The Penn State men's rugby team took a practice exam last Saturday in Washington D.C. at the St Patty's tournament, and the result was an empathic A-plus.

Penn State did not lose a game throughout the whole tournament and more importantly no one ever crossed over the Promised Land for five points.

In fact, the tournament final reflected how close the games were for the Ruggers.

They won against James Madison University, whom they had beaten thoroughly earlier on in the season, 35-0. Try scorers in that game were winger David Joseph, hooker Kevin Olsen, Tim Ryland, No 8. Jason Fisher and second row Ed Dice.

The Ruggers were expecting the competition to be as competitive as it was last season, but it was never really challenged throughout the whole tournament.

"The competition was a bit below what we expected," Penn State men's rugby coach Terry Ryland said.

Ryland also added that the omission of Ohio State and IUP certainly weakened the competition at the tournament.

The lack of a competitive opposition didn't deter the Ruggers from deriving some positives from the games, ahead of their first-round playoff match-up against the University of Delaware next Saturday.

"We played well as a team," Ryland said. "We got a good even mix from the forwards and the backs."

Ruggers captain Kirk Neubauer also added that the youngsters got a taste of at least the type of play they should be expecting as the playoffs come around.

Another learning part of the youngsters' experience this season has been learning the value of teamwork and never underestimating the competition.

Judging from the Ruggers' earlier games, it seems that everyone has grasped the importance of teamwork.

"We try to focus on playing good ball," Ryland said, "and to play as a team, not as individuals."

Captain Kirk Neubauer said that the level of competition affected the Ruggers' level of play.

"It kind of felt like that first two games we were focused," Neubauer said.

"And we had played JMU already and we won. So we did lose focus."

Also emphasizing this point, Ryland said that the Ruggers' level of play was at times "brilliant" and at times "not brilliant."

Holding their opponents to an average of zero points per game, it would seem that if there was one part of the game the Ruggers were brilliant in, it was their defense. That part of their game, the Ruggers feel, is ready.

Another advantage for the Ruggers was that last weekend gave them a taste of success, a feeling that they want to have at the end of the season by winning the National Championship.

With the playoffs around the corner, a comparison by Neubauer of this year's team to last year's team was that the Ruggers this year are better athletically than last year. But he quickly added that that it was too early in the season to tell.

They will find out this Saturday, when the playoffs begin.