THROGGS NECK, N.Y. (Sept. 13, 2011) – This past Sunday, Sept. 11, at Red Hook High School up in Dutchess County, the SUNY Maritime Rugby team played its season-opener, edging the Bard College Raptors, 7-3. The Privateers open up the season with a 1-0 record, while the Raptors fall to 0-1.

The Raptor's aggressive offense and defense kept Maritime on its own 22 meter line most of the game. Bard scored first with a penalty kick and led 3-0 during the first quarter. Late in the second quarter, Maritime's ruggers looked like a pack of Mad Dogs, running and passing the ball 40 meters with senior Billy O'Neil (Williston Park, N.Y./St. Dominic's) scoring the game's only try. Senior Pete Rose (Brooklyn, N.Y./Xavier) kicked the two point conversion that ended all scoring, giving Maritime a 7-3 lead.

The rucks and mauls were evenly won, but the Privateers' penalties kept the game closer than it should have been.

Maritime returns to action this coming Sunday, Sept. 18, when the team travels to New Jersey to take on Montclair State. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Receive Maritime Rugby News To Your E-Mail

If you would like to receive the most up-to-date news and information about the Maritime rugby team, including all press releases, please send an e-mail to Joe Guster at jguster@sunymaritime.edu with the subject “Rugby E-mails.”

Follow Maritime Athletics On Facebook, Twitter And YouTube!

Alumni, fans, family and friends now have new ways to keep up with the latest Maritime sports news – Twitter, Facebook and YouTube! Privateer supporters can logon to the Internet and receive the latest updates on every Maritime sports team, either online or via their mobile phone with Twitter. Just visit the sites http://www.twitter.com/MtimePrivateers, http://www.facebook.com/MaritimePrivateers and http://www.youtube.com/user/MaritimeAthletics to start following today!