HATTIESBURG, Miss. — The South Alabama rugby club opened its season Saturday with a 22-6 victory over Southern Mississippi, scoring 17 unanswered points after halftime.
Several Jaguars were starting their first rugby match. The game was played in warm, sunny weather and was the first time South Alabama had played on an artificial turf surface, according to a match report from the club’s coach, Darwin.
Early Exchanges
Referee Jim Harsh started the match at 1:30 p.m., and the teams agreed to play four 20-minute periods, with South Alabama receiving the opening kickoff. The first period featured several knock-ons and minor infractions, and the Jaguars were penalized deep in their own territory for improper binding in the scrum. Southern Miss did not score off the penalty.
A series of penalties against the Golden Eagles allowed South Alabama to kick for touch and move into scoring position. Gabriel Torres touched down in the corner at the 35-minute mark, and the conversion missed for a 5-0 lead.
Southern Miss Leads at the Break
Southern Miss answered with a penalty kick from just inside the Jaguars’ 22-meter line to make it 5-3. Another scrum penalty for improper binding in the front row gave the Golden Eagles a second penalty kick just before halftime, and Southern Miss led 6-5 at the break.
Second-Half Surge
South Alabama focused on the breakdown after halftime and drove downfield with a series of pick-and-go plays inside the 22. CJ Leggett picked the ball up from the back of a ruck three meters from the goal line and dove in under the posts for his first try in his first match. Carlos Gimenez converted to give the Jaguars a 12-6 lead.
The Jaguars were penalized only twice in the second half, for an early push in the scrum and a dangerous tackle. Torres scored his second try off a pick-and-go from the back of the scrum, touching down to the right of the posts with 10 minutes remaining. The conversion missed, leaving South Alabama ahead 17-6.
Gimenez closed the scoring when he broke a tackle and went around the Southern Miss fullback for his first career try, also in his first match. The conversion went wide right, and the match ended 22-6.
