The Penn State Rugby Club kicked off its spring season by winning the college division of the Washington Irish Tournament in Washington, D.C., last weekend. The ruggers crushed Old Dominion in the title match, 12-3, after blanking their two opening-round Penn State squashed Quantico, a Marines' officer school club, 12-0, demolished West Chester, 15-0, and outlasted Williams College by a score of 9-6.

The club was going to host Maryland this Saturday, but the match has been cancelled due to a scheduling error. It would have pitted Penn State against "one of the best in the east," said forwards captain Lance Polcyn.

Instead, the ruggers are traveling to Philadelphia to play a men's club called North Penn.

Last weekend matches were played on a field that club member Dave Tillman described as "a mud puddle," but strong forward play boosted the ruggers.

"The forwards deserve a lot of credit for winning," Steve Hynes, club president, said.

The tournament was the first action the club had seen since it captured the Allegheny Rugby Union Championship to complete its fall season. That championship was the fifth straight for the club, and it enables Penn State to compete in postseason play again this spring.

Just last spring, Penn State finished fourth in the country, but has lost some experienced players. As a result, the ruggers have become "more forward-oriented," Hynes said.

Penn State's next home match will be on Saturday, March 31, against Washington Irish.