Wake Closes Out Season with Tournament Victory

Wake's Seniors After The Final

The Wake Forest Men's Rugby team finished its spring campaign by winning the College of Charleston tournament this weekend in Charleston, SC.

In the Demon Deacons opening match of the four team tournament, they defeated an undermanned and fatigued University of North Carolina side 19-7. The Tar Heels had played a league match against University of South Carolina the night before and were a far cry from the formidable UNC side that bested Wake in January. Wake dominated play for the entire first half, but were held scoreless until the very end of the half when freshman wing Ben Cohen dotted down between the posts. Junior fullback Perry Salvagne converted to give the Deacs a 7-0 lead at the break.

Wake opened the second half with another Cohen try, this one unconverted, and led 12-0. Carolina answered back with a converted try to narrow the gap to 12-7, but the Wake victory was sealed when junior center David Sage scored off a nice run of play. Senior Mike Wills converted to extend the lead to 19-7, which is how the match would finish.

In the tournament final Wake faced off against host team College of Charleston. Charleston had defeated North Carolina State 13-0 in their first match and were eager to prove themselves against the Demon Deacons. Charleston jumped out to an early 3-0 lead when their inside center slotted a drop goal off a scrum inside the Wake 22. Wake responded with a try from freshman flanker Brendan Shea and another from senior #8 Timo Kawira. Wills converted one of the two tries for a 12-3 lead. Charleston got a penalty goal shortly before the midway whistle to make it 12-6 at the break.

The opening stages of the second half were controlled by Charleston, but two missed penalty goals and a near-try by the Charleston winger before he stepped into touch kept the score at 12-6. With time winding down, Wake was able to regroup and Shea and Kawira once again took control, each scoring between the posts. Wills converted both tries and Wake emerged 26-6 victors.