Going into Saturday’s game, the advantage on paper looked to be all on the side of the University at Buffalo’s men’s club rugby team.
Buffalo’s pack is headed by an impressive coaching staff and came into the game with the distinction of being among the top 25 in the nation last year, with a long-standing win streak over Binghamton University’s rugby team, the Devils.
‘I can’t remember ever beating these guys, but we are up to the task,’ said senior Liam O’Hara before the game. ‘If we play how we are capable of, we’ll make this game a true struggle for them from beginning to end.’
Being unable to take the field for the first time in his four years of service due to a nagging shoulder injury, the senior gave all he could for his club from the sidelines as a regulator. The team looked to avenge the women’s team’s loss earlier in the day.
The sights and sounds of the game ‘ a game that flew before your eyes at a pace that would make Michael Johnson jealous ‘ were intense. The thuds and grunts, bodies flying left and right, blood gushing from elbows and knees, the Devils gave everything they had in warrior-like fashion. Their efforts were fully recognized by the respect and appreciation shown by the droves of alumni members and fans on the sidelines. A sign reading, ‘If I had a soul to sell, I’d sell it to the Devils,’ could be seen.
‘This game will be the litmus test for our season,’ O’Hara further explained.
The contest continued on at a grueling pace and the organizational advantage of Buffalo began to shine clear. As the afternoon sun and humidity began to take its course on those striped in red and black upon the field, the tackles began to slowly get higher and higher allowing for the Buffalo drives to go longer and longer. Frustrations increased at an alarming rate and came to a head with the upper-cutting of a sideline garbage can by one of the Binghamton players.
‘That’s not how we’re going to lose,’ O’Hara told the player. ‘Show some class, pick up that garbage and get off my sideline if you’re ever going to throw another fit like that.’
After conceding victory to their Buffalo opponents, the Devils spoke highly of their adversary and of issues they had with their own play.
‘We knew this was going to be a difficult one,’ O’Hara said. ‘Buffalo is one of those teams which always give us problems. But this game was played with a lot of class on both sides and it just came down to a lack of discipline on our part.’
The Devils will be traveling to Cortland this weekend looking to put a tally in the win column and won’t be returning to the BU rugby field until they host Canisius College on Oct. 13.