Rio surges past Wolverines to win opener

Rio Grande Sports Information
     RIO GRANDE, Ohio - The University of Rio Grande scored 24 straight points to begin the second half, erasing a five-point halftime deficit and fueling an eventual 34-24 win over the University of Michigan, Friday evening, in non-conference men's rugby action at Red Valley Pitch.
     The contest was the regular season opener for both teams.
     Senior Ethan Manuel (Durban, South Africa) scored three times to lead the winning effort for the RedStorm, including a try with just over 27 minutes left in the first half to give the hosts the game's first lead.
     Michigan tied the game 8-1/2 minutes later on a try by Jack Regan and a conversion kick by Luke Zana before taking a 12-7 advantage after a try by Matthew Gurwin with 30 seconds left before the intermission.
     The Wolverines' advantage would be short-lived, though.
     A penalty kick by junior Thibault Carrere (Dax, Landes, France) sliced the deficit to 12-10 with 36:11 left in the contest, while a try by senior Che Spiotti (Charlotte, NC) and a conversion kick by Carrere eight minutes later gave Rio Grande a lead it would never relinquish.
     Manuel added a try with 23:54 remaining and then scored on a penalty try with 15:30 still to play to extend the lead to 31-12.
     Michigan snapped the RedStorm's scoring spurt with a penalty try of its own - by Maximo Nelson - with 4:50 left to make it 31-19, while Rio Grande's final points came on a penalty kick by sophomore Luke Turner (Eastbourne, England) with 2:16 showing on the clock.
     The Wolverines set the final score when Ryan Beske recorded a try after time had expired.
     Rio Grande is scheduled to return to action next Saturday at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio.