After ASU men's rugby football club head coach Rich Duncan called last season's record "embarrassing," the team took a step in the right direction this year with a preseason win over the NAU Lumberjacks, 18-17, at the ASU band field Friday.
"We played pretty good," Duncan said. "It was a win. A lot of sloppiness, you expect that though this early in the season. Players were spreading the ball out wide, stuff went well."
The Sun Devils and the Lumberjacks were at a stalemate through much of the first half until ASU fly half Joey Siragusa blocked an NAU kick to get the Sun Devils inside the Lumberjacks' 22-meter line.
After an NAU penalty, ASU took advantage of the free kick as ASU scrum half Danny Bell knocked in a penalty kick that hit the bottom goal post before bouncing over and in for three points.
"Since it was a preseason game, we played it pretty close to each other," Bell said. "It was a friendly game. No one wants to get hurt in the preseason, we just wanted to go out and have some fun."
ASU then responded quickly after play began as ASU eight man Chris Mazurkicwicz scored a try after a scrum inside the NAU 22-meter line. Bell missed the two-point conversion to give the Sun Devils an 8-0 advantage.
The Sun Devils were unable to hold the Lumberjacks scoreless in the first half after ASU lost control of a throw-in near the ASU goal line. NAU capitalized on the loose ball, gaining control and scoring a try.
The Lumberjacks connected on the two-point conversion to set the score at 8-7 before going into the second half.
In the second half, NAU struck first after connecting on a penalty kick from inside the ASU 22-meter line. This kick gave the Lumberjacks their first lead of the game at 10-8.
ASU threatened to score back immediately, but wing Tony Markham was stunned at the NAU goal line. Although the Lumberjacks defense kept ASU from scoring, they were unable to clear the ball from deep in their end.
After an NAU penalty, Bell connected on the penalty kick for ASU to give the Sun Devils the lead back at 11-10.
NAU quickly responded with a power surge, scoring a try and the conversion to give the Lumberjacks the lead back at 17-11.
With only a few minutes left to play, the Sun Devils quickly moved near the NAU goal, but were unable to get through until ASU inside center Brian Condon broke through the Lumberjack defense and scored a try for the squad.
Bell knocked in the two-point conversion to give ASU a one-point advantage for the win.
"Considering we've had a week and a half of team practicing, we were scrappy but we put it together," Bell said. "It's a win, and we can put it under our belts and build on it for the rest of the season."
The ASU rugby football club plays several more preseason games and tournaments before league play starts in February.
"Both teams had only been practicing for a short period of time," Duncan said. "The guys haven't gotten used to being in a rugby state of mind where we are not complaining about things like basketball players."
Reach Steve Ganczaruk at massahg1@aol.com.
