BIDDEFORD – The University of Maine at Farmington’s men’s rugby team traveled to Biddeford for a rare Friday night match under the lights against the University of New England, where they put on a sustained display of wide-open running rugby that led to seven tries and a decisive 47-7 victory.
The UMF defense was led by a strong forward pack anchored by team captain Jake Murphy who led from the front from the opening whistle, the omnipresent Mack Telfer and hard-hitting newcomers Connor Dunn and Quinn Fogerty.
The UMF attack was set loose by the stellar play of halfbacks Patty Poirier and Killian Miller who fed their speedy backline a steady diet of quality ball. In the backs, workhorse Jack Neary and speedsters Matt Scremin, Jake Roberts and Shane O’Neil looked threatening all evening long.
After last weekend’s narrow loss to a strong Bates team, the win evened up UMF’s season record at 1-1, and makes next weekend’s home tilt against 2-0 Colby College a must-win for a UMF team hoping to repeat last season’s run into the play-offs. And for UMF rugby fans, a trip next Saturday to Prescott Field will be a double treat, with the undefeated UMF ladies first taking on New England College (with a not-yet-confirmed kick-off time of 11 a.m.) followed by the men’s match against Colby.
