saturday for a semi-final match against undefeated Bryant University. Bryant, at 7-0 on the season, had scored 283 points and only given up 66 and was deservedly the number one seed in the New England Rugby Football Union’s Division III championship tournament.

After UMF’s convincing 30-7 win, instead, it will be UMF that will travel to Newport, Rhode Island next weekend to face Keene State University in the NERFU Championship final.

Bryant put UMF on the back foot early on by scoring the match’s first try, but in response to those early 7 points UMF methodically scored the next 30 in a dominating display of tackling and rucking and running. UMF scrumhalf Sam Hill was outstanding in directing his team and inside center Taber Hammond’s 80-minute impersonation of a human battering ram took much of the starch out of the Bryant attack.

Wing Derek Hanrahan’s splendid kicking accounted for 15 of UMF points, and his long range touch-finders drove Bryant backward the few times they managed to launch attacks deep into UMF territory. All of the UMF forwards rucked well and did the dirty work all afternoon, but in particular, George McLean, Ray Linck and Josh McMahon were remarkable.

Men at UMF have been playing rugby for 19 seasons now, but Saturday’s triumph at Bryant University propels the team into its first NERFU title game ever.


UMF Prop George McLean, energetic all afternoon, heads upfield into space. (All photos thanks to Claire Steeves)


UMF Scrumhalf Sam Hill, at right, slams on the brakes to reverse directions of the UMF attack.


Dominos anyone? — Four Bryant tacklers lineup to try to put the brakes on UMF Prop Ray Linck.


UMf celebrates its win over Bryant University and looks forward to the New England finals next weekend.

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4 Comments

  1. Congratulations UMF RUGGERS !!! A very well played,hard nosed match, not allowing the Bryant Bulldogs to score for 75 minutes,great job. Cheers! AG

  2. These guys earned and deserved this win, great coaching and awesome playing!!! Good-luck next week!!!

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