Unionville Ruggers vanquish Friars to remain unbeaten

The Indians played bigger, stronger and faster than Malvern Prep on Saturday in a 21-15 win

By Dave Conard Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com

The Indians were solid defensively all game in a huge win over the Friars

MALVERN—The Philadelphia Eagles have the Cowboys, Manchester United has Liverpool, The bad blood between the Yankees and Red Sox is legendary, it would seem that regardless of sport, every team has that one opponent that is their nemesis.

Every squad has that arch rival or just flat out a team that is used as a measuring stick if you will, as to how well you are playing, for Unionville that team for the last four seasons has been Malvern Prep.

On a “perfect day for a rugby match” the Indians fueled by a try by Bas DeVries with 11:00 minutes left in regulation, exorcised a demon that has haunted them the last three times the Chester county powers have scrummed it up.

“We wanted to beat them so bad the three years but haven’t been able to get it done,” said DeVries. “This was a huge win for us, we have two goals, to win the league championship and then get to the states and win that as well, this game will help build our confidence going forward.”

Unionville's Stephan Lange scores on a try in the first half

“This is the biggest win we have ever had for these kids,” said head coach Curtis Baker, in his tenth year. “We had a team that went 12-0 four years ago, but this team has come together and grown far beyond even that team.”

Unionville (5-0-1) took an early lead on a try by  Ryan Ford, they regained the lead prior to half time as Stephan Lange was able to shed five would be tacklers en route to a 25 yard run to the goal line giving the Indians a 14-7 halftime edge.

With momentum their biggest ally, Unionville forced the play in the opening ten minutes of the second half, keeping the Friars pinned in their own end, before Malvern Prep was able to escape and cut the lead to four following a penalty kick.

Unionville and Malvern Prep have had some epic matches in their history, Saturday was no exception

The Friars (4-1) , who were the 2011 EPRU Western division champs and finished third in the state, claimed their first lead of the game following a long kick and run by which set up a try at the 22 minute mark, after the after the failed conversion attempt, it was time for Unionville to go to work as everything that had worked so hard for was now hanging in the balance.

DeVries, who score the game-winning try at the 29-minute mark from 15 yards away, paid the price on the ensuing scrum as he was picked up and thrown to the soggy turf by Prep’s, forcing him to the sideline for the rest of the tilt.

Bas DeVries celebrates his game winning try with his Indians mates

Unionville, who kept the pressure on as time was winding down and had a scoring chance sail wide of the uprights with four minutes left, was able to fend off a late charge to hand the Friars (23-3 over the last two years) their first loss of the season.

“I just love this team, they symbolize everything that is great about this sport,” added Baker. “This is a very good team we beat today, we have six more games to tighten things up and then it’s time to get ready for the playoffs, our next game against Shanahan I always something special.”

Next up for Unionville is their annual battle with Ches-Mont rivals Bishop Shanahan under the lights at Unionville’s stadium on Friday April 13 at 8 pm, with the girl’s squad taking the filed that night at 6pm.

To view or purchase photos from the game paste and click the following link-

http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=127&user_id=63742&action=viewalbum&event=1067213

 Unionville (21) vs Malvern Prep (15)

 Unionville                      14                    7                    -21

Malvern Prep                    7                    8                    15

(U)- Ford try (Baker conversion)  (7-0)

(M)- Flynn try (Pierucci conversion) (7-7)

(U)- Lange try (Baker conversion) (14-7)

(M)- Pierucci  penalty kick (14-10)

(M)- Pierucci try  (conversion failed (14-15)

(U)- DeVries try (Baker conversion) (21–15)

Unionville's Stephan Lange carries a Malvern Prep defender with him

   Send article as PDF