Ten Cadets Score Tries to Boost Men's Rugby to 72-23 Win Over Air Force

Saturday, November 6

USAF Academy, CO

1 PM

Army West Point

Air Force

Ten Cadets Score Tries to Boost Men's Rugby to 72-23 Win Over Air Force

November 06, 2021 | Men's Rugby

By: Phil Tor

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The Army West Point men's rugby team continues to power through it's Fall schedule, earning it's seventh win overall and its second consecutive win over a service academy rival after thrashing Air Force on the pitch, 72-23.

Army used a 48-0 second half scoring run and ten different point scorers to achieve the result.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Army had to overcome an early deficit after Air Force broke onto the scoreboard with a penalty kick score. The Cadets did not let the Falcons have the lead for much longer as Jonny Haley broke across the end line for his second try of the season. Air Force would take back the lead with another penalty kick in the 19th minute, but Ed King put the Cadets back on top with his first career try in the 30th minute of action. King's try put Army up 10-6 and gave the team a lead it would not surrender.

The Falcons added a penalty kick and a try, but Army matched with two more try scores of its own to carry a 24-16 in halftime. Scharl du Toit and Cole Taft scored for Army.

Air Force put another try on the board in the 42nd minute to cut the Brothers' lead to just one, but Army rallied to go on its longest scoring run of the season. With the score at 24-23 in Army's favor, the Black Knights went on to score 48 unanswered points to seal the victory. The 48-point run is the longest of the season and lifted Army to its seventh win of the season.

Nathan Gould got the action started with a try in the 44th minute, followed by another Scharl du Toit score nine minutes later. William Laino, Hunter Richard, James St. Ville and Matthew de Frates all went on to score their first tries of the season as Army ran away with a 72-23 win in Colorado Springs.

BOX SCORE
4:00 - Air Force - Penalty Kick (3-0)
8:00 - Army - Try - Jonny Haley (5-3)
19:00 - Air Force - Penalty Kick (6-5)
30:00 - Army - Try - Ed King (10-6)
          Conversion - Scharl du Toit (12-6)
32:00 - Air Force - Penalty Kick (12-9)
34:00 - Army - Try - Scharl du Toit (17-9)
          Conversion - Scharl du Toit (19-9)
37:00 - Air Force - Try (19-16)
37:30 - Army - Try - Cole Taft (24-16)
42:00 - Air Force - Try (24-23)
44:00 - Army - Try - Nathan Gould (29-23)
53:00 - Army - Try - Scharl du Toit (34-23)
          Conversion - Sharl du Toit (36-23)
60:00 - Army - Try - William Laino (41-23)
          Conversion - Scharl du Toit (43-23)
61:00 - Army - Try - Nathan Gould (48-23)
          Conversion - Scharl du Toit (50-23)
70:00 - Army - Try - Hunter Richard (55-23)
74:00 - Army - Try - Matthew de Frates (60-23)
79:00 - Army - Try - James St. Ville (65-23)
80:00 - Army - Try - William Laino (70-23)
          Conversion - Scharl du Toit (72-23)

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

Scharl du Toit led the Black Knights in scoring with 22 points on the afternoon. The junior returned to his hometown of Colorado Springs to score two tries and six conversions
Army improves its record to 7-1 against Air Force with the result
The Cadets 72-point outburst was the highest scoring affair since 2018 (86 vs. Buffalo)
Ten different Cadets scored points in the contest
William Laino punched in two try scores in his first A-side action
Hunter Richard, James St. Ville and Nathan Gould all scored the first tries of their respective careers in the effort

CADET QUOTES
"My favorite quote is 'winners never quit and quitters never win'. I think we really embodied this today as a team. We went down early to a very tough Air Force side. However, the Brothers never quit. We powered through and got the result we wanted. OUr finishers came on and made an outstanding difference. Great battle by the boys today." - Brennan Coulson

"Everyone was involved in a great team effort today. We were excited to come play Air Force. They are a great team and gave us a great challenge." - Nathan Gould

UP NEXT
Army will return to West Point and begin preparing for it's final contest of the season against Lindenwood this Friday night. First kick is slated for 6 PM this Friday, Nov. 12 at 6 PM at the Anderson Rugby Complex. Army will honor its senior class as a part of the pre-game festivities.