Friday, April 3, 1998

Ruggers welcome rival Navy

By CRAIG KACKENMEISTER
Collegian Sports Writer

The Penn State men's rugby team will entertain one of the 16 teams competing for the national championship this year when Navy comes to town tomorrow.

The Ruggers scrimmaged Navy back in February in Charlotte, N.C., and won 20-12, but Midshipmen coach Mike Flanagan said his squad doesn't get motivated by revenge.

"We have to control the possession during the game. If we can't, we'll get blown out."

- Midshipmen coach Mike Flanagan

"We've developed a good rivalry," Flanagan said. "We have to control the possession during the game. If we can't, we'll get blown out."

Both Penn State and Navy are considered two of the top rugby programs, so it is going to be a great game, Flanagan said.

Penn State coach Terry Ryland said his squad has to play the whole game against Navy the way it played the last 10 minutes of its 14-13 loss to Indiana University of Pennsylvania last weekend.

"We have to be sharp and on our game," Ryland said. "We have to play big and fast and need to pick up the pace."

Team captain and scrumhalf Iwan Williams said it's going to be the toughest game the team has had all year and the team who will come out victorious will be the team who makes the fewest mistakes.

Hooker Keith Fitzpatrick said the game with the Midshipmen will give the Ruggers a chance to prove they deserve to be one of the 16 teams playing for the championship.

The Ruggers have reason to be excited for the matchup this weekend because they're getting one of their key players back in second row Dave Scrymgeour, who has been recovering from a broken hand since February.

This is Scrymgeour's last year to play for Penn State and he said the injury has put a dark cloud over his senior season.

"It was bad timing," Scrymgeour said. "I will only get to play three to four games. There is nothing I can really do."

Another Rugger the team is hoping to see on the field is flanker Joe Pullara, who suffered a sprained ankle last weekend against Oswego. He said he is looking to play, but it will be a last-minute decision whether he laces up the cleats.

"Navy is the better team," he said. "But the team will be all right if I play or if I don't."

Flanagan said he is bringing an injury-free team and thinks the game is going to be evenly matched. He added some key players to look for this weekend are All-American prop Jeff Immel and eight man Ben Oakes.