A-State Rugby Defeats Little Rock Men’s Club, 43-5
JONESBORO – Freshman center James Luecke scored twice to help lead Arkansas State University past Little Rock Men’s Club, 43-5, in collegiate rugby Saturday afternoon.
The team from Little Rock got on the scoreboard first with a try six minutes into the match to go up 5-0 over the Red Wolves. Although A-State kicked into gear to score three times in the first half and end the day with four more in the final period, third-year head coach Blake White wasn’t thrilled with his team’s performance.
“It left a bad taste in my mouth overall,” said White. “We were unable to execute the fundamentals and our game plan. I think our effort and energy is getting better, but doing what is asked and all being bought into the same plan needs a lot of work.”
A-State’s Izaak Moore, a freshman flanker from Brisbane, Australia, scored his team’s first try at the 23:16 mark, followed by successful tries by sophomore lock Justin Franzese of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and freshman wing Keelan Watkins from South Africa to take a 19-5 lead at the half.
The second half opened with a try by Devon Devost, a 5-10, 210-pound freshman from Naples, Fla., two minutes in to give the Red Wolves a 26-5 cushion. Both scores by 5-11, 185-pound Luecke from Houston, Texas, followed, capped by a try by flanker Baylor Williams from South Carolina to close out the match.
“I’m confident in our coaching staff and leadership group that we will grow from this before our next match Nov. 2 at home against Lindenwood Belleville,” White added.
The Red Wolves will host a Homecoming alumni match, Saturday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. at Curt Huckaby Field.
