the Informer

ADAM MANISON

The Hartford club rugby team played their home opener against Trinity last Saturday.
After losing a scrimmage to Williams College, 27-7, the Hawks repeated the outcome in their season-opener, and lost 9-7.

After Tyler Losure scored a try, similar to a touchdown in football, and captain TJ Kenney kicked in the extra points, the Hawks took the lead 7-3 at the end of the first half. But they would not score again. Trinity would kick three more penalty kicks and make two of them to win 9-7.

The Hawks drove the ball down many times, only to come up empty. There was hope, however, at the closing minutes of the game when the Hawks were awarded a penalty kick (similar to that of a field goal, in football) but failed to accurately kick the ball through the uprights.

Rugby is a game without the glam,. hold-outs and infamy of popular professional sports. Instead, rugby is about the comradery of a team, and being a unit to achieve one goal, every player must have the ability to play every aspect of the game, and they do not seek recognition for it.

The game is composed mainly of ideals used in football and soccer, with a little hockey mixed in. Rugby is a continuous game where a player must try to take the ball down to the try zone (similar to an end zone) for a score. A score, or try, is worth 5 points, and after you get to kick for an extra 2 points. You may also score after a penalty and kick a field goal for 3 points.

You may not always see them, because they are not allowed to play on any of the main fields due to their spikes, but if you’re looking to see a raw, vulgar, yet artistic game of strength and speed, look for flyers on buildings for their next game and you’ll find them playing at the back field behind the soccer fields, with the H-shaped uprights.

Their next game is Sept. 25, at the University of New Haven. Their next home appearance is Oct. 2 where they will be facing Western New England College, scheduled for 3 p.m.